New Beer Friday 5/3/24

Even though May 4th isn't until Saturday, you can't have enough Star Wars and beer. Saturday there will be dozens of Star Wars themed specials and gatherings at various pubs and bars, like Black Sheep's Star Wars - Salt Flats tap-takeover. 

And if that wasn't enough, Lagerpalooza is happening Saturday as well at Bewilder Brewing. Winners of the lagers only beer festival and home brew competition will get their recipes professionally made and packaged the following year. It all Starts at 11am. 

And....Cinco De Mayo is Sunday, but Saturday will also see plenty of revealers with special Mexican style ales and lagers peppered throughout the Wasatch Front and Back. 

You're still board? How 'bout South Salt Lake City's Annual Mural Fest. Visit some of the many breweries in SSL while the murals are created. Hit up Chappell Brewing, Grid City, Shades, Saltfire and Level Crossing.  

Are you still being a greedy little beer nerd? I thought so... it's Kentucky Derby day! Pubs all over will be having drink specials and I hear "interesting" hats are encouraged in places like The Garten at Mountain West Cider and The Bruce Scottish Pub. 

Speaking of drink specials: Beer Nerd Radio has Beehive Distilling in the Radio Pub. Steph and I are really looking forward to getting into some of their Iconic local spirits along with latest canned cocktails. We get started live at 2pm every Friday on 99.9FM KUAA.  

Have I given you enough??? Now on with New Beer Friday.

Salt Flats - Prickly Pear Kölsch: Toasty aroma, slightly nutty. Prickly pear starts top of palate, it’s not overpowering and allows the Kölsch to still shine. Finishes with some Smarties fruitiness. 5.0% - on draft now at all Salt Flats locations.

Shades - Spicy Burro Sour Ale: This "Jalapeño Mexi-Style Margarita" beer has Chipotle aroma for sure. Taste is the same with more chipotle and less lime. You still get plenty of the Kveik sourness but the overall experience is more chipotle sour ale and less margarita. A dash of vinegary hot sauce would round it out.

Wasatch/Squatters - Rights of Spring: This Maibock has a sweet herbal and toasty/nutty nose. Tastes spot-on for style. Sweet honey-like malt that aren’t cloying but conveys this is a Bock bier. Hops are traditional and herbal. A very nice beer… and maibocks are generally not my jam. No pun intended. 7.1% - Available at Wasatch/Squatters.

Wasatch/Squatters - Wallabier: Brilliant clarity. Not much aroma. Taste is toasty with light caramel & honey. Hops are floral & slightly herbal. Co2 is super prickly - per style. I’m really enjoying this prickly crispy boi. 5.0% - Available at Wasatch/Squatters.

Wasatch/Squatters - Limousine Driver: More clear beer! This Steamer has a slight toasty and herbal scent. Very light mouthfeel, almost too light. Some toasted grain and a hint of fruitiness from yeast. Aussie Sparkling Ale has more going on and style-wise it shouldn’t. Though it is crispy! 5.0% - Available at Wasatch/Squatters.

Offset - Extra Special DoPo: Missed this session IPA. 5.0% - Available at Offset.

Desert Edge - Coconut Porter: Dark black body, one finger off white head, good retention, no lacing. Light coconut water, mild milk chocolate and a bit of roast. It works well here, fairly straightforward porter with a good coconut flavor to it. Lighter medium bodied, good carbonation, slight char on the finish, dab of espresso. 5.0% - Available at Desert Edge.

Proper - Big Sky tiny Tree: Citra forward WCPA. Brilliant clarity… it’s tangerine dream. 5.0% - On now at Proper.

Roosters - El Doce Mexican Lager: Refreshing crisp lager brewed with a flaked maize and Citra hops.  5.0% - Available at all Roosters locations.

Roosters - Serrano Pale Ale (Maria Pale Ale): Brewed with fresh Serrano Chilis and a Citra Hop. The slight spice from the Chilis is balanced with a floral body and citrus finish.  5.0% - Available at all Roosters locations.

Roosters - Ocaso Mexican Amber Lager: Bold character with caramel and roasted malt, mildly hopped for a crisp finish. 5.0% - Available at all Roosters locations.

Uinta - Millions of Peach-ish IPA: This beer is dry-hopped with experimental hop varietals HBC 1019, HBC 630 and Alora. A thick malt bill backs up peeks of nature’s candy, citrus flashes and fleshy stone fruit drops on the palate. 7.8% - Available at Uinta.

Zar Brewing - Zardetto Prosecco: So, Untappd has this as an “Australian Sparkling ale”. I thought the Prosecco part of the name may be a play on a theme. Na, it’s straight up Prosecco, not beer at all. That being said, it’s a nice Prosecco. Not too sweet, medium effervescence.

New Mexico Craft - Bohemian Steam: Yeah, 0-2 on the new stuff at Beer Zombies. This is NOT the Bohemian Steam from New Mexico Brewing. This IS Bohemian Brewing’s Steamer. A great beer if you haven’t had it, my score reflects the BoHo Steamer. Someone screwed the pooch on this week’s menu. 

Urban Artifact - Hobnail Extra Thick: Missed this fruit beer with wild Canadian blueberries. 10.1% - Found at Salckwater and The Bayou.

Cheers!