New Beer Friday 9/15/17

Two very different local beers from three breweries to help get your weekend started. Confused? Don't be. It's just another New Beer Friday.
 
Epic - Barrel Aged Imperial Pumpkin Porter: If you're not a fan of pumpkin beers or are just over them already, I have a beer that may just change your mind. This new barrel aged version of Epic's pumpkin porter takes an already tasty beer and and gives it more depth with the addition of bourbon. The whiskey enhances the pie spices present and softens the cocoa and roasty notes of the base porter. The result is a highly drinkable and complex beer that is much more than a pumpkin beer. You can snag this beer only at Epic's Sugar House Brewpub. It's available to-go, or you can enjoy it there, via sample, 5 ounce pour of the full bottle. 10.3% ABV

Fisher/RoHa Collaboration - RoFish Wet-hopped IPA: This is the first collaboration between these two new 2017 breweries. Chris Haas of RoHa and Colby Frazier of Fisher have had a long friendship that dates back to their time brewing togther at Desert Edge. This Wet-hop beer has a great hoppy nose that reminds me of citrus zest and pine. The flavor is the same, nice hop profile... Perhaps a little grassy as it warms. There's just enough pale malt to balance it all out. Very drinkable session IPA. 4.0% ABV. Available at Fisher Brewing and the  RoHa Brewing Project today.

Is there something you found that I may have missed? Please share!

Cheers!

Epic - Sugar House: Reimagined

Epic Brewing Company has become one of Utah's most explosive craft beer brands. Their beers are highly sought after both in and outside of it's Salt Lake City based home. Hell, just look at their Big Bad Baptist and Oak and Orchard series of beers, they're some of the most complex beers you'll find from a local brewery.

There's one place on the planet that Epic has had a tough time making a go-of-it, Sugar House. For some reason that wonderful brewpub just can't find it's rhythm. It's first incarnation (The Annex) wanted to be gastro brewpub that served a more refined menu that other brewpubs in the state weren't attempting. The food was well received but the price point didn't meet the needs of the brewpub crowd. The second incarnation (Black Sheep at Epic) put the restaurant's kitchen in the hands of Provo's Black Sheep Cafe. Though the menu was less expensive and more approachable, it just wasn’t financially feasible for that partnership to continue at that location.

Right now Epic - Sugar House is temporarily closed as it is remodeled for it's third phase. The emphasis now will turn more towards the beer and less to the kitchen. "Our focus will be on the beer and creating a fun". Says Jennie Richau, Director of Epic's Retail Operations. "we're now looking towards a more casual environment where people can come to enjoy our full portfolio of beers and hang out with friends". Part of that "casual environment" will include gaming devices, more TVs, along with Epic's full portfolio of beers. Every damn beer that Epic offers will be served as samples, full pours and individual bottles, along with seasonal and Utah Session Series draft pints. 

There will also be beer specials with $2 - 10oz select drafts every Mon, Tues and Wed. and look for the brewers to deliver more small batch - out out of the box beers.  As far as the food is concerned there will be a small, quick menu that will be offered at a counter service-style set up, which may expanded in the the future. Epic - Sugar House is set to reopen sometime in the next two weeks. 

This is a really great space, that in my opinion offers far more enjoyment (and elbow space) than the tiny "Tapless Taroom" at the main brewery. If your a fan of Epic,"this the place" in SLC. Stay close for news on the re-opening.   

Cheers! 

The Annex is No More

The Annex by Epic Brewing is done, gone, no more. It's been relegated to the pages of Utah's beer history. In It's place?... well, it's still the same brewpub we all love, it just has a different name. Epic Brewing Sugar House is the re-branding of Salt Lake City's southern most brewpub, that probably way overdue. 

The Annex has done a fair amount of business, but it's struggled to find a following. On the flip side, the Epic Brewing brand is enjoy massive growth both in and out of Utah. It only makes sense that Utah's only [appropriately sized] Epic Brewpub should ride some of that wave.

If you're a fan of Epic's beers and haven't visited Epic - Sugar House, it is [in my opinion] the best way to enjoy Epic's complete line of beers. Yeah, Epic's Tapless Taproom at the downtown brewery is tiny, quaint and close to the brewing action. However I'd like to emphasize the "tiny part". A party of four is pretty much filling up the place. The advantage of Epic - Sugar House? It has everything The State Street brewery has, including the full line of of Epic's Utah Session Series beers - not to mention greater elbow room, spacious patio, flat-screen, a bottleshop, a more diverse dinning experience and of course every Epic beer served by the glass, not just the whole bottle.

This is a great time to re-familiarize yourself with this great craft beer jewel in Sugar House.

Cheers!