New Beer Friday 8/21/20

 It's another locals only New Beer Friday. Surprisingly, there's only one hop forward beer this week. That's refreshing. Check out this nicely rounded selection. 

UTOG - Huckleberry Sour: Smells great. Some lemon, lots of huckleberry, some yogurt. Flavor is huckleberry, medium tartness, some lemongrass grass and bicarb. Light bodied with medium carb and a slightly wet finish. Pretty decent. Available at UTOG. 5.0%

Toasted Barrel - Bier de Garde: Aroma immediately hits you with whiskey, wood, red currant, toffee and biscuit. Taste is exactly as the smell would indicate, with a hint of brett, and a smooth sour and vinegar like pucker on the finish. 7.0% - Available at Toasted Barrel.

Strap Tank - Kismet: Missed this raspberry and plum smoothie. Sounds tasty though. 4.4% Available at Strap Tank (Springville). Not vegan friendly. 

Fisher - Peach Plum Sour: Plum and peach in the nose with a hint of aspirin. Medium bodied with a crisp mouthfeel. Ripe plums and a peach undertone on the palate. Finishes dry, lightly tart, and with plenty of fruit.

Red Rock - Black is Beautiful: Organized by Weathered Souls Brewing Co, Black Is Beautiful is a collaborative effort among the brewing community and its supporters who believe in bringing awareness to the injustices that many people of color face. Red Rock is donating a portion of profits to the Utah YMCA and the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. Roasted flavors with milk chocolate and some sweet blueberry character up front. A bigger finish of milk chocolate, roasted flavors, licorice, tobacco, as well as some light sourness from the blueberries. A bold and lingering finish with roasted chocolate, tobacco, some hop bitterness and some hints of sweet-sour blueberries as well. 7.0%

Avenues Proper - Transform and Roll Out: This hazy pale ale has low bitterness with with a bigger than normal yeast profile. It's not estery at all but it's noticeable. Hops are tropical and slightly herbal. The malt comes across with pleasant and muted powdered sugar sweetness. 5.0% Only at Avenues Proper.

Mountain West Cider - Colada Be Kidding Me: This new cider mimics the classic pina colada – and it does so brilliantly. The pineapple and coconut never get out of hand and manage to keep the apple base in check. It tough to identify when the pineapple starts and the apple ends. The coconut is subtle and pleasant. Very tasty. This doesn't go on sale Monday Aug 24th. Only at  Mountain West's Cidery.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/6/20

If New Beer Friday is my ailment, I don't want to be well. If you need some weekend medicine, we have you covered.

Silver Reef - Fresh and Juicy: I missed this one, I hope to have notes on this later. 4.2% 5.0% found at the Bayou

Avenues Proper - Sir Bain's London Porter: A nice roasted malt aroma with a good dose of roast in the taste as well. It's quite powerful and almost comes across as ash. The is some dark cocoa and espresso as well, with little in the way of malt sweetness. 5.0% - Available at Avenues Proper

Bewilder - English Brown Ale: Caramel and toast in the aroma. Taste-wise it starts with a cola-like sweetness with a vague vegetable flavor. It's sweet but malt flavor is low with very subtle toasted malts. 5.0% Available at Bewilder.

Wasatch - Barrel Aged Belgian Pale Ale: Missed this one. I hope to have tasting notes on this later. This Belgian style pale was aged in Wyoming Whiskey barrels. This is very limited and only available at Wasatch's Sugar House location. 5.0%.

Melvin - Mind Bloom: A hazy peach color with tangerine, mango, pineapple lemon and grapefruit zest. Taste wise you get more of the same with papaya, pineapple, tangerine up front with nice caramel, grapefruit, and berry backing it up. 7.0% found at BeerHive.

Wildflower - Solera (Pull #4): This sour hails from Australia. This foudre sour is a spelt beer with notes of citrus, dark fruits and some balsamic notes. This is very limited and exclusive to the Bayou. 5.0%.

Revision - Smoke And Mirrors: This NEDIPA has a healthy dose of Amarillo, Citra and Mosaic hops. This gives it flavors of orange, tangerine and melon up front. Apricot, pineapple and berries round out the back end. Found at the Bayou - 8.0%

Revision - Planet Lovetron: Starts slightly grassy and herbal, opens to tropical fruit, passion fruit, mango, and a hint of pineapple, citrus, lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit, with an underlying resinous bitterness, biscuity malt, and caramel sweetness. 6.5% - Found at the Bayou.

Odell - Witkist White Ale: Normally witbiers are made with orange peel. This one uses grapefruit peel. It doesn't alter the citrus quality too much, however the yeast is super phenolic (clove, bandaid) and it comes across as a super chewy saison. Just kinda, meh for me. 5.0% Found at Beer Bar.

 Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/17/20

Congratulations, your having a New Beer Friday! Fruit is a heavy influencer this week, and 99% of them are local. Have an excellent weekend.

Avenues Proper - Charleston Cherry: This new farmhouse ale is made with local tart cherries from Woddyatt Farm. This brettanomyces beer is more fruit forward with a subtle yeast profile that brings the cherry into the foreground. Proper is on a roll right now, If you love Brett beers I'd get your hinies to Avenues Proper Sooner than later. 5.0%

Avenues Proper - Blood Orange Blizzard: This is a kettle soured IPA with blood orange added post fermentation. More tart than sour, look for a nice citrus twang with tangerine bitterness. 5.0% - Only at Avenues Proper.

Proper- Fonzie’s Jacket: A milkshake IPA made with Citra hops and lactose. Reminds me of a hoppy Orange Julius. Despite the fruit this is not a vegan friendly beer. 5.0%

Epic - Big Bad Yankee: This is the newest variant in Epic's Big Bad Baptist line-up. 'Yankee' is aged in Yankee Spirits' whiskey and rye barrels. This actually an imperial porter aged (not a stout) made with coffee, cacao, hazelnuts and vanilla. This is a very small batch, and only available at Epic's Salt Lake brewery starting this morning.

Epic - Lemon Bomb Tart n Juicy: This sour IPA is dosed with lemon juice to compliment the hop selection that is already citrus forward. No lactose in this one! 5.0% Available at Epic in growlers.

Hopkins- Deseret Dunkel: The aroma is described as malty sweet and bready, while the flavor profile is rich and complex, displaying notes of toasted bread, chocolate, and graham cracker. Bitterness is minimal. The flavor is reminiscent of Golden Graham cereal. 5.0% - Available at Hopkins.

Strap Tank - Nelson/Mosaic Hazy Pale Ale: This made with a couple of my favorite hops right now. The Nelson hops will add a berry-like component, while the Mosaic hops bring fresh pine, mango, blueberry and citrus. 5.0% - Available at both Strap Tank locations.

Strap Tank - Witbier: Look for high level of wheat with coriander and orange peel. 5.0% - Available at both Strap Tank locations.

Strap Tank - Blueberry Lime Smoothie Sour: . This one shines with tartness from the blueberry and lime, this gives it a sherbet or sorbet quality. 5.0% - Available at both Strap Tank locations.

Kiitos - Fruit Milkshake Ale (Berry Pomegranate): Made with real raspberry, blackberry, blueberry and pomegranate juices, They also reworked the base beer to make it 5%. Despite the fruit this is not a vegan friendly beer. On draft now at Kiitos.

Melvin/Arc'teryx collaboration - Son of Apocalypse IPA: This brand new IPA by Melvin debuted in SLC last Wednesday (1/15). Look for big citrus peel, pine and tropical fruits from this 70 Ibu ale. 5.0% - Available at Beerhive, Bayou.  

Returning Champs

Epic - Oak and Orchard Cherry Vanilla: This foeder aged sour reminds me of cherry sorbet with a hint of Balsamic vinegar. 6.5% - Available in crowlers at Epic.

Wasatch - Kick-back Series - Oatmeal Stout: Silky smooth chocolate, espresso and vanilla all wrapped up in a bow. 6.0% Available at Park City's brewery and the West Side Tavern.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/20/19

Epic - Big Bad Baptist Vanilla and Brandy Barrel-Aged Stout: Epic's first of five BBB variants is here! This version of Big Bad Baptist was aged in brandy barrels and has vanilla, roasted cacao nibs and coffee. It wonderfully smooth with coffee and cocoa jumping out at first. When the barrel kicks in, it comes across as vinous plum and fig. It's nicely complex best when enjoyed on the warmer side. Right now this in only available at the SLC brewery.

Avenues Proper Brett Pale Ale: This latest batch of Brett Pale Ale brewed with Sorachi Ace and Huell Melon hops. It showcases an incredibly well-balanced combination of dry, fruity, and funky flavors. Find it on draft exclusively at Avenues Proper. 4.0%

Fisher White Star: This nitro pale ale is big with citrus peel bitterness and a good dose of pine bitterness in the finish. Really drinkable for the amount of bitterness. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Fisher Rye Me a River: This rye ale has a nice dose of rye that slightly spicy with malts that are on the lighter side. Hops are mostly floral with a hint of citrus. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Melvin Thaiger Style: This a nice, well balanced IPA that features a lemony hop profile. Some Mosaic citrus flavors as well.  I love the hop profile here and the 5.5% makes it highly drinkable. Found at Beer Bar.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/2/19

Welcome to August! It looks like you need a beer. Strangely enough I just happen to have found a few that you may like - including a bunch of limited offerings from Hopkins Brewing that go on draft today. If you have any gluten free folk in your life, let them know there are some no malt options as well. Happy New Beer Friday.
 
Hopkins - Chocolate Strawberry Stout: Brewed with organic strawberry, lactose, dark chocolate and white chocolate. 4.0% - limited availability only at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Oxymoron Black IPA: This BIPA was hopped with the Pink Boots hop blend and will have some deep cocoa notes. 4.0% - limited availability only at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Raspberry Spiked Seltzer: Look for raspberry flavored sparkling water with an alcohol kick. 4.0% - limited availability only at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Strawberry Sorghum: This "gluten free" beer is made with organic strawberries, sorghum syrup and local honey. 4.0% - limited availability only at Hopkins.

RoHa - "Chinookie on the Porch":This is a double dry hopped version of RoHa's Back Porch Pale. It has a good malt base with a healthy dose of pine bitterness and lesser citrus peel towards the end. Super drinkable. 4.0% - Available at RoHa.

Avenues Proper - SMaSH (Ekuanot hops): Missed this one. Ekuanot hops have a citrusy and herbal profile, if that give you an idea of what to expect. This one is exclusive to Avenues Proper. 4.0%.

Fisher - Dug: This pale ale has a good amount of rye that adds richness to the malt. The hops are for the most part citrusy, and work well with spicy base. Very nice. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Fisher - Lemon Hop Dancer: Loaded with Lemon Drop hops; this pale has a hazy golden color that looks and taste 'lemony'. The hops are very lemon like, which gives it a nice, fresh taste. Aother winner.

Wasatch Bear River Blonde: This one debuts today and is only available at Wasatch's Sugar House location. 4.0%.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 4/5/19

After last week's massive New Beer/Brewery Friday, it was nice to have a chill beer "research" day. This week we have another solid, all local beer showing to end the work week.

Bohemian Ode to Solstice: This beer is made with malt from local maltster “Solstice Malt”. It is unfiltered and amber in color, using healthy amounts applewood smoked malt to provide an apparent yet subdued smoke character. Bready and biscuit notes add complexity for a beer that is smoked out and loc’ed out. 4.0% - Available at Bohemian

Avenues Proper - Blackcurrant and Blueberry Brett beer: The nose has currents, with tart brett funk and a light spice. Taste is full with complex red berry notes, and yeasty spice. The addition of the blueberry works well, as they are fairly light and add an additional flavor rather than take over the beer. The Brett is strong and very flavorful. Great stuff. There aren't many local breweries that are willing to put brettanomyces beers on draft, take advantage of this special beer. 4.0% only at Avenues Proper.


Proper Brewing - Apricot SkittleBrau: Missed this one yesterday. I hope to have tasting notes for you when New Beer Friday continues this afternoon at 3:30 on KBER 101 with Mick and Allen. Please tune in.

Level Crossing - Unfiltered Kölsch: A nice toasty aroma with hints of green melon. The taste follows with some toasty grains and biscuit flavors. The hops come in late and add citrus peel and honeydew flavors. Not exactly to style, due to the hops but it's damn tasty. 4.0% - Available later this afternoon at Level Crossing.   

Fisher - Yet unnamed Sour beer with blood orange and black currents: Yogurt and berry aroma with a sharp tartness on the tongue. the berries are subtle at first but begin to pop through the tartness towards the end. Finishes dry. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 12/7/18

You won't want to leave your beer unattended this week; as we have great selection of local beers that cover damn near every flavor profile a beer nerd could hope for. Have a great weekend!

Avenues Proper - Ivar the Boneless: This is a Sahti; it's an old world beer style that hails from Finland and normally uses no hops. This beer has a pilsner like feel with hints of must rye and toast. Instead of hop bittereness your met with subtle notes of licorice and anise. As far as I know nobody in the market has ever made a Sahti; It's a beer worth getting to know. 4.0% - Available only at Avenues Proper 

RoHa - Millennium Falcon Pale Ale: The taste is malt-forward - sweet with a roasty touch. A subtle touch of hops give the finish an herbal/leafy dryness to balance the sweetness and the mild roast. 4.0% - Available at RoHa.

2 Row - Jalapeno Sour: A lot of people have been cocking their heads when they hear about this beer. It actually came together just fine. The flavor starts lemony tart; not too bracing as to not be quite so acidic. The pepper element is fairly subtle with the Jalapeno's meat driving the show flavor wise. On a heat scale I'd put this at a solid 4 out of 10. Worth checking out. 5.3% - Available at better beer pubs and of course at 2 Row. 

T.F. Brewing - Schwartzbier: Super dark black body, fluffy off white bubbly head that lingers. Huge roasty aroma and flavor with hints of coffee bean, subtle dark chocolate along with clean and crisp  biscuity malts. A slight hint of floral hops in the finish. A damn tasty black bier. 4.0% - Available at T.F. Brewing. 

Fisher - Ledge Hole IPL: The nose was dominated by citrus hops - grapefruit stood out. The taste copies the nose with citrusy and piney flavors - grapefruit and lemon. Mouth feel is light-medium bodied with a lingering hoppy aftertaste - but not too bitter. Very Nice. 4.0% - Available at Fisher.

Wasatch - Chocolate Coffee Cream: The aroma features wheat crackers and mild coffee. The flavor has notes of milk chocolate, wheat thins, mild coffee and toffee. The mouthfeel is very light with spritzy carbonation. Overall this is a really tasty beer - quite light in body, but with nice layers of flavor, enjoyable like a light coffee drink. 4.0% - Available in cans at the Utah Brewers Cooperative.

Tune in to KBER 101 as we discuss these and other beers with Mick and Allenat at 3:30pm today.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/10/18

All of this week's offerings feature a bit of tart and funk. I hope you guys like tart and funk!

Shades Kveik #2: This beer pours a purplish red color topped with a little to no head. The aroma has a fragrant sour cherry smell. Taste was tart and pleasantly fruity. Some warm spice notes in the end. The finish is very dry. Another winner from Shades' Kveik Series. 6.3%. Available at Shades Brewing.

Avenues Proper Brett Pale Ale 2:  Look for funky, earthy and tropical-fruit-like flavors in this dry and subtly tart take on the American pale ale. This beer is only available at Avenues Proper. 4.0%.

Rogue Combat Wombat: This sour Northeast-style IPA is brewed with blood orange and grapefruit. The taste has an ample amount of musty yeast tart tropical fruits, orange and grapefruit pith. It finishes with a good dose of piney bitterness. 7.2%. Available at select DABC.

Brewery Ommegang Queen of the Seven Kingdoms: Ommegang's latest beer in their Game of Thrones series features a base beer full of Belgian yeast, lemon tartness, apple and melon. The sourness is pretty light, it much more prevalent in the nose than on the tongue. A pretty smooth ale. 6.7%. Available at select DABC.   

In other beer news: Roosters Brewing Company will begin to unveil their new look and branding this Saturday at the Ogden Farmers Market from 9-2pm. There will be give-aways every half hour, from stickers and merch to gift cards and a private brewery tour of Roosters new B Street Brewery that is set to open this fall. The new brewery will feature a dining and tap room space along with an additional 6,000 sf of available space for retail and manufacturing, as well as an outdoor amphitheater and dining area.

From what I've seen the new B Street Brewery will be a beautiful addition to Ogden's craft beer scene. Stay close for further updates.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/26/18

"Dryuary" is finally over. Happy New Beer Friday!
 
Avenues Proper Brett Kriek: The aroma is big with dough, Brettanomyces and cherry. The flavor has musty dough, a fair amount of Brett funk and pie cherries rounding it out. It finishes with that nutty cherry flavor. The cherry flavor is very fresh. This is a full on brett beer. If your not a fan of brett funk you my not like this one. I think it's pretty great. 4.0% ABV. Only at Avenues Proper.

Wasatch Elemental Wit: Brewed as a traditional Belgian Wit Beer with souring bacterium from Squatters' Fifth Element. The aroma is full of yeasty esters and lemon and spices. The flavor has a descent amount of tart orange with grains of paradise and a hint of funk in the back. Very tasty. 4.0% ABV. only available at Wasatch's Park City Brewpub and the West Side Tavern at The Utah Brewers Cooperative. The tap handle at the West Side Tavern says "Session Sour".

New Belgium VooDoo Juicy Haze: I haven't tried this one yet. It's described as having a melange of tangerine, papaya, pineapple, and lemon. The mouthfeel is somewhat soft, but with fairly prickly carbonation. 7.5% ABV. Available at select DABC stores.

Great Basin Wild Horse Altbier: I haven't tried this one yet. Alts are primarily toasty and malty. 4.8% ABV. Available at select DABC stores.

Great Basin Ichthyosaur "Icky" IPA: Piney aroma with floral undertones.Traces of caramel. The taste follows with pine and floral hops; malts come through faintly with notes of cracker and caramel. Finishes with a citrus and more pine.6.4% ABV

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/11/17

In today's New Beer Friday we have some "out of the box" stuff to help you find your weekend groove.

Avenues Proper's Brett Pale Ale -  The nose has musty leather and funk with some tangerine and lemon notes. No tartness as expected. The flavor is tangerine peel with yeasty bread dough. some leather as well. Not a lot of sweetness, mostly hops and Brett. Mouthfeel is medium bodied, on the lighter and drier side. Mild hoppy bite in the finish. Tasty for sure and easy to drink. Brett pales aren't for everyone, gives this a try and let me know what you think. 4.0% ABV @ Avenues Proper (only)

Proper's Redrum - Red Ale. Not tried this one yet. 4.0% ABV @ Proper

Hopworks Urban Brewery's HUB Cider - Mostly tart apples with some sweet apple juice rounding out the back end. Not quite Jolly Rancher tart, but in that neighborhood. Nice cider. 6.8% ABV @ Beer Bar.

What did I miss? Please let us know.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 5/26/17

Happy New Beer Friday! I hope you all have a safe and long weekend. There's a lot of tasty stuff out there to help you kick off summer right.

Cigar City: Jai Alai - This IPA pours a very clear, golden copper color with a nose that has pine and citrus. The taste follows the nose, with some pine up front, followed by a huge wave of malts. The finish is full of bitter citrus and pineapple.7.5% ABV @ Dick n' Dixie's, DABC, Bayou

Perrin: Black Goat Lager - Not tried this one yet. 5.8% ABV @ Bayou, DABC

Payette: Aura: Guava and Hibiscus - Not tried this yet, sounds interesting. 4.0% ABV @ Beer Bar

Firestone Walker: Luponic Distortion #6 - It has a nose of pine and citrus - a wee bit of pepper too. Big earthy bitterness dominates the taste with grapefruit peel and pine backing up some crackery malts. Not my favorite version of Luponic, but it's still pretty great. 5.9% ABV @ Beerhive, Beer Bar

Firestone Walker: Leo vs Ursus - The nose has mango, pineapple, vanilla and caramel. The taste starts with apricot, pineapple and orange peel. Sweet caramel malts come next with tropical and earthy hops backing it all up. finishes slightly sweet. For a DIPA it has a great balance - not too cloying and easy to drink. I liked this one a lot. 8.2% ABV @ BeerHive, Beer Bar

Laughing Dog: The Dogs of Helles - The nose has apple sweet grains with floral hops. The taste has a bit of creamed corn and nutty caramel. Finishes with grassy/floral hops. 4.0% ABV @ Harmons

Laughing Dog: The DogFather - The nose has chocolate, roasted malt, plum and bourbon. The taste starts with molasses, licorice, fudge abd wood. Vanilla, raisin coffee and bourbon. A bit of ash in the finish. Nice barrel aged stout. 11.0% ABV. @ Slackwater

Proper: Hop vs Hop 7 - This is being released today. This version is hopped with Eureka and Simcoe hops. 8.2% ABV. @ Proper

Avenues Proper: New Zealand Lager - This version is hopped with Dr. Rudi and Rakau hops. Not triedit yet. 4.0% ABV. @Avenues Proper

Cheers!

Proper Brewing Teams Up with Kyle Beckerman

Salt Lake City loves it's Soccer. You may not find a more devoted fan base than that of our beloved Real Salt Lake. That's seems especially true when it comes local craft beer drinkers. On game days, notably when involving a rival match, beer bars around town fill to capacity with devoted fans that don their red, cobalt and gold and look to enjoy a good beer.

Proper Brewing Co. in SLC is one of those great supporters. While officially they aren't a beer sponsor, they are doing what they can to show their support just as Epic Brewing did for many years with their Rimando's Witbier (still available as Utah Session Wit Beer).

In the coming weeks Proper will team up with Real Captain, Kyle Beckerman to produce Beckerman's Brew, a craft lager, made with German and Idaho grown barley - combined with a good dose of Mt. Hood hops for balance. This beer looks to be a staple for Proper and will likely be around for the foreseeable future.

Beckerman's Brew will be available at Proper Brewing, Avenues Proper and better beer bars around the Wasatch Front. While at Rio Tinto Stadium, you can look to Uinta Brewing Company for your suds as they were recently named the Official Craft Beer Real Salt Lake. Stay close for the official release.

Olé!

Image found at Shipcomplient.com

New Beer Friday 3/3/17

I'd like to thank the "Academy" for this prestigious honor. New Beer Friday began as a dream. A dream to find a pint of something new every week. I'd also like to thank my wife - who keeps me grounded, by roller her eyes at me at every available opportunity.

Talisman Imperial Coffee Stout with Cocoa nibs - This is under the Talisman Presents label Look for big coffee in the nose and on the palate. Chocolate rounds out the back with some acid coffee in the finish. Made with Wasatch Roasting Company and Ritual Chocolate. 9.5% ABV @ Talisman

Wasatch Denali UTX - I Haven't tried this one yet - look for a nice lemon/lime aspect from the hops with some slight resin. 4.0% ABV @ Wasatch/Squatters

Strap Tank Lorraine Tart Cherry Saison - I Haven't tried this one yet - It was made with Mexican hibiscus and tart cherries.You have my attention sir! 4.0% ABV @ Strap Tank

Strap Tank Road Rash IPA - This Beer isn't really new, ,just previously unmentioned.Straight up resony pine and grapfruit peel with a bit of light caramel backing it up.Solid Session IPA. 4.0% ABV

Squatters Tempest-tost Wit - I Haven't tried this one yet - Made with green cardamom, sweet orange peel and a healthy dose of torrified wheat. Remember, all proceeds from the sale of this beer will benefit the Utah Chapter of the International Rescue Committee, an organization that supports refugees in realizing their dream of leading self-sufficient and fulfilling lives. 4.0% ABV@ Squatters

Rogue Hazelutely Choctabulous - The nose is nutty and chocolaty with some vanilla and light char, cream, nuts, deeply roasted malts, dark breaded malts, light vanilla, and light char. The taste follows with vanilla and cake like malts swirling around a sea of hazelnuts and roasted malts. Some light coffee and dark chocolate as well in the finish. This is one of those beers you'll love or hate. I found it tasty but the 22oz bottle is too much for such a rich beer. 5.7% ABV @ DABC

Big Sky Shake-a-Day IPA - The nose has a fresh grapefruit and pine aroma with sweet malt beneath. The taste has a big dose of sweet caramel malt out of the gate - tangerine and orange come in next with a bit of pine to balance it all out. The finish is fairly bitter, which is good because it controls the initial sweetness. Overall a nice refreshing IPA. 7.5% ABV @ DABC

2 Row Hop Reload - Never got around to this one last night. But it's a 2 Row IPA. I'm sure it's a winner. Please share what you think! 6.2% @ 2 Row

Avenues Proper Chai-Hulud Saison with Chai - There are no Sand Worms in this beer, what it does have is Chai spices intermingling with spicy coriander from the yeast. With all of those assertive flavors, it's still pretty subtle - justy missing a little melange. Ok, i'm done with my "Dune geeking". 4.0% ABV @ Avenues Proper only.

Anchor Steam Brotherhood Steam - Made in collaboration with the Chris Robinson Brotherhood this steam beer has hints of wet grass and pine in the nose along with some toffee and biscuit. The taste is nicely bready and earthy with with notes of caramel, grass, and citrus. Floral hops come next with notes of grass and pine. The end has some light citrus notes of orange peel and grapefruit. Good malt presence with notes of caramel, toffee, biscuit, and yeast. A wonderful and solid beer. 5.6% ABV @ Beer Bar

Wasatch White Label -Though not new, it is returning after a long absence. It's wheaty, spicy with clove acsents and has hints of orange and mellow citrus. Good carbonation, balanced with a clean after taste. 6.0% ABV @ Wasatch Squatters - soon to DABC.

Tune in to Mick and Allen on KBER 101 today at 3:20pm as we discuss these and other beer related topics in New Beer Friday Radio.

Cheers!

Experimental IPA from Uinta Helps Homeless Pets

In collaboration with Love UT Give UT, Animal Services, Uinta Brewing is launching a new Pit Crew and Cat Cru logo. The new service encourages animal lovers to donate to Utah FACES - an animal support group that directly helps fund the animals served by Salt Lake County Animal Services. 

Utah FACES helps Animal Services provide low cost spay and neuter, free microchips, surgeries for injured animals and much more!


Uinta will be featuring an exclusive Experimental IPA straight from Research & Development and they'll also be kicking off their brand new dog friendly patio! The event runs tomorrow, March 31st from 4pm to 8pm. 1722 s. Fremont Drive, Salt Lake City

If you'd like to give directly to Utah FACES we have their link here.

The Sweet Sixteen Round of the Utah Beer Challenge has ended - if there's been one reoccurring theme this year, it's that RedRock and 2 Row have a definite following. Now it's time for these two top breweries to start banging heads in the Elite Eight round along with Squatters, Epic and Avenues Proper.

This is the round that will shape the finals - makes sure to support the beer you truly believe in. Round Four/Elite Eight will end Friday morning. And the Final Four Round will begin bright and early on Monday morning. Here is the voting breakdown of the Sweet Sixteen Round. Thanks for Voting!

Cheers!
________________________________________________________

26.37%	RedRock - Imperial Red Ale	53 (26.37%)
73.63%	RedRock Elephino Double IPA	148 (73.63%)

(201 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

66.67%	Squatters - Fifth Elemant	124 (66.67%)
33.33%	Moab - Hopped Rye	62 (33.33%)

(186 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

64.09%	2 Row - Dangeraux	141 (64.09%)
35.91%	Epic - Elder Brett	79 (35.91%)

(220 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

76.96%	RedRock - Drioma Imperial Stout	147 (76.96%)
23.04%	Avenues Proper - Proper Beer	44 (23.04%)

(191 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

51.01%	Epic - Big Bad Baptist	101 (51.01%)
48.99%	RedRock - CoHOPoperation	97 (48.99%)

(198 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

15.84%	Bonneville - Sir Malcom's Stout	32 (15.84%)
84.16%	2 Row Random - Double IPA	170 (84.16%)

(202 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

42.51%	Bohemian - Cherny Bock	88 (42.51%)
57.49%	2 Row - 2K Golden Ale	119 (57.49%)

(207 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

41.21%	Squatters - Black Forest Schwartzbier	68 (41.21%)
58.79%	Avenues Proper Oatmeal Red	97 (58.79%)

(165 Total Votes)

________________________________________________________

Wasatch Front Brewery Updates

As the beer landscape keeps changing here in Utah, we here at the Utah Beer Blog are constantly looking for updates and the newest information for Utah's drinking culture enthusiasts. We have four notable things to bring to your attention today.

Mountain West Hard Cider's new Cidery was recently rewarded their final licences and permits to officially start making local cider. In the next few weeks we should all be enjoying new batches of SLC cider. Mountain West Hard Cider is located at 425 n. 400 w. in SLC one door south of RedRock's Production Brewery. Now that's a great one/two punch!    

Proper Brewing Company announced that their new facility will be opening for business Presidents Day weekend 2016! Proper Brewing is a sister brewery of SLC's Avenues Proper Restaurant and Publick House. It is located 857 S Main Street, Salt Lake City. Just a block from Epic Brewing Brewing Co. Another great one/two punch!

Talisman Brewing Co. in Ogden continues to make progress on Ogden's next big thing and is scheduled to open in early 2016. Talisman Brewing is located at 1260 South Gibson Ave Ogden, UT

Maple Mountain Brewery in Provo continues to make progress on Utah Counties first brewery in well... forever. Maple Mountain is located at 861 s. 170 e. Provo, Utah

Prost!

Picture Courtesy - Utah Stories

Salt Lake City Wants More Breweries

Salt lake City's Mayor and City Council are looking in to creating new ordinances that would ease restrictions on where breweries and brewpubs can operate within the capitol city. Right now beer making establishments are limited as to where breweries of specific sizes and capacities are allowed to operate. These new ordinance changes are designed to lift the umbrella surrounding breweries that currently has a one size fits all approach.

Basically this means more smaller breweries and specifially brewpubs for city than zoning currently allows. One great example of this is Avenues Proper. They operate within the Avenues neighborhood Salt Lake City making beer and serving food. The operation is small enough and the impact of the business on the area is so slight, that if you know nothing about the pub you'd never know beer was being made there. Of course there are many in the community that think there too many breweries in the city and appose any changes.

This ordinance change is still in the proposal stage. The SLC Council has scheduled a public hearing on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. I urge anyone who supports these changes to attend this meeting and let your voices be heard.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/4/15

It's not a huge New Beer Friday - it's about quality not quantity right?

Hoppers Rye IPA - Described as having aromas of toffee, rye and grapefruit. Flavors of toasted malts, rye, citrus and grass. 4.0% ABV. Only at Hoppers

Avenues Proper SMaSH Beer (Single Malt, Single Hop) - This incarnation is comprised of Pilsner Malt & Calypso Hops. 4.0% ABV. Only at Aves Proper

Lagunitas Imperial Pilsner - The nose has malt, grain, bread, and grass. The taste is much the same with toasty grain, vague berries and a blast of bitter grass and spiciness. Finishes dry with a hint of grainy sweetness. 8.1% ABV @Bayou, BeerHive & Beer Bar

Deschutes Bond Street Brown - Solid toasted malt character with a ghost like roasted grain in the back that goes chocolaty with a dark cocoa flavor. Modest woody hop notes.  Rich maltiness is sticky and toasty. This beer will work well Summer or Fall. This beer has been discontinued so when it's gone it's gone. 4.8% ABV. @ BarrelHouse

Cheers!

The Madeleine Choir School Beer Fest

Come support The Madeleine Choir School at the first annual Beer Fest. The Madeleine Choir School is a Roman Catholic School in the Cathedral tradition, that focuses on liberal arts, science, technology, and choral training. The Beer Fest is a fundraiser for the school.

The Madeleine Choir School Beer Fest will feature such local breweries as:

EPIC Brewing 
Desert Edge Brewing
Maple Mountain Brewing Company 
Avenues Proper
Bohemian Brewery 
Squatters Brewing
Wasatch  Brewing
And others to be announced soon.

Admission is $25 which includes a 12oz commemorative tasting mug, and six 4 oz tastings.  Additional tastings will be for sale at the door.  Advanced tickets here

Traditional German fare, such as Brats and Strudel, will be available for purchase before as well.

The Beer Fest will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2015 from 6:00pm - 10:00pm at 205 First Ave in Salt lake City.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 8/21/15

Anheuser Busch Oculto - Came across this one on an end of the isle display at Harmon's. Didn't get a chance to try it. Oculto is described as having a hazy, straw color with a nose lemon, tequila and pale malt. Tastes of slight tequila, slight hop, strong citrus (lemon) and a hint of pale malt. 4.0% ABV @ Harmon's

Avenues Proper Marmalade Wheat - Havn't had the pleasure yet. looks to be an American wheat ale orange characteristics. perfect for clearing the smokey air from your lungs. 4.0% ABV @ Avenues Proper

Firestone Walker Helldorado - Pours a light, hazy amber/straw color With a great nose of mild citrus, oak, toffee and honey. The taste starts with honey, caramel, vanilla, coconut. Mild hops manage to break their way through next with shortbread and Bourbon rounding out the back end. The finish is slightly boozy and sweet with mild tannins. 13.2% ABV @ BeerHive - Beer Bar - Bayou

Cheers!

Anderson Valley's Gose, Goes to the Market

Low ABV sour beers are a hot commodity in the market right now. They work well with our state's draft beer constrictions and their popularity among craft beer drinkers is on the rise. Many locals have been looking to such sour beers as the Annex's Berliner Weiss, Sour IPA - Avenues Proper's Gose The Gozarian - Uinta's Birthday Suit ales and their forth coming Ready Set Gose.

Another thing driving the popularity of these sour mash beers is that they can be produced much quicker and in greater quantities than wild ales, which often take months of maturation. One of the more popular sour beers to enter the market in recent months is Anderson Valley Brewing Company's "The Kimmie the Yink and the Holy Gose". This is a German style sour beer made with a minor amount of salt added to the beer for taste and balance.

This Anderson Valley offering is so popular that many locals have been buying it via special orders because the DABC can't meet the demand. All of that is about to change. Anderson Valley has dialed down their Gose's ABV by two notches (4.2 to 4.0%)  - and in the coming weeks look for Anderson Valley's standard "The Kimmie, the Yink, and the Holy Gose" and their "Blood Orange Gose" to hit grocery store shelves and tap handles sometime in September.

If you haven't tried these or any of the other local sour beer offerings now is the perfect time to get to know them. They're perfect warm weather quenchers and the acidity levels in the beers make them less filling. I'll let you know as soon as they arrive.

Prost!