New Beer/Brewery Friday 3/22/19

It been two months since I've been able to announce a new local brewery; lately that seem like along damn time, considering that the end of 2018 saw a new brewery every damn month. Today, I'm happy to say that Level Crossing Brewing Company is Utah's newest brewery. Though their official opening isn't until March 30th, their beer is already hitting the streets. So congrats to Mark, Katie and Chris on creating a new beer oasis that will be a welcome edition to Utah's craft beer family.

Level Crossing - You-Tah Uncommon: Dark amber in color with an aroma of subtle spicy rye and sweet malt. The flavors follow the nose with rye and corn notes that mingling with caramel malt and light herbal hop notes. The finish is lightly dry with a grainy aftertaste. A highly drinkable first brew. 4.0% - Available only at Lucky 13 for now.
 
Desert Edge - Pro Tem Pale Ale:  Meaning "for the time being" this is a new rotating pale ale series with each batch using different hops. This version uses Denali, Citra and Cascade hops for a bright citrus aroma and tropical fruit flavors. It's unfiltered with a light malt character, medium bitterness, and a dry finish. 4.0% - Available at Desert Edge

Desert Edge - Frühlingspunkt: Meaning "vernal equinox" in German. This is a golden colored lager with a very light toasted malt flavor and floral hops. This lager is a balance between the darker, malty flavored beers of winter and the crisp refreshing beers of summer. It's a perfect beer 
for the transition to the sunny days and cool nights of spring. 4.0% - Available at Desert Edge.

Epic/Ellipsis Brewery - Wheat Wine: This collaboration beer between Epic and Florida's Ellipsis Brewing has a light copper color with an amber hue. The aroma starts with sweet honey and lightly burnt caramel. From there alcohol soaked raisin and hints of banana begin to emerge. Lots of peppery alcohol. The herbal and piny hops become more pronounced towards the end. The finish is dry with a slight but lingering bitterness. 10.1% - Available at Epic Brewing.

Hoppers - Hell’s Backbone Porter: Named after one of Utah's iconic destinations for dark skies and dramatic scenery, this beer is made with Utah grown barley and malted here in the Salt Lake Valley. The owner of Solstice Malt personally smoked some of the barley with mesquite wood. English Chocolate Malt and Crystal malt are added for color, flavor and full body. The flavor is a smooth chocolate and caramel with a light smoke flavor that becomes more noticed in the finish as it warms.  4.0% - Available at Hoppers.

T.F. Brewing - Delmar: This new Imperial Stout is full of dark roast components with big molasses and burnt toffee. Coffee flavors come in next adding some astringent qualities. Char and caramel duke it out towards the end. The finish is quite hoppy and bitter with a bit of heat as well. Not for the timid. 11.5% - Available at T.F. Brewing and at better beer pubs.

T.F. Brewing - Pineapple Berliner: Like most Berliner Weisse beers this starts with a good dose of lemony tartness, then bam! your hit with pineapple. It's not super sweet like juice it closer to the green part towards the rind. A super refreshing sour beer. 4.0% - Available at T.F. Brewing.

Proper - SEE YA LATER, DENISE:  Named tor an an obscure infamous specifically Utah-flavored misinterpretation of the phrase "bye, Felicia", this whirlpool-hopped American pale ale is juicy and full of fruity aromatics - and most importantly, a portion of the proceeds goes to the Hunstman Cancer Institute in honor of our badass friend, cancer warrior, and amazing beer lady Jamie Burnham - come enjoy a pint of Denise for a great cause while it lasts! 4.0%

Lagunitas - Secret Agenda: It has a very clear deep gold appearance with a nose that is malty and hoppy. The tastes is mostly malt driven with a caramel nuttiness. Some grapefruity hop flavors round out the back end. There's a slight bitter finish. If your looking for a traditional bock, this ain't it. The hop bill is somewhat unconventional for the style. 7.1% - Available at DABC.

Elevation - Apis IV: Aromas of plum, fig, caramel and honey with hints of chocolate and molasses. Rich and dark flavors with an interesting honey flavor. Next comes Fig Newtons along with the dark roasted malt. Some dank and earthy sweetness rounds out the palate. 10.7% - Available at DABC.

Elevation - Pilsner: The aroma has some light, cereal/grainy notes with grassy hops. The flavor starts light and toasty with minimal malt sweetness. From there a good dose of Saaz hop bitterness blasts the palate. Finishes crisp and dry. Nice pils. 5.0% - Available at DABC.

Elevation - 8 Seconds Kölsch: The nose offers up some hay, honey and some grainy breadiness. The flavor was quite similar with hay, lemon, honey, floral and some light grainy bread. Not quite traditional but it's got good flavor and it kinda reminds me that it's finally spring. 4.5% -  Available at DABC.

New Belgium -Glütiny Pale Ale: This beer is brewed using an enzyme to break down the proteins that trigger a reaction from gluten sensitive drinkers. Therefore, these beers are being referred to as “gluten removed” instead of gluten free. The beers fall within the FDA guidelines of less than 20 parts per million. Glütiny features Equinox hops, for flavors of guava and papaya. 6.0% - Found at the Bayou.

New Belgium Liquid Paradise IPA: Missed out on this one. It's described as having Mosaic, Incognito, Azacca and Cascade hops that boasts a mélange of tropical notes to create a delicately bitter and extremely aromatic IPA.7.8% - Found at the Bayou.

Cheers!

Epic And Ellipsis' Wheat Wine

Once a year Breweries in Colorado team up to make collaborations beers for the state's big Collaboration Beer Festival. Each participating brewery makes a beer with one in state brewery and one out of state. Epic's in state partnership was with Comrade Brewing Company; while their out of state collaboration was with Orlando, Florida's Ellipsis Brewing Company. Sadly, the Comrade beer was made at Comrade and won't be available to Utah residents. However the Ellipsis beer was made at Epic's Denver brewery and a limited supply has been made available to Salt Lake City's beer nerds.

The beer is a Wheat Wine. If you're not familiar with the style: they're an American style of Barley Wine that have a high malt bill. The difference is the amount of wheat used. At least 50 percent of the ale is wheat malt, these full-bodied beers feature big bready candy flavors with a spicy/sweet finish. The Epic/Ellipsis Wheat Wine was also made with Honey, Jazmine Flowers, and Chamomile Tea. As far as hops; it was dry hopped with fruity/dank Motueka hops.

This very limited beer goes on sale today in SLC and will only be available in Epic's special Thursday growlers. I don't have to tell you that this will not last long, so don't too long. 10.1% ABV.

On a side note: The Utah Brewers Guild has an in state collaboration fest in the works. Stay close for info on this beer party coming soon.

Cheers!

Elevation Beer Company to Debut Today

Elevation Beer Company out of Colorado will begin distributing beer throughout the Wasatch Front and Back starting today. The brewery hails from Poncha Springs, Co. and currently has a portfolio of fifteen packaged beers. Elevation has a relatively small footprint with beers available in Colorado, Wyoming and now Utah.

Look for three beers to debut:
 
Elevation Apis IV - A Dark Belgian-Style Ale brewed in the Trappist tradition. With a touch of locally sourced honey, the name Apis is a nod to the hardworking genus of the honeybee. Boasting notes of plum, fig, and molasses, Apis IV has a medium to heavy mouthfeel and finishes with subtle floral hops. 10.0%

Elevation Pilsner - Pours light gold, with aromas of honeysuckle and German noble hops. Moderately dry and slightly bitter, this beer has all of the traits you have come to expect from a celebratory lager. It is fermented cold, in America, near mountains, using difficult procedures,

and you know it is ready to drink when it is in your hand. 5.0%

Elevation 8 Second Kolsch- Brewed to be a true representation of this easy drinking crisp ale. First brewed as a special beer for our local rodeo, it quickly became a hit. Now a staple in our core brand, 8 Second is perfect for an everyday craft beer. 8.0%

These are the brewery's descriptions, I hope to have tasting notes for you later this week in New Beer Friday. DABC stores will be your best bet to find these. Welcome to the neighborhood!

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/15/19

Saint Patrick's Day is Sunday, but it will likely be celebrated all weekend long. There's no need for green beer, when you have a full board of new beers to choose from this week. Enjoy your weekend and please be safe!

 Zólupez - Hibiscus Wheat Beer: Inspired by Mexican Agua de Jamaica - brewed with coriander, chamomile/aka manzanilla, orange peel, and Pineapple Pale Ale (inspired by Tepache Mexicano- brewed with brown sugar. 5.3%. Available 3/16 at Zólupez Beer Store.

Zólupe Pale Ale: Described as having sweet fruity Pineapple notes, balanced with the hoppiness of a true pale ale. The unusual fresh aftertaste that hangs around after each sip derives from yerba buena (spearmint), the Mexican herb used a traditional “cure all.” Although unfiltered, nice clear appearance, solid head retention. Inspired by Mexican Tepache (a traditional fermented Pineapple beverage). Naturally bottle conditioned. ABV. 5.25%. Small batch 12 oz. bottles available Saturday 3/16 at Zólupez Beer Store.

Uinta Test Phaze IPA: The unique hop profile in this beer comes from an experimental hop that will likely never be used again. It starts grassy and herbal, then transitions into a good dose of citrus peel, then wraps up with pleasant melon notes. There's a slight hoppy bite in the end as well. One of the more unique tasting IPAs out there. 6.5%. Available at Uinta.

Odell 180 Shilling:  A hearty roasted malt base balanced by subtle earthy hops and aged on oak to create notes of toffee, plum, vanilla and dried cherry. 9.6%. Avaialble Beer Bar, Beerhive

Odell Bull Proof: This barrel aged imperial stout has a nutty chocolate Aroma. Taste of almonds, hazelnuts, dark chocolate and a hint of coffee. A little marshmallow in the slightly boozy finish.

Rogue Outta Line: The aroma is full of pineapple and orange peel. The starts with ripe pineapple, orange along with other tropical fruits. malt profile is honey-like and balancing. Finishes with a nice hop bite. Nice IPA. 6.9%. Available at Beer Bar, DABC

Upslope Blackberry Lemon Kettle Sour: Missed this one. Look for Blackberry and lemon (duh) and low bitterness. 4.2%. Available at the Bayou

New Belgium Mural: Slight pink hue with a fruity and sour aroma. The flavor starts mildly tart with a light malty base. Hbiscus pretty much, lime, melon and some unidentified elements. Beer Bar, Dick n Dixie’s

The following are "beer adjacent". They're not beer, but may appeal to beer drinkers. 

Squatters Grandeur Peak: Grapefruit aroma with light grapefruit peel in the taste. It watery because it's an alcohol based seltzer water. Defiantly a summertime pool beverage.  4.0%. Available at the UBC's West side Tavern.

Lagunitas - Hop: This sparkling water has heavy hop aromatics with citrus flavored water. This will give Mormons and non alcohol drinkers a good idea of why beer nerds like IPAs, This is a good non-alcoholic representation of what we are talking about. 0% ABV. Found at Harmon's.

Returning favorite

Epic - Elder Brett: I know we keep saying this but this may be the last release of this beer. This batch was hidden away for over a year and you can defiantly taste it. It's very tart with an almost balsamic fruitiness. Considering its age, this one is perfect for drinking now. Cellering this one may make it a bit too over the top.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/8/19

Today is International Women’s Day. It will also be the 2nd Annual Pink Boots Brew Day in Utah. Our local chapter of the Pink Boots Society will be brewing a Cold Session IPA at Roosters' B Street to raise money for causes related to the organization.

In conjunction with the brew day, the ladies will be having a fundraising event in the B Street tap room. Utah Pink Boots Chapter leader, Jamie Burnham has been diagnosed with breast cancer. To help offset medical bills, Roosters will be donating a portion of all pints sold at B Street on March 8th. Come by to check out the Pink Boots Members brewing, and to support one Utah's best beer advocates. Now, on to New Beer Friday.

2 Row - Divine Lunacy: This new barrel aged beer from 2 Row is a begian quad aged in "new" bourbon barrel for nearly a year. The bourbon is nearly overpowering at first, but once you palate adjusts the bubblegum and peach from Quad begin to assert themselves. Very nice! 11.5% - Available at 2 Row, Beer Bar, Bayou, Dick n' Dixie's.

Strap Tank - Cosmic Fog: This beer looks like some kind of acid trip while watching an episode of My Pretty Pony. It's a swirling cloud of purple hued pearl essence. The taste is subtle tartness with vague berries. Not Bad. 4.0% - Available at Strap Tank, Fisher Brewing's guest tap. It's going fast!

Hopkins - Hipster AF: This beer is "triple dry hopped" with citra, mosaic, and cascade hops - brewed with lactose for that “milkshakey”, juicy, hazy. 4.0% - Available at Hopkins.

Telegraph West Swell Juicy IPA: Epic's newest acquisition from Santa Barbara is finally in our market. The West Swell IPA has a nose of grapefruit and papaya. Flavor-wise we get orange and pineapple from the hop selection. Bitterness is low, while sweetness is high. Nice example of the style. 6.7% - Found at Slackwater.

Dogfish Head - Perfect Disguise: This Double IPA is supposedly a Kolsch at heart; made with Kolsch  yeast and German malts. Hopped with nearly 4 lbs. of German and American hops per barrel. It brings tropical flavors of citrus, tangerine, mango, gooseberries and peach. 8.0% - Available at DABC.

Elysian - Dayglow IPA: Aromas of citrus and flowers. The flavor has grapefruit peel and is strong with some caramel and pine. The bitterness isn't too overpowering. Nice. 7.4% - Available at Slackwater, DABC. 

Cheers!

New Brews Soon For You: Bohemian, Epic, Saltfire

More beers from the future! That's right, in an effort to help better plan your beer purchases, I'm happy to bring you these new local suds that'll be making their way into your bellies (hopefully) sooner than later.

Bohemian Lagerpallooza Baltic Porter: This Pro/Am beer from creator/co-brewer, Curt McCuistion is one of the more complicated lagers to make. To reward his "best in show" brewing prowess, Bohemian decided to brew Curt's beer making it their first ever Baltic Porter. Stay close for release info on this one.

Epic - Chasing Ghosts NEDIPA: This New England style Double India Pale Ale will be the latest in Epic's line of Hazy IPAs. Epic
has been killing with their hazy beers as of late and at 10% this beer will be beast with little bitterness and a shload of citrus/tropical flavors. You'll probably see this sometime in the second quarter.

Saltfire - Big in Japan: Not to be outdone: Saltfire will also be pushing forth a New England India Pale Ale. Saltfire's new head brewer, Mike Dymowski (formerly of Strap Tank) is looking to continue his prolific run in the South Salt Lake brewery with even more tropical forward brews. This one will feature Mandarina Bavaria, Mosaic and Vic Secret hops. It's still weeks away,  I'll tell you when they tell me.

More new brews coming soon for you in the coming days, so keep checking back.

Cheers!

images found at shipcomplient.com/

Utah Beer Blog: Brewery Update 03/2019

It's time for another brewery update and it looks like 2019 is shaping up to be another fantastic beer year. We'll start with the breweries that are closer to opening. All of the information provided is a best guess; due to the ever changing situations municipalities and bureaucracies can impose on a well intended brewery's schedule. 

Level Crossing Brewing Co.: Though the taproom and other amenities are still being busily worked on, the brew house is pumping out beer as we speak. You'll begin seeing Level Crossing's suds in bars and restaurants in the coming days. Stay close for locations and beers styles.

UTOG (Utah Ogden) Brewing Co.: Ogden's newest beer spot is very close to completion and is looking at a late March launch. If you've seen the images coming out of UTOG's social media you know that this will become a major player in Ogden.

Strap Tank Brewing Co. (Lehi):  Next time you're in the Lehi area, near the Traverse Mountain Outlet Mall; take a look at a lone hill (to the north) that overlooks the Timpanogos Highway and you'll see a big, brand new - retro looking factory building. This is Strap Tank's new Lehi brewery. Taking cues from their Springville brewery, Lehi will feature it's own brew house, brewer and unique beers. Probably looking at third or fourth quarter opening. 

Zion Brewing Co. (St. George): Zion Brewing recently received a condition use permit to convert the now vacant Fire Station 2 located at 150 n. Main Street in St. George into a new brewery. The 15 bbl brewhouse will take up one of the engine bays along with a packaging line. The station's second floor will be converted into a full service pub. Looks like a bad ass site for a brewpub!

Bewilder Brewing Co.: This new Salt Lake City brewery is in the renovation phase and and is looking towards a third or fourth quarter opening. Look for a 10 bbl brew house that's perfect for rotating small batches.

Ogden River Brewing Co.: Bit by bit their brewhouse is beginning to arrive in Ogden. Construction on the brewery's Ogden River location is expected to begin in the next months or so. I've seen the architectural drawings on Ogden River, it looks to take full advantage of their river location with lots of outdoor seating and river views.

Grid City Brew Works: The South Salt Lake City brewery is currently transforming the old 'Tile For Less' building into a proper beer spot. Updates still to come on their opening.

Emigration Brewing Co.: This new brewery is located next to Ruth's Dinner, up Emigration Canyon. It occupies one of the old restaurants (Santa Fe, I believe?) No word yet on their status, but they have received a conditional use permit by the DABC.

Helper Brewing Co.: Yes, Helper, Utah may be getting a new brewery. Helper Brewing would be the first brewery to open up in Carbon County, since Pinnacle Brewing (Groggs) mothballed it's brew house over 15 years ago. Owners are seeking approval for a downtown location. More info to come as they navigate the bureaucracy.

Mine Shaft Brewing Co.: After many years of working with Summit County, Mine Shaft has decided to pull out of Utah and work towards creating their new brewery in Santa Clarita, Ca. A representative from Mine Shaft told me that they just couldn't find common ground with Summit County in regards to the brewery's concept. Best of luck in SoCal!

In reality you could likely see up to five of these breweries open up in 2019. If last year is any indication, more craft beer spots will likely hit our radar before we finish this year. Stay close for more brewery and beer news and thanks for sticking with the Utah Beer Blog.

Cheers!

Image found at slc.gov