The music, everyone’s heard. Songs by the Rolling Stones, Tom Petty, Fleetwood Mac, Jimmy Buffet and Van Morrison are what winter visitors usually listen and dance to apres ski.

    The beer, on the other hand, is strictly one-of-a-kind. In fact, these suds aren’t flowing anywhere else but right here in this intimate, cozy setting with stone fireplace and a knotty pine interior and plank tables to match.

    Combine great music and homemade beer and a party is bound to break out, which is what happens each Friday and Saturday night at the Big Bear Mountain Brewery. Skeleton Keys and Damn Good Question—on our recent visit it was the latter—take turns rocking a house that’s halfway to a good time already just by enjoying the only beer brewed in Big Bear. As owners Lil and Don Wittman like to point out, Arrowhead may have the water, but Big Bear has the beer.

    Not just any beer either, though the usual mass-produced offerings are available and some folks automatically ask for what they know. Enlightened guests on the other hand turn their backs on the ordinary and ask for Red Ant Hill Red Ale, a robust red so smooth it doesn’t taste like an ale.

    Or they might ask for an Orange Blossom Amber, served with slice of orange and so fruity it could pass for fresh-squeezed juice. That’s what caught the fancy of Will Mantz of Florida, after he’d tasted all the brewery’s selections by purchasing the $7 sampler, which provides six four-ounce tries. “It’s different, very tasty and refreshing,” he said in explaining why he settled on the orange.

    From the Grizzly Bear Doppel Boch that’s a winter favorite to a Mountain Pub Ale served in traditional English spirit, Big Bear Mountain Brewery’s offerings are distinctive and one-of-a-kind. These beers plus Old Miners Gold, a German-style Pilsner, are regularly found on the taps, joined by a seasonal celebration that might be an Oktoberfest brew during Ein Prosit, or Winterfest Spruce Bock with a hint of pine.

    Winterfest was brewed in just a five keg batch that quickly drained dry, about as micro-brewed as it gets. Then again, Big Bear Mountain Brewery will never be confused with mass-production places to begin with—the brewery runs a 10 barrel system which means it can make 20 15-1/2 gallon kegs at one time, or 350 gallons. As a result beer is always fresh because it goes straight from the vats to the taps.

    Every ski town needs its own homebrewed dark beer, and on a cold winter night after the slopes have closed, Doppel Boch warms deep to the bone. Doppel means “double” in German so this is like a double dark, yet it’s not as heavy as one might expect—in fact it’s downright smooth. Don’t drink too much of it though, because the alcohol content is a whopping 11%, whereas the Brewery’s other beers are in the mid-5% range except Mountain Pub Ale at 8%.

    The English-style ale is “the best beer in California, and that’s coming from a Brit,” said Mox Lawlor in an unsolicited comment. He’s been enjoying it for years as one of the Brewery’s regulars. Much lighter, though still 5.4%, is Old Miners Gold, a German-style Pilsner. Non-beer alternatives at the brewery include wine which made wife Sandy happy, plus Seagrams and Smirnoff offerings. But make no mistake: the reason to visit is the beer, just $3.50 for a pint or a better deal is the quart for $5.50.

    Oh, and the grub is pretty good too, when it’s time to soak up some suds. Just about every conceivable kind of sandwich can be orders, from grilled one-third pound burgers to deli delights. Piping hot soup and tangy chili are always available and the nachos are a hit with a mountain of chips snowcapped with melted cheese.

    Of particular note are the homemade potato chips for $3.95, in regular, garlic parmesan and buffalo...super hot. They’re thick and crunchy and tasty.

    Big Bear Mountain Brewery is at 40260 Big Bear Blvd. near Alpine Slide. Call (909) 866-BEER.