Utah Brewery Map

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

A New Direction at Bohemian Brewing

Bohemian Brewing has been quietly making old world style beers at their beautiful log cabin inspired brewery in for the past 12 years. For the most part all of the beers coming out of the Midvale brewhouse have been 4% abv lagers that locals have embraced and visitors seek out.

Bohemian's mantra hasn't changed munch since it's founding back in 2001; Make a few beers, but make them well. For much of the of the early 21st century that was usually the case, there were four beers with limited special batch offerings. Over the past year that part of the story has changed, Bohemian's seasonal program has exploded with new monthly offerings and now comes word that the Czech founded brewery is finally releasing new true to style beers that aren't restricted to 4%.

Beginning sometime in early 2014 you'll have a couple of new offerings from Bohemian. A Dortmunder style Export Lager and and Bohemian's first ale in a can Altus Altbier.

Altbiers are usually dark copper color. They're brewed at a moderate temperature using ale yeast which gives the beer some fruitiness. It's matured at cooler temperatures which gives it a cleaner and crisper taste more akin to lagers.

Dortmunders are a German interpretation on the original Czech lagers. Similar to other pale lagers the beers are pale gold in color with moderate bitterness from noble hops and a well attenuated malt body. Higher carbonation tends to add a sharpness to the flavor of the hops - so brewers use less hops giving the beers a more subtle emphasis on the malt flavors.

It good to see Bohemian can still expand their offerings while keeping true to founder, Joe Petráš' original "old school brew" philosophy.

The cans shown above are still being tweaked but that's the basic look. I think they're pretty sharp looking and will really catch your eye while shopping. What do you think about Bohemian's new direction and look?

Prost!

Photo: Pete Petráš

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Squatters/Wasatch Release Cans


Remember this ad? It contained the aptly named slogan, "Nice Cans"! It was for the old St. Provo Girl brand from Squatters (now just Provo Girl) that had to go away in 2001 because tiny micro breweries were such a threat to international conglomerates. Yeah, we're talking about you St. Paulie Girl!

These were some of the first canned beers to feature products from the state of Utah since the 1960's. They were a little ahead of their time, while they sold - they never really caught on with beer snobs and they eventually went away.

Now craft cans are much more widely accepted with "reglar folk" and "beer dorks" alike. It's a better package for the product and it's much more conducive to Utah's active - high desert lifestyle.

Lead by Bohemian Brewing, Moab, Uinta and now the Utah Brewers Cooperative are now offering canned beer. Four local favorites (new & old) are (and will be) for sale now and ready for consumption. Hop Rising Double IPA and Full Suspension Pale Ale are the first beers from the Squatters camp and Ghostrider White IPA from the Wasatch side. Look for Wasatch's Apricot Hefeweizen in cans as well soon.

As of today, just Full Suspension and GhostRider are available and they're at the Beer Store - 1763 South 300 West, Salt Lake City. What do you think, Are you down with this canned beer trend?

We have more cool beer news set for tomorrow- Stay Tuned!

Cheers!

Monday, October 28, 2013

The Hop Bombshells Calendar



The odds are pretty good that those who drink great craft beer will look to take their love of suds to the next level and try to duplicate their favorite beers at home. Homebrewing cubs are popping up all over the state, bringing like minded people together to collaborate and share their love beer.

For the most part Homebrewing is seen as a man’s game, but there's one homebrew club out there changing the common perception of who Utah's homebrewers are. Since March of 2012, The Hop Bombshells Homebrew club has been fostering and empowering women of all walks of life to help every one of their members achieve her best brew possible.

The Hop Bombshells are not only about the best brew, but also about giving back to our community. and they could use your help. Some of the the "ladies in brew" have put themselves out there for all to see in a special charitable calendar, in a theme set around 1940's pin-up girls. It's a great looking calendar and the ladies are funny, cute and sexy.

The cost is $20 and a portion of the proceeds will go to a charity to be determined.The Holidays are coming up and this calendar is perfect for the Man Cave, Kitchen or Brewery. 

The HopBombshells Calendar is available at the Beernut and Salt City Homebrew Supply. Brilliant job ladies!

Cheers! 

The Hop Bombshells are (clockwise from left): Emily Park, Holly Russell, Brittany Nelson, Rose Flato, Becky Nix, Jamie Burnham and Tiffany Steele. Photo: John Barkiple & SLUG Magazine

Friday, October 25, 2013

New Beer Friday 10/25/13


Now that Mitt's secret "Mancave" has been exposed to the universe we thought a lil' New Beer Friday action would be the perfect thing to drown his sorrows - and who knows, he might actually stock it with some of these.

Bonneville Pumpkin Spice Ale: Made with Carabrown malt and lactose, it's described as pumpkin pie in a glass. The crew at Bonneville has been blending this new seasonal with Sir Malcom's Stout floated on top. They're calling it the "Trick or Treat" saying it tastes like chocolate pumpkin pie. 

For Firkin Friday at the Bayou - Desert Edge is offering their seasonal Citra in Red aged with Oak. The last time that DE had Citra In Red on tap I couldn't drink enough of it - curious to see how the wood affects the hop profile. Tapping at 3pm.

If your LDS Epic's new batch of Big Bad Baptist coffee/beer combo will send you reeling into a "word of wisdom-double threat-whammo-frenzy". It's back today as well. Mrs. Mikey gives it two huge "roasty" thumbs up!

Firestone Walker's Velevet Merlin Oatmeal Stout is back at the Beerhive.

Deschutes Jubelale and Full Sail's Wassail are both back, early for the holidays.

Cheers!

Friday, October 18, 2013

New Beer Friday 10/18/13

This week's New Beer Friday is more triumphant than a bad-ass Mormon Jebus saving a damsel, while riding a unicorn - Beer in hand. That's some pretty Triumphant shizzle yo!

Anchor Bigleaf Maple Autumn Amber: The nose is dominated by piney hops with dank dark fruits. The beer tastes the same. It starts with the pine and dark fruitiness but it also has a bit of maple flavor in the end. There’s a lingering bitterness undercut with a maple sweetness. Not really my style, but I am glad to see more seasonal offering coming from Anchor Brewing.

Squatters Gourd Almighty Pumpkin Ale: Typical Pumpkin ale flavor profile, but more subdued than some pumpkin beers in the market right now. If your not a fan of the style this one may be kinder to your palate.

Firkin Friday at the Bayou and at Poplar St. Pub has a new beer from Squatters, a Chocolate Witbier. I know Chocolate and Witbier is a bit of an oxymoron, but it does sound delicious. Should be tapped around 3pm.

A couple of returning beers from Avenues Proper include Benches Belgian Brown  as well as their session IPA, Hopspital.

Cheers!

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Oktoberfest Stuff for the Weekend

If you haven't had your fill of Oktoberfest celebrations - hold on we have more for you. This weekend there are couple of ways to get you lager on while enjoying some fine interpretations of Alpine cuisine.

First off is the Boho-Fest at Bohemian Brewery this Saturday Oct 19th. Bohemian will be pouring a shload of old school lagers with food & music.

Begining tomorrow - Friday, October 18th and Saturday October 19th Squatters is also having an Oktoberfest with live music from the Heidelberg Express Band from 7 – 10, traditional German food, and of course Oktoberfest mugs full of your favorite brew. Only at the SLC Brewpub.

Get out and hit one or both and try something new there are a lot of great fall beers being poured right now. I highly recommend Bohemian's brand new, Isar Rye.

Prost!

Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Bar-X's Beer Bar

From its days as a men's only bar to its national renown as a prime cocktail spot. Bar-X has been a notorious staple in downtown SLC since 1933.

Apparently the owners of Bar-X recently acquired the two properties immediately east on 200e. with plans to create a new beer bar called, err... Beer Bar? Now you may not know this about me, but I like beer & beer bars. This is really great news, SLC is really finding it's beer groove. We'll keep you updated as things progress.


Also, SLC's Becky Nix is this week's AHA Home Brewer of the Week. Becky, like many Utah transplants found home brewing out of frustration with her inability to find the styles she loved locally. Becky is a member of the the Hop Bombshells Home Brew Club and brews monthly. Congrats, Becky!

Cheers!

Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Epic's First 50 Firkin Fiasco List

I generally try to keep the news and discussions here to only those things that benefit the beer lovers of Utah, but I got my hands on the firkin list for Epic's big - First 50 Firkin Fiasco that takes place this Thursday (October 10th) at Epic's new Denver brewery, during the Great American Beer Festival.

Though I'm not permitted to publish the exact ingredients, I'm sure you can figure out what many of the firkins contain from the names listed. The modifications to each beer will be listed on each firkin at the big party.

The event will begin at 3:00pm and conclude by 11:00pm. The taproom will be open to the general public and will have 10 firkins available. A VIP pass will be offered for $55.00 which includes an event T-shirt, gift bag (glassware and logo goods) and access to the full brewery and all 50 firkins. The brewing staff from Salt Lake City and Denver will be on hand to discuss the beers, as VIP’s explore the brewery. Food vendors will be onsite during the event and passes will include a food voucher. The VIP passes are very limited, and are available for purchase from:  http://50firkins.eventbrite.com/

Epic is looking for 5 volunteers to help out at our First 50 Firkin Fiasco on Thursday, 10 from 2:30 - 10:00pm. They will hook you up with a custom event shirt and some sweet swag. You may even have a beer or fifty at some point. Email phil@epicbrewing.com if you're in Denver on Oct, 10th and have time to help.

We'd love to hook up with other "Utards" headed to GABF. Message us via the Utah Beer Facebook Page so we can "geek-out" together. Here's the list - these beers are "as is" a may or may not ever be duplicated again.

Clam Stout
825 w/ Coconut
825 Ice Cream Float
Big Bad Cherry
Spiced Cherry
After the Fact Brainless Pale Ale
Brainless on Curry
Chocolate Covered Raspberries
Big Bad Raspberries
Captain Crompton’s w/ Chinook
Apricot Cap’n
A(mber) B(eer au) L(apsang) S(ouchong)
Amber Chai
Black Pepper Double Skull
Cocoa Skulls
Orange Cow
Mint Cow
Imperial IPA w/ Coconut
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Mole
Chipotle Pumpkin
Imperial Red w/ Fig and Grapefruit
Imperial Red w/ Cacao Nibs
Black Bark
Hibiscus Wheat
Lemon Fennel Wheat
Apple Pie à la Mild
PB&J Mild
Earl Grey Mild
Lavender Lager
South of the Border Pfeifferhorn
East of the Border Pfeifferhorn
Pepper Sage Rosemary and Thyme
Chipotle Jetty
Guayava Jetty
Bitter Date Jetty
Southern Spiral
Blue Hopu-berry
Hopu-cot
Oaked Mosaic
Ginger Citrus Mosaic
Imperial Kiwi IPA
Imperial Oaked IPA
Imperial Spiced Orange IPA
Fleeing the Elders
Witty Escape
Eastern Escape
BIPA w/ CTZ
Hopfenfestbier

Monday, October 07, 2013

More "Sin Taxes" for Beer Lovers

For lack of a better term, Rep. Jack Draxler, R-North Logan, hates beer drinkers. For the second time in 2013, the "anti-tax" Republican has proposed to run a bill to tie a potential tax increase on the cost of beer to the consumer price index. Earlier this year, Draxler not only tried to jack-up the tax on beer but also tried to increase the markup on liquor and wine that was associated with the beer tax bill.

His reasons are from the same ol' song and dance that you've heard a million times before - cut consumption while feeding the coffers. In fact, economists with the state of Utah said earlier this year that the estimated tax increase would have cut the states revenues by $465,000 a year from reduced drinking, which helped to kill the bill due to "tight economic times".

Draxler was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune by saying, "I want to index the beer tax to the Consumer Price Index so that every year we don’t in real terms actually have a reduction due to inflation," Draxler said in an interview. "I do think that makes it more palatable. I think it addresses some of the concerns about the bill that was brought up last session."

He notes that last year the CPI was 2.9 percent. That would have raised Utah’s current beer tax of 41 cents a gallon by 1.19 cents if his bill had been in place. "So that would be only pennies [actually less] per sixpack of beer," Draxler says. "So it absolutely is not an oppressive tax, and it would probably raise somewhere around a quarter-million dollars. That’s not a lot of money when you spread it around the state for prevention and treatment programs, but it would help." 

The proposed tax is separate and apart from the sales tax at the retail level, which in Salt Lake County now averages 6.85 cents per dollar purchase.

If this proposed tax is such a minor hit to the consumer's pocket book why is he not going after a true revenue generating consumables? e.g. Soda Pop. You know the answer to that as well as I do. It would mean taxing himself, his family and those of his community that share his particular view on "wise words".

Remind your representatives that an election year is on the horizon and that bullshit "sin taxes" like these are bad for business and bad for Utah. Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, is among those suggesting the possibility of any new taxes are slim at best during the coming 45-day session, which begins in January 2014.  Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, has also said passing any new tax is unlikely in the coming session, given the election cycle.

Here are some links to help you find your Reps.
http://www.utah.gov/government/contactgov.htm
http://le.utah.gov/house2/representatives.jsp

Cheers!

Friday, October 04, 2013

New Beer Friday 10/4/13

Basically I'm slammed this morning. My real job demands my full attention this morning, so I'm gifting you this "half assed" New Beer Friday - live from Camp Williams.

Bonneville Oktoberfest: I first tried this at the Utah Brewers Guild's Oktoberfest last weekend. It's a strait forward Märzen with a little more toast than is typical, but it's quite drinkable. Brady & I dubbed it an Alt-oberfest. Check it out. @ Bonneville, Allstar Lanes & Beerhive

Avenues Proper Skittlebrau: I haven't tried yet. It's a saison at its base with a variety of berries added. Reaction is mixed on this one. What do you think? @ Avenues Proper

For Firkin Friday at the Bayou we have RedRock's Porter with Jack Mormon espresso beans. I could use this beer right-freaking-now!

Uinta's Wet 'n Wyld & Epic's Fest Devious Märzen are also back this week.

I'm sure I missed something, if I did please share the beer love.

Prost!


Thursday, October 03, 2013

Snowbasin Beer Festival

Help Snowbasin Resort close out the last weekend of their summer season with an ‘Oktoberfest’ style party this Saturday October 5th!  8 Local craft brews will be “on tap” to satisfy all your beer needs and wants. German food staples like bratwurst, special sausages and home-made sauerkraut will be ready hot off-the-grill while summer BBQ favorites like brisket, burgers and pulled pork will be available for purchase.

Entrance to the event is FREE. Beer Tokens will be available for purchase (must be 21 + with valid ID) at $2 each that can be redeemed for one 6oz sampler beer.  2 Tokens will get you 12oz of beer. Seasonal, specialty & high point beers will all be available to token holders.

Participating Local Utah Breweries:
Roosters Brewing Company
Uinta Brewing*
Bohemian Brewing
Moab Brewery
Red Rock Brewing
Squatters Beers
Unsacred Brewing
Wasatch Brewing

*Unita brewing will  be serving its Limited Reserve Beer called Wet ‘n Wyld for the first time in Utah!
No outside alcohol or outside food.  Tokens not redeemed at the end of the event will be considered void – no cash value.

Cheers!