A Pleasant Faux Pas for You

A faux pas at Utah's Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is actually benefiting you - right now! Somehow the Bayou ended up with 5 cases of North Coast Brewing's Red Seal Pale Ale. I assume it came in place of something on Mark's regular order.

This beer has been called one of the "finest pale ale available nationally." There is a chance that we will be seeing this beer on a more regular basis. For now, 5 cases is all we have and they're all at the Bayou.

Pours a chill-hazed amber-red with a good two fingers of off-white head that dissipated quickly. The nose is of light grapefruit, tangerine and some florals with a little caramel in back. The taste starts with nutty caramel, a touch of citrus peel. Next comes earthy pine notes mixed with brown sugar. Finishes on the bitter side. At 5.5% abv this is an extremely drinkable session ale. 5 cases won't last long.

And I'm just going to throw this out there and see who bites. I'm toying with the idea of putting together a "Holiday Beer Tasting". I though it might be fun to get ya'll in the same room put some faces to your names and enjoy some good beer.

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in please leave a noncommittal "Yea" or "Nay" in the comments along with a preferred Friday or Saturday in December and we'll get the ball rolling.

Cheers!

Two Dollars Pints!

Yup that's right, through the month of November Roosters in Ogden and Layton will be offering all its beers for just $2 a pint. All Beers, all Day, all Month! And if your a member of their "Mug Club" you can get your personalized mug filled for $3 this month.

The seasonal taps include Indian Summer Nut Brown Ale and The "Ogtoberfest" - (a malty marzen lager that's dry-hopped). If you've never been to Roosters this is probably the perfect time to get your asses to Weber or Davis counties and sample all they have. At two bucks a pint they'll be gone soon.

Cheers!

Photo: Jeremy Brooks

Outer Darkness Cometh

Mormonism teaches that a person is destined for one of six places depending on what he has done or what he has believed. These are: outer darkness (for Satan, his demons, and extremely wicked people) or one of three "kingdoms" known as the telestial, terrestrial or celestial kingdoms. Within the celestial kingdom are three levels.

Why are we talking about LDS mysticism? Well today my fellow craft beer lovers we're headed for "Outer Darkness" or should I say Outer Darkness is headed our way.

A few days ago Jennifer Talley announced on her blog that she and supermodel Jason Stock had decided it was about time to create Utah's first official Imperial Stout. A Russian Imperial Stout to be specific. They're calling it Outer Darkness. Hence the LDS lesson.

These are the kings of stouts. Inspired by brewers back in the 1800's to win over the Russian Czar, these stouts boast high abv's and plenty of malt character. Low to moderate levels of carbonation with huge roasted, chocolate and burnt malt flavors. Often dry. Suggestions of dark fruit and flavors of higher alcohols are quite evident. Hop character can vary from none, to balanced to aggressive.

Squatters Outer Darkness hit the kettle on October 29th and went into the fermenter at 27° Plato. Jenny & Jason were also inspired to use some molasses at the end of the boil so it should have great kick and body. Jenny expects their newest edition to be released the 2nd or 3rd week of December. Most definitely before Christmas day.
It will be in 22oz bombers for sale at the downtown pub, Park City pub and out the door sale at the downtown pub.

A perfect stocking stuffer! Hint, hint.

Na zdorovje!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

Winterfest Returns & The Abyss

One of my new favorite winter beers is back, and that means Mikey is happier than a pig in.... beer.

Wasatch Winterfest debuted this time last year to rave revues and most recently won a Bronze medal at the 2009 Great American Beer Festival. If you never got a chance to try it last year, this is your opportunity.

Pours a clear ruby color with a moderate fluffy off-white cap of foam. The nose is bright with citrus and pine with subtle spicy caramel malt beneath. The flavor starts out with grapefruity hops and a bit of orange zest. Next comes a faint hint of gingerbread then transitions to a rich maltiness. I think there may be a little roatiness in there as well. Very nicely balanced with a well hidden 7.1% abv.

Last September I was ecstatic to report that Deshcutes' incredible Abyss Imperial Stout was on it's way to Utah for the first time. Initially It was only going to be available to our two local beer emporiums the Beerhive and the Bayou. Now it looks like it will be available at Utah liquor Stores as well. The Abyss should be arriving in the next couple of weeks. This beer ages well, buy a few and put some away for while.

Also, arriving from Deschutes is Hop Henge Experimental IPA. This one is also new to the state. Deschutes describes it as having several pounds of Centennial & Cascade hops in each barrel with a heavy dry-hop presence to top it off. A blend of crystal, pale and caraston malts creates an overall biscuity characteristic that is dense and muscular, building the alcohol base to support the monstrous hop profile.

Hope Henge will hit shelve in Utah this January.

Cheers!

A New Website for Desert Edge

Actually it's their first website. Why so long in coming? Well... let me try to put this in a way most people will understand.

Some asshole/Douche-bag decided to squat on the the Desert Edge domain name for quite a while, making it difficult for our friends at Trolley Square to properly create and market their brand. Well apparently they've resolved it because they're online now baby! And it's about damn time.

Cheers!

Moab's Wee Heavy

The Third beer in Moab's Desert Select Series is available for purchase Moab's Scottish Style Ale or "Wee Heavy" is a rich, full ale made with smoked malt, English hops and is aged in French oak barrels.

Head brewer Jeff Van Horn describes it as "A great winter beer with rich caramel and dark fruit flavors". The Ale was bottle conditioned for four months in one liter bottles and has an ABV of 8.6%. The cost is $12.99. Only available at the Brewpub in Moab.

In other beer news Sierra Nevada's Estate Harvest Ale is finally here. I had it at the Bayou, so it should be in select liquor stores.

Also in are two new Deschutes labels. Jubelale is a Holiday ale that's full of hops caramel, toffee malts with a light, dry fruitiness 6.70 abv.

Hop Trip is from Deschutes' Bond Street Series. You'd think with a name like Hop Trip that this would be a "hop monster". It's actually a nicely balance American Pale Ale, nice hop profile with a healthy malt backbone. 5.5% abv.

I believe Jubelale is only available at the Bayou & Beerhive. Hop Trip Should be available at state liquor stores.

And... The 9th Annual Beer Dinner at Lugano will be held November 4th. Cutthroat, Duck Confit and King's Peak Porter will be part of the six-course menu.

$45 per person
optional pairings:
beer $18
wine $39

Call Lugano for reservations: 801-412-9994.

BOO!

End of October Seasonal Brews

Here's a list of Brewpub seasonal brews available right now throughout the Wasatch Front & Back. There's some great stuff out there. Check 'em out!

Desert Edge Brewery: Shot in the Dark Coffee Stout.
Brewmaster Chris Haas describes it as a slightly sweeter stout with the addition of 15 gallons of freshly brewed coffee to it. "It gives it a real coffee aroma and flavor." The fresh-roasted beans come from Utah's Millcreek Coffee. It's served on a nitrogen tap which makes it creamy and smooth to drink. $4.25 a pint.

Roosters Brewing Co: Indian Summer Nut Brown Ale.
This is a medium-bodied, amber-colored beer it has a somewhat nutty flavor that comes from a "healthy dose of Victory malt," said head brewer Steve Kirkland. "It's been an annual favorite at the brewery for years." $2 for pint during November; $4 afterward.

Ruby River Steakhouse and Brewery: Autumn Amber.
Head brewer Rob Bunn uses special hops and yeast from Germany for this Marzen-style beer. It has a reddish hue and is malty with caramel undertones. "It's real basic, but it's one of my favorite styles," he said. $3 a pint.

Wasatch Brewpub: Pumpkin Ale.
Brewmaster Matt Beamer describes it like this "We are using real pumpkin in the mash along with all those fall spices everyone loves, like cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg,". The ale is unfiltered with an orange hue. "It's super drinkable, like liquid pumpkin pie." Look for it on the nitro tap soon. $3.50 for 12 ounce glass; $4.50 20 ounces.

Hoppers Brewpub: Face Plant Wheat.
"As German-styled wheat beers go, this one is on the milder side with soft banana aromas and flavors and mild spices like clove and nutmeg," said head brewer Donovan Steele. "Some people might notice a bubble gum flavor as it warms." Of course, these ingredients are not put in the beer, but are the by-products of the traditional German Wheat yeast strain used to ferment the beer. Face Plant, a tie-in to the upcoming ski season, is an "easy drinking beer" and one that goes with all types of foods, Steele said. $4 for a pint.

Squatters Brew Pub: Black Forest Schwarzbeir.
"This German dark lager has a medium body and a roast malt flavor. While it's a dark beer, it's not heavy and is easily drinkable" said brew master Jen Talley. The beer, a perennial customer favorite, is one of Squatters' most decorated beers. It has won gold, silver and bronze medals several times at the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival. Also available at Squatters' Roadhouse Grill in Park City. $4.79 for an 18 ounce glass.

RedRock Brewpub: Wet Hopped Pale Ale.
Brewmaster Kevin Templin, was inspired by a trip to the local High Desert Hop Farm. So, he harvested loads of Cascade and Columbus hops and rushed them into the brewery. Thus was born our Wet Hopped Pale Ale. An organic brew made from fresh, locally-grown hops. This unfiltered ale is medium amber in color. $4.50 a pint

The seasonal taps don't last long, so get on it.

Cheers!

Photo courtesy: Katie Panzer