Whether you want to watch the game, get a drink before, during, or after skiing, or just hang out late night and get a little rowdy, the Auld Dubliner's got you covered. It's got the feel of a traditional Irish pub, the best Guinness on draft in Tahoe, and a big selection of Irish whiskeys (go figure). There's also live music most weekends to help get the party started.

That building in the Squaw parking lot that you just can't figure out? Yeah, it's the Cornice Cantina, a popular locals hangout that starts the day as a family-friendly Mexican joint, morphs to much more of a bar when the sun goes down, and ends the night as a dance party complete with DJs. If you're coming off of your shift, ask for a "shifter," a one-time-per-day dollar PBR. Since everyone who works there is so chill, they might give you one for that price even if you're not.

Sure, you can get free beer while you gamble, but it's not usually quality craft brews, like the beer that flows out of the eight taps at Cutthroat's Saloon (inside the Hyatt). The bar has a Old West meets sports bar vibe thanks to western decor and 17 flat screen TVs. Want to watch your game with sound? There's an app that lets you hear the game on your phone. Seriously. And if you're a local (or just visit a lot), you'll want to join the members-only beer club, Craftheads United in Lake Tahoe (or CULT), which gets you bigger beers, access to rare beer tastings, and more.

Sun or snow, "The Chammy" is the spot for après at Squaw. There's a lofted bar inside, but the place to be is on the "deck" outside where everyone gathers after they get off of the mountain to drink beer, take in the views, brag about fresh tracks, and play with the many, many dogs.

The Mellow Fellow's locations in Truckee and King's Beach both have 40 craft beers on tap, more than any than you'll find anywhere else in the area. The lineup is constantly changing, but just trust that if you're a beer connoisseur you'll find something that pleases your palate. Add a warm soft pretzel with cheese sauce to your order and if you're at the King's Beach location, get unlimited 5oz pours of all 40 drafts for just $25.

Pete N Peters is the the spot in Tahoe City for cheap drinks, a game of pool, shuffleboard, or Golden Tee, really good people watching (especially on the weekends), and plenty of TVs to catch the game. Just beware: you may think you're going in for one drink, but that one drink can easily lead to finding a taxi at last call.

River Ranch's back patio goes off in the summer since it's the landing spot for all of the people rafting and tubing the Truckee River, but it's worth checking out in the winter too. That's when the inside bar becomes the place to hang, chat with locals, listen to live music, and get quality drinks from some of the friendliest bartenders around. Hungry? The nachos are big enough to feed a family of eight.

Sunnyside's a great spot for dinner, but if you just want a perfectly-executed cocktail or delicious glass of wine, the bar is a great choice. The views of the lake can't be beat and there are a few TVs to watch the game when the sun goes down. Plus, there's almost always live music on Friday nights, which means this place gets packed.

There's always a ton of locals hanging out at the bar at "The BT" in Tahoe City, due in part to the friendly bartenders, the laid back vibe, and the fact that there are 15 beers on tap, all of which come in "regular" or "large." Once you get a seat (it may take a while as people tend to really hunker down), check out the food menu as well. The burgers are excellent.

If you don't like the smell of sweaty boys and dirty dogs, then this teeny tiny dog-friendly bar in the Village at Squaw is definitely not for you. But if you can handle, and maybe even enjoy those things, then a trip to The Slot where you can get cheap drinks, good conversation, and watch ski movie after ski movie on the TV is absolutely worth it.

Dinner at the Truckee Tavern is excellent, but if you can't make that, at least stop in for live music and a quality cocktail. The spirit program at Truckee Tavern is inspired by Truckee's history of bootlegging so you're stoked if you like artisanal small batch gin and whiskey. The cocktail menu changes every six months, but so far has included a menu inspired by movies filmed in Truckee in the 1940s and spirits based on "Hot Dog...The Movie." Of course.