New Beer/Brewery Friday: Silver Reef Brewing Company

The Saint George area of Utah hasn't been this geeked for beer since the area's first breweries opened up in the late 1870s. As far as my research has determined, the first brewery in that neck of the woods was the B. Noebling Brewery that operated briefly in 1879 and closed that same year. A year later the Welte Brewery opened and managed to make a go of it from 1878-1888.

That's the only trace of legal breweries that I could find. Now the long, long, long beer drought is over with opening of the Silver Reef Brewing Company. The name is taken from the old mining town of Silver Reef (where the two previously mention breweries hailed from) and is owned by Ellis Island Hotel and Brewery out of Las Vegas. The brewery is located at 4391 S Enterprise Drive, St. George and the beer is for sale at brewery's retail store now. Kegs are supposedly en route to Salt Lake, so stay close to see where they end up.

In addition to craft beer, St. George’s Beverage (Silver Reef) also has plans to operate as a distillery and winery producing Southern Utah wine with the existing vineyard in Chanela Farms located on Pine Valley Mountain.

St. George beer nerds, listen up! We need tasting notes on these beers so share your thoughts if you've had them! 

Silver Reef - Mexican-Style Lager: No tasting notes

Silver Reef - Fresh and Juicy Ale: No tasting notes

Silver Reef - White Dome IPA: No tasting notes

T.F. - Harvey Cream Stout: Described as having dark chocolate with roasted malts jive with slight cream sweetness. The nitro gas accentuates the creaminess giving it a silky feel. 4.0% - Available at T.F. Brewing.

Hopkins - Twilight Saison: Described as having dark roasted malts combine with spicy phenolic yeast to produce a mixed bag of cocoa/char and herbal clove. 4.0% - Available at Hopkins 

Zion - Pomegranate Sour:  Described as having fresh, mildly tart pomegranate that starts the flavors with a trace of pie crust. Light and balanced. 4.0% - Found at Beer Bar.  

Saltfire - Barrel Aged Dirty Chai Stout: Look for chocolate and coffee; combined with chai spices that play off of subtle note of bourbon. 9.3% - Available at Saltfire and better beer pubs around the Wasatch Front

Shades - Not Your Mama’s Wassail: It’s described as having a bit of wheat and is lemony/tart with spices added. 4.0% - Available at Shades starting today.

Full Sail - Atomizer: Described as having a touch of grapefruit zest and hints of pine along with a slight sugar cookie sweetness. Crisp feel, bright and balanced just bordering the bitter side with a dry finish. 7.0% - Available at DABC.

Oskar Blues - Can O Bliss:  Described as hazy yellow/gold in color with a pungent aroma of grapefruit, passion fruit and vague citrus rind. Front to back you get a salad of citrus with lots of fruity tones and little bitterness. Finishes on the sweet side. 7.2% - Found at the Bayou.

Oskar Blues - Guns ‘N’ Rosé: Described as clear Pink in color with a very botanical nose of hibiscus and rose water. The taste is prickly pear like with more botanicals and a slight tartness. Not too overpowering. 6.0% - Found at the Bayou.

Prost!

Image provided by Silver Reef Brewing

New Beer Friday 1/18/19

Shades - Kveik #9: This is similar to Shades' gold medal winning Kveik #1, however this one was made with Lemon Drop hops. Look for a little more lemon twang, it also slightly sweeter which gives it a little more balance between malt and tart. Very nice sour. 6.3%. Available at Shades.

Proper - Snow Plow: This "citrus pale ale" is made with grapefruit peel, lemon peel. It's obviously citrus forward with complimenting hops. English/American blend yeast strain adds to the character. 4.0% - Available at Proper

Uinta - Elevated Red:  Brewer Brandon Kemmer said that being a California native who relocated to Utah, he wanted to brew a beer in tribute to the state of Utah and its red rocks to the south, and pine-filled mountains to the east. Brewed with piney hops and the addition of spruce tips add a slight piney flavor and aroma to this mild ale.

Saltfire - A Series of Singularities "Matuwhatka"- From Saltfire: If the Citra Ninja wandered about New Zealand and mistook some hop plants for blood enemies then the carnage left behind could only be the Motueka hop verital....varital...varietal! Damn it! Anyway. Announcing the next in our Singularity line of IPAs this citrusy (is that even a word?) hop with notes of tropical fruit from the islands down under is sure to throw a Shuriken blade into your frontal cortex. Doors open at 3pm

Full Sail Malted Milkshake Style IPA: Described as having an aroma of sweet pineapple. Taste is tropical fruit pine resin and bready malt. 6.8% - Available at DABC

Wasatch West Coast IPA: Fruity aroma and taste with tangerine/orange being the most prominent. Isn't very fizzy as it goes down but it finishes smooth and very drinkable. Quite enjoyable and definitely a pick-up if you want a new IPA to try. 6.5% - Available to go in Park City only. Available to enjoy at all Wasatch/Squatters Locations.

Fisher California Common: Very light sweet malt aroma. Light sweet malt, a hint of light fruit with a spicy hop flavor and finish. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Toasted Barrel BA Raspberry Porter: This is described as having a bit of barrel character, slight raspberry, and a bit of tartness, that balances it out more than bitterness. 6.7% - Limited at Toasted Barrel. starting tomorrow.

Dogfish Head 75 Minute IPA: Described as being a blend two Dogfish Head favorites, add maple syrup and carbonate the mixture naturally. The carbon dioxide trapped during bottle conditioning gives 75 Minute IPA a soft and velvety mouthfeel. Dry-hopped with whole-leaf Cascades,

Crazy Mountain Snowcat Coffee Stout: Dry roasted coffee, smooth rich dark chocolate malts.
Coffee bean nose. Brown/black, opaque, with a tan foamy head with delicate lace.
Medium body. 5.9% - Available at DABC.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 5/11/18

Ummm... we have a lot of beers to deal with this week; the majority of these coming from new breweries entering the market. Both Double Mountain and Odell breweries hit the Wasatch Front this week - with them comes a great variety of tasty new suds. Buckle up for a lengthy read.

Kiitos Rye Pale Ale:  Nice spicy rye with a lot of orange peel bitterness. Some lemon and pine in the finish. 4.0%. Available at Kiitos.

Kiitos North east Style DIPA: Lots of citrus, pineapple and maybe a bit of papaya. The taste starts out a bit sweeter and finishes with just a bit of an alcohol kick. Definitely more complex than its more readily available younger brother.

2 Row Barrel Aged Dangeraux: This is a great pairing of saison and chardonnay. This isn't a sour beer, but the vinious qualities and the estery notes from the yeast trick the tongue into thinking your going down that road. I really loved this beer. 10.4% - Available at 2 Row, Slackwater

Double Mountain Hop Lion: Dank pine resin, generic citrus flesh, some muddled tropical fruitiness. The taste is pleasantly caramel like with some orange and grapefruit citrus peel. There’s an earthy quality as well with a mildly dank, leafy, :and piney hoppiness. 6.7% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar

Double Mountain Pale Death: Aroma of tropical fruits and Belgian esters. This taste has tropical hops up front with the yeast's fruity esters melding with the malt sweetness. 9.3% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar.

Double Mountain Aging Experimental 9 3/4 Sour: stout 9.0%

Double Mountain Oak Aged Cider: apple brandy and whiskey aged 9.7% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar.

Double Mountain Devil's Cuvee Kriek: Bing and Vann cherries create a tart, fruity aroma with hints of leather and a dry funk. The flavor is of course tart cherries with a nice level of low PH tartness. It finishes with a spicy/funky Belgian yeastiness. 9.5% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar.

Double Mountain No Collusion: This Imperial Stout is full of char, licorice and mild dark fruit. The back end is fairly bitter throwing the whole thing off. It's okay. 10.4% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar.

Double Mountain The Eleven: This English style Barley wine is full of burnt toffee cocoa and vanilla with a hint of citrus peel. This is probably the best barley wine I've had in months. You need this in your life. 13.2% - Available exclusively at Beer Bar.

Odell Green Coyote: I missed out on this Berliner weisse with tomatillios. I'm definitely seeking this one out today. 5.2% - Available at the Bayou, DABC .

Odell 90 Schilling: This is one of those beers that put Odell on the map. This amber ale is mildly malt with a moderate dose of floral and piney hops. 5.3% - Available at Beer Bar, Beerhive, DABC, Dick n' Dixie's

Odell IPA: In my opinion, one of the best IPAs ever. Big orange peel and malt aroma. The taste is bitter citrus right off the bat followed by a nice dose of caramel and tropical fruits. 7.0% - Available at Beer Bar, Beerhive, Dick n' Dixie's, DABC

Odell Rupture: They call this a "fresh grind ale". Juicy aroma with lots of grapefruit, orange peel and crackers. The taste has a big dose of pine resin, mango, orange juice and grapefruit peel. has a lingering resinous finish. 6.0% - Available at the Bayou

Odell Drumroll: This unfiltered American Pale Ale is a solid, easy drinking beer with great tropical fruit notes. 5.3% - Available at the Bayou

Odell Myrcenary: This DIPA has a nose full of pineapple, grapefruit and pine. The flavor follows with juicy grapefruit, booze and pine.

Odell Loose Leaf: Found this on draft at Beer Bar. The nose is piney with grapefruit. The taste has mild grapefruit, thin malts and pine. Some tart citrusy fruits round it out. 4.0%

Full Sail Summa' Time Lime Lager: Missed out on this one. 4.5% - Available at DABC

Wasatch Coconut Curry Kolsch: Reminds me of a vague Thai curry dish. Pleasant doses of both curry and coconut. 4.0% - Available at Wasatch's PC Brewpub and the UBC's West Side Tavern

Brewery Ommegang GOT Hand of the Queen: Missed out on this Game of Thrones Barley Wine 10.7% - Available at DABC.

Tune in to KBER 101 today at 3:30 as we discuss all of these beers and other beer topics.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/2/18

2 Row Apricot Sour - There's a medium dose of lemony tartness with some noticeable apricot. Apricot is a little subtle for the level of tartness here, but if you like 'em tart this, you'll love this. 7.9%. At 2 Row and better beer pubs.

Full Sail: Session EZ IPA -  This session NE style IPA has a great fruity profile with a nice dose of citrus. Can’t go wrong here. 4.8%. Had it at Beer Bar.

Kiitos NEIPA - This new addition to Kiitos’ lineup is super tropical and fruity as well. It’s super fresh and it has Kiitos’ pop top can. 7.3% at Kiitos.

Deschutes Swivel Head Red IPA - I have not tried this one yet. 6.5%. At select DABC stores.

Sierra Nevada Hazy Little Thing IPA - Again, Another solid NE style IPA. This one has a slightly more better finish than the previous IPAs mentioned. Very nice. 6.7%  I had it at Beer Bar.

RoHa Brewing Project Belgian Pale Ale - This has the typical farmhouse nose, but is easy on the pallet. Not overly fruity and drinks like a pale ale.  If you want to introduce your taste buds to a mellow Belgian beer, this is the ticket. 4.0%. Available at RoHa.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/18/17

Not only is it New Beer Friday, but it's also Utah Beer Fest weekend. There will be a ton of breweries and a shload of beers pouring at the state fairgrounds. Follow the links to get an idea of what to expect. Here's all of the other info you may need. Hope to see you there!

Full Sail Session - Watermelon Wheat: Pretty much as advertised. The nose has watermelon and the taste is subtle watermelon flavor with wheat. You already know if this is your thing or not. Proceed accordingly. 5.4% ABV @ DABC

Anchor - Coffee Porter: This beer is brand new practically everywhere and not many have had it yet, including me. Look for nice coffee notes that don't overwhelm the base porter. 6.7% ABV @ DABC

Kona - Lemongrass Luau: A lot of ginger in the nose with some hops. The taste is big with herbal, ginger, lemon peel, and grass. The lemongrass is most prominent in the end. The ginger is just too strong for me, but I'm not a huge ginger root guy. If your a fan? you'll probably love this light and crisp ale. 5.0% ABV

Ninkasi - Oktoberfest: This seems to be a new incarnation of their Festbier that hit this time last year. This version is heavily bitter for marzen (though they don't cal it that). Picking out the malts is a bit difficult which should be easy because this should be more malt driven. It does indicate that it is dry-hopped. It's not a bad beer but if you're looking for a tradition Oktoberfest Lager this may leave you wanting. 5.9% ABV @ Beer Bar

Wasatch - Nitro Pumpkin: Though it's technically not a new beer, it's nitrogen conditioning takes this beer into other dimensions. The pie spices are prominent and the bitterness is low. It's kinda cool to try this beer side-by-side with it's CO2 brother to see how different the same beer can taste with different gasses.  Which do you like better? 4.0% ABV @ Grocery, C-stores, Bayou

Don't forget to tune in to New Beer Friday on KBER 101 this afternoon at 3:30 as Mick, Allen and myself discuss these beers and other Utah beer related stuff.

Prost!

New Beer Friday 7/21/17

Talisman - Season Ale - Raspberry Gose: Lemon mostly dominates with a bit of brine. The raspberry is subtle and has a tough time getting past the tartness. Nice and refreshing. 4.0% ABV. @ Talisman

Talisman - Talisman Presents N.E. IPA: Not tried this one yet. Look for an IPA with low bitterness and high amounts of citrus and tropical fruit notes. 7% ABV. @ Talisman

Full Sail - Cherry Black:  The nose has cherry, backed by faint notes of cocoa. The taste follows with  black cherry, then a healthy dose of cocoa. Some grassy bitterness in the finish help to balance it out. 5.4% ABV. @ DABC

Proper - Guava Skittlebrau: The Guava really shines on this latest incarnation of Skittlebrau. The malts are slightly toasty and there's a slight tartness in the finish. Very nice. 4.0% ABV. @ Proper

Proper - Delightsome White IPA: Love the name of this WIPA. Doughy coriander with spicy citrus peel. A nice change of pace. 4.0% ABV. @ Proper

Epic Coffee Cream Ale: The nose has toasted grain and coffee - slightly nutty too. The taste is mostly cereal driven with subtle coffee flavors. It works pretty well, the coffee here is more of accent rather than the primary driver. Nice beer. 5.6% ABV @ Epic

Payette - Aura Guava and Hibiscus:  Lots of tart cranberry and unripened guava. I'm not big on hibiscus, luckily it's nicely restrained. Well rounded and tasty. 4.0% ABV. @ Harmons

Cheers!

New Beer Friday - Happy Place Edition

This probably one of the best weekends to drown out all of the noise. Pop in your favorite 8-track, pour yourself some new beers and deal with the rest on Monday.

Strap Tank's New Hope Brown - Made with 50 lbs of 'Organa' Texas roasted pecans, cinnamon, orange peel and apricot. It's described as an uber crushable spiced-brown ale and Strap Tank's ode to a lifelong inspiration of Carrie Fisher, and new beginnings. 4.0% ABV @ Strap Tank

Proper's Snow Plow Pale - This American pale ale is described as both dry-hopped (think Citra and Lemondrop) and dry. . .peeled (meaning they added grapefruit and lemon peel after fermentation), resulting in a bright and hoppy brew that's chock full of midwinter citric joy. 4.0% ABVFull Sail Session Black ~ Black Cherry Lager - Not tried this yet. Thanks to Matt Walker for spotting this. 6.5% ABV @ DABC

Full Sail's Papaya IPA - Full Sail describes this as having notes of papaya with Pale and wheat malts along with healthy additions of Equinox and Cascade hops provide the perfect golden base for the addition of papaya. The result is a refreshing IPA with the subtle essence of papaya. Tropical aromas of citrus, passion fruit, and papaya are well complemented by clean malt notes. Thanks to Matt Walker for spotting this. 6.2% ABV @ DABC

Stone's Enjoy by 02/14/17 - Looks like an average IPA, smells like an IPA with a bit off coffee buried far below. The taste is mostly citrus and fruity hops with some cocoa and coffee. It kinda takes this into Black IPA territory - without the black. Not too bad,  but it's not in my groove. 9.4% ABV @ The BeerHive  

Stone's Ripper - The nose has grapefruit, orange, grass, peach and caramel. The taste has a good amount of sweet caramel and toasted bread, balanced with red grapefruit, orange flesh, a bit of apricot and pineapple, and dirty grass and pine on the finish. Not sure why it's called "Ripper". It's far from getting me ripped at it's pleasant 5.7% ABV. @ Beerhive

2Row's Dark Alley Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout - Looks like Utah has a new ABV beer champ. The standard Dark Alley from 2Row is already big at 13.4%, The barrel aging in this new version bumps it up to a bulky 14.9%. Luckily it doesn't taste like it. Look for molasses cocoa, dark fruits and of course Bourbon. Great beer! it goes on sale Saturday at 11am at the brewery. Very limited. This was brewed with the cooperation of SLC's Whiskey Street. Most of the bottles can be found there if you miss out at the brewery.

2Row's Hopslinger - This new IPA debuts Saturday also. Brewmaster, Brian Colman describes this one as an unfiltered massive 2x dry hop with a ton of tropical fruitiness. This one utilizes a different yeast than most of his IPAs. He also says, "it's similar to a New England style IPA flavor-wise with the mouthfeel of of a West Coast. It's a 2Row IPA - it's gotta be wonderful! 7.2% ABV @2Row

All this and more coming up today at 3:30pm when New Beer Friday on KBER 101 hits.

And, just a little House Keeping announcement. I've decided to delete the Utah Beer Forum. We created the forum back before social media really took hold. With the advent of Facebook and all the other social media outlets it's become obsolete. I really appreciate the efforts of those participated and made it work. Please feel free to keep on doing what you've already been doing... this time with your clothes on.

Slainte!

New Beer Friday 7/8/16

We have a strong mix of local and nationally available labels this week. Pale Ale is the theme this week.

Proper Brewing Litha Imperial Saison:
The nose is earthy with some funky peppery saison yeast countered by zesty rye spices, bread, alcohol and light tropical fruit. The taste starts with a bit of pepper, clove and and coriander followed
by estery fruits. Brady malts come next witha touch of alcohol. The end has a nice balance berries and tropical hops. Finishes semi-dry. 8% ABV.  @ Proper Brewing

Goose Island Goose Green Pale Ale:
The nose has citrus and is heavy with orange rind and malt. The taste follows the aroma with a nice balance of orange and lemon zest and a solid bready malt backbone. Finishes light and dry. Overall a solidly session APA. Nothing to extraordinary but you'll be satisfied. 4.0% ABV @ Harmon's

Moab Pale Ale:
The nose has sweet, grassy malt, piney and herbal hops. Starts mildly grainy with a bit of caramel. The taste is a bit astringent herbal pine flavors come next with some heavy roasted flavors. Finishes very dry and hoppy. I really wasn't digging this one, I'm going to have to revisit this one again. It just seemed a little to dry with little in the way a malt character. 6.0% ABV. @ DABC

Full Sail Session Cream Ale:
Haven't tried this one yet. 5.4% ABV. @ DABC - Bayou

Prost!

Image found at Shipcomplient.com

New Beer Friday: Independence Edition

Many of you may have a long Independence Weekend. It's looks to be hot and windy out there, luckily our two New Beer Friday options will take the edge off your thirst nicely.

Mountain West Cottonwood Dry Hopped Cider - Dry apple with herbal and citrus hops in the nose. The taste is subtle tart apples. The hops are nicely complimentary and provide a added herbal/fruity element. Finishes very dry with prickly champagne like effervescence. If your on the fence about ciders, this one may push on to the orchard side. Mountain West's Vinologist, Joel Goodwillie has created a perfect summer drink that is very approachable and highly crushable. Available starting today at Mountain West's Cidery. 6.0% ABV

Full Sail Blood Orange Wheat - There's a pleasant biscuit, caramel malt flavor up front that has some saison-like qualities. Next comes blood orange juice, and artificial sweetener flavors. The finish has a mild bitterness that slightly piney on the finish.  Light and mildly tangy. 5.2% ABV @DABC

The Great Divide Beers are starting to pop up at a few DABC stores and a few of the beer bars. I know Beer Bar and Slackwater have picked some up. If you spot some, please share where you found them. Have a happy and safe weekend.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 4/22/16

I've been doing New Beer Friday for quite a few years now, it still blows me away that there are still so many new options hitting bars and store shelves on a weekly basis. I wish I could try them all before Friday, but I'm only one man. Here's your latest, New Beer Friday lineup. 

Bohemian Cottonwood Common (Brewers Stache Series) -Haven't tried this one yet. This beer is Boho's interpretation on a California Steam Beer. They are typically malty with some mild fruitiness and have an assertive hop bitterness. 4.0% ABV @ Bohemian

2 Row Bier De Garde - Dried fruit aromas in the nose with some light floral notes. The taste starts with big bubble gum flavors,  rich dark fruits and some dried apricot. Herbal bitterness and some phenols from the yeast round out the end balancing out the palate. Medium body. A great tasting Bier De Garde. 7.0% ABV. @ 2 Row, Beerhive, Bayou

Proper Brewing Hop vs Hop - Haven't tried this one yet. For the first version of this beer Brew master Rio Connolly decided to go with Crystal and Summit hop varieties. 7.1% ABV @ Proper Brewing, Beer Bar, 

Proper Brewing Halfway to Concord - (an old-timey phrase meaning you've had a few) is a Colonial-style porter brewed with molasses, corn, and rye. Session-strength with just the right amount of body, this is the perfect "warm weather porter" 4.0% ABV @ Proper Brewing

Lagunitas Waldo's Special Ale - Pours a orange-ish, with a nose of strong pine resin, dank hops, grapefruit and herbal notes. The taste starts with a blast of pine resin and dank hop bitterness. Grapefruit grass, pineapple, mango and vanilla, round out the back end. Finishes lemony and herbal.
Full bodied, alcohol is hidden well but will rear it's head as it warms. 11.5% ABV @ Beerhive, Beer Bar

Mother Earth Sweet Spot IPA - Graham cracker like maltiness with notes of passion fruit, melon, green berry and a light floral dankness. Finishes with a bit of peppery bitterness. Nice IPA. 6.7% ABV. @ Bayou, BeerHive  

Full Sail Bourbon Barrel Wheatwine Ale - Haven't tried this one yet. Thanks for the locator Brady! 12.0% ABV @ 300 w. Wine Store

Full Sail Classic IPA - Haven't tried this one yet. Not sure if this is just a re-branding of their regular IPA. @DABC

Upslope Oatmeal Stout - Haven't tried this one yet. 5.0% ABV. @ DABC

Blue Moon Belgian Table Pils - Haven't tried this one yet. 4.0% ABV. @ Grocery/Convenience Stores

Estrella Jalisco - This light-flavored Mexican pilsner from Guadalajara, Jalisco is very popular south of the boarder and is now available in the states. 4.0% ABV @ Grocery/Convenience Stores.

Don't forget, we do New Beer Friday reviews and discussions on KBER 101, every Friday afternoon at 3:30pm with Mick and Allen. Check it out if you can.

Cheers!

New Beer Year Friday!

Yea, the first day of 2016 just happens to be New Beer Friday! To ring in the new year there is a great new selection of classic styles that are fresh and ready to go. Happy New Year!

Oskar Blues Beerito - Haven't Tried this new Vienna Lager Yet. 4.0% ABV @Limited Grocery stores for now.

Oskar Blues Pinner - Pours a chazy golden color with a cap of nice foam. The nose is piney and floral. The taste has nice tropical fruit and grapefruit with a subtle malt foundation that doesn't get in the way. Finishes very piney and bitter. A great session IPA. 4.9% ABV @Beer Bar

Oskar Blues Dale's Pale Ale - Pours an amber color with a sturdy white foamy head. The nose  has citrus peel pine and some malty metallic aroma. Tastes of bright grapefruit hops balanced with honeyish malt. Mouthfeel incredibly smooth and pleasant. A great, accessible pale ale. 6.5% ABV @Beer Bar

Oskar Blues G'knight - Pours an amber red with a thick head that lingers. The nose is subtle with malt and some citrus. The taste is great with notes of orange peel and lemon as well as caramel from the malt, and a bit of grapefruit pine from the hops. Complex yet with a style behind it. Damn tasty! 8.7% ABV @Beer Bar

Oskar Blues Old Chub - The nose is roasty malt with coffee and a bit of molasses. The taste is like the aroma but more pronounced, resulting in a very deep and rich flavor. There is no hops presence. The carbonation was perfect as was the full/medium body. 8.0% ABV @Beer Bar

Oskar Blues Mama's Little Yella Pils - Pours a straw yellow with a little foamy head The nose has sweet malt with a light grassy aroma The taste starts out with a clean grassy bite with large sweet malt balance, light hint of lemon zest in the finish. 5.3% ABV @Beer Bar

Santa Fe Gold American Golden Ale - I haven't tried this yet. described as cracker base with floral and lemony hops. 4.0% ABV @Grocery/Convenience stores

Full Sail Pub's Powder Stash Pale Ale - Haven't tried this one yet either. Described as a Simcoe based Pale Ale. 5.0% ABV @DABC

Wasatch Rescue Dog Brown - The nose is nutty with toasty caramel and herbal hops. The taste follows with toasty biscuit and mild caramel, some dark breads and piney hops in the end. wet. Semi-dry finish. 4.0% ABV @Wasatch - Seasonal Tap Handels.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 11/13/15

Congratulations, you've made it this far. Now you just have to take it! No worries though... there no trap - just good beer and cider in this week's New Beer Friday. Just a reminder that New Beer Friday has it's own radio segment now on KBER 101 Fridays at 3:30pm on Mick and Allen's show. Tune in if you have the time. 

Bohemian Session Bock - Bohemian Brewery’s latest Brewer’Stache is made from the second runnings of their upcoming Doppelbock. Meaning, after collecting enough strong wort for a high alcohol Doppelbock there was enough sugar left in the mash to make a second session beer.  The Session Bock is unfiltered with a hazy reddish brown appearance.  The flavor is sweet and toasty with hints of toffee and caramel.  The beer finishes with rich malts and hints of dark fruit from the German lager yeast. The 4.0% Session Bock is available on draft today at the Brewery and we'll of course keep you up to date on the new BoHo Dopplebock as it's release date get near

Upslope Blood Orange Saison - Pours a clear golden, cider color with a thin but tight white head. The nose has oranges peel with some spices. The taste starts with oranges and some spicy/estery yeast. some thin doughy wheat flavors come next with notes of coriander and white pepper rounding out the back end. 6.0% ABV @ Slackwater Soon to DABC

Mountain West Ruby Hard Cider - Pours a brilliant clear golden color with a nose of dry apple. The taste follows the nose with subtle apple sweetness combined with some minor green apple tartness. Finishes nicely dry. This is my kind of cider. Brilliant! 6.8% ABV

Squatters Rye Chai -  This beer is a chai tea infused dark rye ale that is served on nitro. 4.0% ABV @ Squatters Downtown Brewpub.

Squatters Rauchbier -  A rye a ale that is brewed with smoked malt.  This imparts a smoky dryness to the beer  that is meant to complement the sweeter malts in the brew. 4.0% ABV @  Squatters Downtown Brewpub

Returning Favorites

Wasatch Winter First One Down - The former Wasatch Winterfest, 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 roastiness in there as well. Very nicely balanced with a well hidden 7.1% abv.


New Belgium Accumulation: The nose is a hoppy blend of grass, grapefruit and lemon with a touch of earthiness. The taste is similar, tart and grassy, but more earthy and with a pleasant spiciness as the flavor lingers on the tongue. Better than most White IPAs, still not better than Ghostrider. 6.2% ABV
@ Bayou, soon to DABC

Full Sail Session Fest: Pours a nice shiny copper color with just a bit of haze. Little bit of eggshell colored head makes a brief appearance. The nose is of toasted grain, slight caramel & floral hops in the background.  The taste starts with biscuits and toast alongside some caramel malty goodness make for a nice refreshing brew. Hops add just a bit to florals to balance things out. Mouthfeel is light, crisp, and refreshing. Flavors don't exactly 'wow' you but it's still got enough going on to keep it interesting. @ Bayou - DABC

Also, Congrats to Epic and Uinta for medaling in the 2015 Brussels Beer Challenge. Uinta's Cutthroat came away with a gold medal for best Bitter and Epic's Big Bad Baptist came away with a silver medal in the coffee beer category. Shades of Pale's Tap Room is finally opening. Head on over to the brewery tomorrow and check it out. They'll have food truck(s), music and of course Beer!

Cheers!

New Beer Friday: Pie & Beer Day Edition

Oh yeah, Baby! It's New Beer  Friday, and if that's not enough for you to celebrate it's also Pie & Beer Day! I know that many of you have your Pie & Beer Day celebrations already planned out. Weather your celebrating at home with friends and family or hitting some of the many planned events around the Wasatch Front, these great new beer option can only make your day better.
 
Squatters - Safety Meeting IPA: All Vienna malts and 100% Summit hops - create a damn refreshing citrus blast in this seasonal session IPA. 4.0% ABV @Squatters - Pair with Cheesecake

Pelican - Golden Pelican:  Herbal, fruity and hoppy nose with a spicy rye flavor profile that works well with the fruity and spicy Aramis hops and farmhouse yeast. 8.5% ABV @Beerhive, Beer Bar, Slackwater, Bayou - Pair with Cherry Pie

Pelican - Flock Wave Pale Ale: Bright floral and citrusy nose. The taste has smooth wheat characteristics with a crisp citrus peel snap. Finishes light and dry. 5.9% ABV @Beerhive, Beer Bar, Slackwater, Bayou - Pairs with Rhubarb Pie

Full Sail - Session IPA: Light citrus in the nose. The taste is slightly grassy with cirus and pine beneth. Malts are light. Refreshing light body. It's not going to blow your mind but it'll do. 5.1% ABV @Beer Bar - Pairs with Quiche

Aztec  -Sacrifice Red India Ale: Dank, hoppy nose. The hoppy bitterness comes on strong and lingers throughout. Big caramel and roast malt flavors are intense as well. Quite dry and roasty for a Red Ale. 7.6% ABV @Beer Bar, Slackwater, Barrelhouse - Pairs with Pecan Pie 

Aztec  - Hop Serpent: Flowery and piney nose with a nice woody malty taste. A hint of char comes next with herbal hops and apricot. Interesting IPA. 9.9% ABV @ Beer Bar, Slackwater, Barrelhouse - Pairs with Apple Pie

Shiner - Ruby Redbird: This Radler has a spicy grapefruit nose and a palate to match. The taste is mostly grapefruit with ginger ale backing it up. This has much more of a snap than your typical raddler. 4.0% ABV @ Harmons  - Pairs with Custard Pie

Santa Fe - Black IPA: Roasted malt, pine and orange peel in the nose. The taste starts with a big dose of char and toffee. Strong piney hops come next with a hint of citrus in the back. Finished bone dry. I think I'm loosing my enthusiasm for the Black IPAs. It's a good representation of the style. 7.1% ABV @ Beer Bar, Slackwater  Pairs with Black Berry Pie

Deschutes - Pine Drops: Big piney/citrusy nose. Herbal up front with a nice dose of honey malt. The rest of the beer is an onslaught of resinous pine and citrus. So damn tasty! 6.1% ABV @ Beer Bar - pair with Key Lime Pie

Have fun and be safe this weekend.

Prost!

New Beer Friday 6/26/15

Full Sail - Brewers Share Oatmeal Stout: Pours black with a frothy light beige head The nose is roasty with char and some espresso grinds. The taste starts roasty with a bit of ash. Espresso and bitter dark chocolate comes next with oats showing beyond the robust roasty malt. Light, tangy dark fruitiness rounds out he back end. Modestly hopped, gently bitter, with a little citrus as it warms. Not too bad but a little spendy for what it is. 5.5% ABV @Beer Bar - DABC

2 Row - Random IPA #1: Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a good two fingers of off-white foam the nose has notes of caramel, tangerine peel, piney hops with some orangey citrus - bit of booze as well. The taste starts with resiny hop flavors of pine, a bit earthy and bright citrus. Nice balance to this. Hoppy, but not a total hop bomb either. Fruity tropical bitterness rounds out the end. Nice full bodied DIPA - Slight alcohol heat. Hoppy but not over - this is pretty damn tasty! 8.5% ABV @2 Row Brewing, Beer Bar, Beerhive & Bayou

Shades of Pale - Beer X White IPA: Pours a murky orange with a foamy beige head that settles to a partial film on top of the beer. The nose is of malt, citrus fruit, tropical fruit, and pineapple aromas. Taste is much the same with citrus zest and tropical fruit flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of hop bitterness. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with a great tropical aroma and some tasty flavors. If you want to try this beer you'll have to attend the WeeBEER Festival in Ogden this Saturday. It should be available for purchase at the brewery sometime next week.

And a quick reminder that there are two Beerfests happening this weekend. The WeeBEER in Ogden and Wendover Beer Fest in Wendover, NV. The WeeBEER Fest will be debuting Laughing Dog's beers in the market along with many other options and Wendover will have a lot of hard to find - not available in Utah beers. You'll win no matter which one you choose.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 6/12/15

Sorry that New Beer Friday has been absent the last few weeks. Between a slow release schedule and a little "me" time, things got lost. Well, it's back now - in all of it's twisted glory... tall tales and all. Oh and by the way, The Upslope beers are here!

Uinta Contrail White: Pours a somewhat cloudy straw color. The nose is doughy with hints of coriander. The taste is similar with doughy bread and dry crackers. Coriander spiciness comes next with a moderate amount of florals and grass rounding out the end. 4.0% ABV @grocery

Ballast Point Even Keel: Pours a golden amber color with a nose that citrusy and floral. The taste starts with tangerine rind and grapefruit. Thin malts come next - the end is quite bitter and dry. It's nice, I was hoping for a little more from a Ballast Point offering. 3.8% ABV @Bayou, Beer Bar on draft. Should be available in can a some grocery.

Rogue VooDoo Doughnut Lemon Chiffon Crueller: Me no try yet. 6.9% ABV @better beer bars and some DABC

Rogue Brutal IPA: pours a light amber color with a citrusy nose - whiffs of malt as well. Nice balance  of caramel malts and citrus peel. A very easy drinking IPA. 5.8% ABV @most better beer bars and DABC

Full Sail Cascade Pilsner: pours a brilliantly clear golden yellow with a nose of toast, citrus and pine. The taste follows with nice toasty grains and bright cirus from the cascade hops. A bit of malt sweetness comes next with pine rounding out the end. A wonderfully drinkable American lager. 4.5% ABV @Bayou, DABC

Mother Earth Big Mother: Pours a hazy apricot color with a big fruity citrus nose - a little boozy too. The taste starts fruity with some mango and apricot. Big juicy hops come next, full of grapefruit and tangerine. Chewy caramel comes next with a little alcohol heat. For a 10.8% IPA it's pretty well balanced. Just don't underestimate it. @Beerhive

Upslope Craft Lager: Yup! They're here. Pours a crystal clear pale yellow color with a nose of toast, grain and grass. The taste is grainy sweet with a slight corny flavor. Hop are grassy and spicy. Nice, very drinkable lager. 4.8% ABV @Beer Bar

Upslope India Pale Ale: Pours A somewhat dark amber color with a nose of citrus peel and pine – hints of chewy malts as well. The taste is malty up front with a hint of toffee. Big bitter citrus rind comes next with a bit of pine resin in the end. This is more like a strong pale ale to me - rather than an IPA. Nice beer. 7.2% ABV @Beer Bar

Upslope Brown Ale: Me no try yet. 6.7% ABV @Beer Bar

Did I miss anything? Let me know. 

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 10/24/14

New Belgium - Hop The Pond: Nice golden amber in color. The nose has some Mango and tangerine notes with light malt. The taste starts tropical as well with intense hop fruitiness and light caramel malt to balance it all out. The end is quite bitter with mostly pine resins.This is a really nice and drinkable Double IPA. The 8% ABV is well hidden, which could make it quite dangerous. @ Beerhive

Full Sail - Brewers Share Mathias’s Main Ingredient Oatmeal Stout: Pours black with a bi of tan head. The nose has some coffee and burnt toast aromas. The taste starts with a hint of sweetness that soon turns into char. The burnt flavors linger on a bit and transition into to lemon rind bitterness in the end. Finishes bone dry. Oatmeal stouts should have a serious smoothness and sweetness from the oats. This has non of that. It's way to dry and almost acrid. If you like American Stouts this may be more your style, if you into oatmeal stout look the other way. 5.5% ABV @ Beerhive

Sometimes these beers will pop-up at the DABC stores, you can never anticipate where or when, so if you come across any of them please fell free to come back here and spread the love.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/2/13

Yes! A special New Beer Friday with a beer style never before brewed by a local brewery.

Avenues Proper Oatmeal Red: This red ale is brewed with 15% oats and served on nitro for a creamy mouthfeel, some Northwest hops for a balanced bitterness and three kinds of crystal malt for a sweet finish.

Avenues Proper Gose the Gozerian: This is the first Gose-style beer to be made in Utah. Gose have a low hop bitterness and a complementary tart dryness that accompany the use of ground coriander seeds and a sharpness from the addition of salt. Like Berliner Weisse beers, a Gose will sometimes be laced with various flavored and colored syrups. This one has no added fruit flavors. Tastes of bread, lemon, honey, coriander and has a salty mineral finish.

Samuel Adams Double Agent IPL: Smell is of malt, grapefruit juice, citrus fruit, and citrus zest. Taste is much the same with malty and citrus zest flavors on the finish. There is a medium amount of hop bitterness on the palate with each sip. This beer has a good level of carbonation with a crisp mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with some nice hoppy aromas and flavors.

Full Sail Limited Edition Lager: Nose is spicy hops and light malts with a hint of alcohol showing. Medium body and very smooth. Flavors are caramel, citrus hops, and are in good balance. Nice bitter finish. Very nice to drink.

Judging begins tomorrow morning for the 5th Annual Beehive Brewoff. 598 beers were entered into the competition this year. Be sure to show up a the Bayou this Sunday at 5pm for the award ceremony.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/1/13

These quietly slipped in the other week, one is completely new to the market.



Portland Brewing Rose Hip: Pours a bright golden color with a thin cap of head. The nose is of roses and cereal The taste starts with dry with spicy esters and a touch of citrus. An earthy/bready base comes next with the florals and grass rounding out the end.Kinda saison-esque. @ DABC


Full Sail Pale Bock: Pours a clear gold with a short, fizzy white head. the nose is sweet malt, honey, fruit notes and grassy. Taste is slightly bitter grassy notes with grains, fruit notes, sweet malt, a touch of honey and biscuit. Body is medium and crisp with a slight fizzy carbonation. Soft dryness as well. Ends with more caramel, honey, sweet malt, grains, grassy hops and soft bitter hops. @DABC

Cheers!

New Beer Friday: End of the World Edition

 As of the time of this publication, the world is still spinning. Weather you fear asteroids, alien invasions, global catastrophe or the DABC we have a way to make sure you go out looking good, while having a happy tongue.

We'll start with New Beer Friday and move on from there.

I was only able to find one new beer this week, Full Sail's Nut Brown Ale. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Others describe it as "a little buttery. Lots of the nutty roasted barley taste. There is a pleasant bitter tanginess. Warmly dark with a malty base". @ Liquor Stores

If you fear the world's end today? We have a special beer for you. If your just looking forward to the Winter Solstice? We have something for you as well. Let's start with the "Doomsdayers" shall we?

There could be no more appropriate beer for you guys & gals than Unibroue's La Fin Du Monde (The End of the World). This brilliant Canadian classic pours a hazy golden color with a towering white head. The nose is of fruity esters with notes of banana, clove, bubblegum, and a bit of spicy alcohol. The taste begins with a good deal of fruitiness (nectarine, pear, peach, mango, and white grape) and flowery honey blended with peppery clove. Next comes some powdery yeasts and a bit of bready malt followed by a touch of drying alcohol in the finish.  A great beer to "kiss your ass g'bye".  @ Liquor Stores

For you Pagans, Witches & Realists we have Anderson Valley's Winter Solstice. This fine Winter Warmer pours a beautiful reddish-brown color with a creamy, fluffy head. The nose is mildly hoppy with delicate malt sweetness. Vanilla bean is dominant with orange peel for balance. There also seemed to be a hint of nutmeg. The Taste was of roasted malt, vanilla and carameled apple. The bitterness was mild which allowed the vanilla to finish slightly above the hops. Sweet and slightly spicy, The higher alcohol (6.9% ABV) added a nice warming affect. The balanced was perfect from start to finish. I love this beer so much I buy up all that I can, as to enjoy it year round. @ Liquor Stores

We have a returning champ as well. Now, as far as I'm concerned there's only one number you should be thinking of today. Not 122112 but 529.

Squatters' 529 is an Oud Bruin style ale. If your not familiar with this Belgian style,  they are light to medium-bodied, deep copper to brown in color. They are extremely varied, characterized by a slight vinegar or lactic sourness and spiciness to smooth and sweet. A fruity-estery character is usually apparent with no hop flavor or aroma. Low to medium bitterness. 529 refers to the number of days spent in the barrels (18 months).

529 Pours a deeper amberish color with a small sized off white head. The nose is of of cherries, dust and some spiciness. The taste starts with notes of cherry tartness, caramel and brown sugar. Tobacco notes come next as well as lemon peel and sour grapes. The finish is tart, woody and dry. @ Squatters & The Beer Store.

And finally... For the Ninth Beer o' Xmas that the Beer Gnerd pushed on thee... It's RedRock's Secale!

This beer is a bock at it's base, but has the addition of rye malt and is aged in High West Rye Whiskey barrels. Secale pours a dark ruby color with a moderate two fingers of off-white head. The nose has a dry roasted malt aroma along with a light rye spiciness. It's rounded out with a mild caramel malt and vanilla aroma. The taste starts with Caramel malts and toffee. Chocolate covered raisins come next come next with a dry rye spiciness. Hints of vanilla and whiskey come next in the end, as well as a subdued hop bitterness that balances the malty sweetness in the finish. The body is full and the whiskey notes become a bit more pronounced as it warms. The 8.5% abv is well hidden but sneaks up you quickly.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday!!! 12/14/12

Sierra Nevada Narwhal: This Imperial Stout pours dense black with about half a finger of espresso colored head. The nose is a rich blend of strong, dark roasted coffee, unsweetened chocolate, and roasted barley. There is also some earthy hops making its way into the mix. The taste begins with a big shot of strong coffee along with unsweetened chocolate and roasted barley. The end is full of bold, earthy hops and spicy hops. Full bodied with some noticeable alcohol. A very nice Impy Stout. @ Beerhive - DABC

Full Sail Session Fest: Pours a nice shiny copper color with just a bit of haze. Little bit of eggshell colored head makes a brief appearance. The nose is of toasted grain, slight caramel & floral hops in the background.  The taste starts with biscuits and toast alongside some caramel malty goodness make for a nice refreshing brew. Hops add just a bit to florals to balance things out. Mouthfeel is light, crisp, and refreshing. Flavors don't exactly 'wow' you but it's still got enough going on to keep it interesting. @ Beerhive - DABC

Pelican Bad Santa:  Pours a very dark redish brown color with a large, tight khaki head. The nose is hoppy with earthy spices, a bit of citrus and some sweet malt. The taste starts with dark, toasty malt and a blast of spicy & citrusy hops. A nice, coffee like astringency and lingering, bitterness round out the finish that flashes a hint of alcohol. Sorta has a cascadian dark ale feel to it. Quite nice. @ Beerhive

Fresh Cask Friday - This is the Pilsener: Today Donovan has an unfilteted version of his Bohemian-stye pils, one cask with loads of Belma hops and the other cask with a blend of Amarillo and Czech Saaz. Servered in imperial pint dimple steins at $2.50. Starts 5pm @ Hoppers.

Returning Champs
Desert Edge Raspberry Stout @ Desert Edge
Uinta Yard Sale @ everywhere

Cheers!