New Beer Friday - The Black Album

As the cold weather rolls in so do the dark and full bodied beers. Right on cue we have nine all new  offerings that are all black as night and are guaranteed to warm your New Beer Friday cockles. Umm, what's a cockle?

Uinta Rise and Pine - Pours black with a nose of pine, juniper and roasted malts. The taste starts with  roasted malts and berries. Some spices char and pine round out the back end. Finishes dry with lingering roastiness and pine. Alcohol is well hidden. Think black IPA with a bit of berry. 7.5% ABV @Uinta

Epic Double Barrel Big Bad - Pours black with a tan head. The nose has chocolate, coffee bourbon and a bit of vanilla. The taste starts with sweet malts and dark roast roast coffee. Bourbon and oak come next with some dark fruit notes rounding out those flavors. This a little more subtle than the standard BBB, though the flavors are integrated a little better.Very Nice! 12.3% ABV @Epic, Beer Bar, Beerhive, Bayou, Slackwater

Epic Big Bad Baptista - Pours black with a tan head. The nose has big cinnamon with vanilla and dark caramel in the back. The taste starts lightly sweet with cinnamon, vague spices and dark cocoa. Coffee comes next with vanilla adding some cappuccino qualities. Subtle barrel notes round out the back end. Full bodied with a smooth, creamy feel. Complex and tasty. 11.7% ABV @Epic, Bayou, Beerhive, Beer Bar, Slackwater.

Squatters Holiday Spiced Brown Ale - Not tried this one yet. It's described as being made with Bengal tea, plus cinnamon, roasted chicory, roasted carob, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and nutmeg lend a complex yet inviting aroma and flavor to his new holiday treat. 4.0% ABV @ Squatters

Desert Edge Smokey The Beer - This is a robust porter brewed with 20% German beech smoked malt. The aroma is roasty chocolate malt and a light campfire like smokiness. The flavor is dark roasted coffee with a mellow smoky flavor. The addition of beech smoked malt enhances the smoky flavor already found in a porter without overpowering the base beer. 4.0% ABV @ Desert Edge

Wasatch/Dick n' Dixie's Thunder Punch - Pours black with a minimal head. The nose is mostly Bourbon with a bit of roasted malt in the back. The flavors start with nice dark roast coffee, cocoa and malt. From there the barrel takes over leaving you  with Bourbon and vanilla rest of the way. A little bit of dry wood in the finish. Seriously poundable for a barrel aged porter. 7.76% ABV @ Dick n' Dixie's, Beer Bar exclusively 

Squatters/Beer Bar Lightening Punch - Pours black with sweet cocoa and whiskey aromas. The taste follows with nice rich chocolate, vanilla and Bourbon flavors. It's a wonderful cocoa and Bourbon combo from start to end. The alcohol is well hidden for a beer that cruising up on 13%. Delicious - a must try! 12.73% ABV @ Beer Bar and Dick n' Dixie's exclusively 

Anchor Our Special Ale 2016 - Pours black with a nice foamy beige head. The nose has pine, black liquorish, and baked bread. The taste starts with big pine which transitions to black licorice and dry bready malts. Chocolate, dark fruits and roasted malts come next and round out the dryness. The end is piney and bitter. The finish is dry and lightly astringent. This beer changes every year. They're not always great - This one is a keeper. 6.5% ABV @ Bayou, Beer Bar, Beerhive

Park City Vanilla Coffee Stout on Nitro - Not had this yet, but it looks like it's right up alley. 4.0% ABV @ Park City Brewery.

Be sure to check out New Beer Friday on KBER 101 this afternoon at 3:30pm.

Cheers!

Beer Bar and Dick n' Dixie's to Offer Barrel Aged Beers.

A few of the bars around town have been venturing out to distilleries around the country and buying their own unique barrels of spirits to sell in their their respective establishments. This gives you the ability to sell a unique - one of a kind beverage that the bar can call it's own. Last year SLC's Beer Bar did this with Buffalo Trace. The Bourbon barrel they chose is quite nice and if you have the opportunity I recommend stopping by Bar X or the Beer Bar to sample some (if there's any left).

The distilleries not only provide custom bottles of the spirits but the also give you the barrel(s). And what do true beer loving beer geeks do when the have spent whiskey barrels? Yup, you age beer in them. Not long after receiving their barrel from Buffalo Trace, the Beer Bar guys struck a deal with Epic Brewing to fill their barrel with Big Bad Baptist and age it at the brewery. The result was a true one of a kind beer for a one of a kind bar.

It's a year later and it looks like they're about to do it again. This year Beer Bar will be teaming up with the Utah Brewers Cooperative to age some of Squatter's Outer Darkness Imperial Stout in their newly acquired Eagle Rare Bourbon barrels. Called Lightening Punch, this beer will have an ABV of 12.73% and will only be for sale at Beer Bar.

Add Lightening Punch to the collaboration beer that is coming from Proper Brewing/Beer Bar and I predict that the holiday's will be very bright.

SLC's Dick n' Dixie's located on the corner of 300 s. 500 e. is getting in on the barrel aging game as well - laying down some of Wasatch's Polygamy Porter in one of their recently acquired Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels. This beer is called Thunder Punch and will dial in at 7.76% ABV. Both of these beers will be packaged in 12oz. bottles. If you've never been to Dick n' Dixie's, they've got a better that decent beer selection along with a Bourbon collection that'll make any whiskey nerd happy.

Both bars are hoping that these beers will be approved by the DABC by the end this week. If that's the case, I'll let you know. These beers have been approved and will go on sale later this afternoon (11/17/16).

Cheers!

Proper Brewing and Beer Bar Collaboration Ale

Proper Brewing Company and Salt Lake City's Beer Bar have combined forces to brew a unique brew exclusively for the Beer Bar. The Beer Bar Blonde will be a dryhopped Belgian style blonde ale that will use a rotating dryhop selection that will be different with every batch. The staff at the Beer Bar will also be instrumental with the various hop selections used. Just look to the window on the lower right of the label for current dryhop selection.The ABV is still to be determined.

This beer is not available yet - when it is, we'll spread the word when it debuts at the Beer Bar.

Cheers!

Heretic Beers Are Here

I believe it was October of 2014 when we broke the news that Heretic Brewing Co. out of Fairfield, California were bound for Utah. I knew it would take a while but fifteen months later they are finally here. As with all new product entries into our market the better beer bars in town get them first. This is to gauge what labels the patrons are most interested in. It will be a few weeks before you'll start seeing them in liquor stores. They are apparently already in some DABC stores! thanks, Edmanster!

If you can't wait that long, The Beer Bar and BeerHive have them right now. The following beers may not be available at both locations. I suggest looking to their social media accounts for their selections. Are there any labels I missed?

Heretic Shallow Grave - An American Porter
Heretic Evil Twin American Red Ale
Heretic Evil Cousin - West Coast Style IPA
Heretic Chocolate Hazelnut Porter - Duh
Heretic Tomrment - Dark Belgian Style

Drink 'em up and enjoy them fresh. If you want them to stick around? That's up to you.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 11/20/15

There are some really wonderful offering today. Your tongues will not be disappointing this afternoon/evening. Join us for the radio edition of New Beer Friday around 3:30pm on KBER 101. We'll be discussion these new brews and other local beer happenings. 
 
Uinta Port O' Call Belgian Dark - Pours a mahogany color with ruby high;lights with a small-ish head that fades quickly. The nose has some dank dark fruit aromas with with a bit of musty grape skin. The taste starts with a bit of sweet plum and a hint of spicy dates. This transitions into a more prune-like tartness that compliments the Port and Cabernet wine character that raps up the back end. Nicely fruity and complex. Let it warm up a little for the best experience. 9.4% ABV Available now at Uinta's Brewery Pub, Bottle Shop, better beer bars and soon to select DABC stores.

Uinta Brighton Revolver Session IPA - This year's version of the Brighton Revolver IPA features Ella and Calypso hops. It pours a somewhat hazy golden straw color with a firm two fingers of foam.  The nose has mostly tangerine peel in the nose with a bit of malt sweetness beneath. The taste starts with great lemon, grapefruit and orange peel notes that explode on the tongue. Next come a bed of creamy caramel malts that feel round and full in the mouth. The end has a bit of grapefruit bitterness. Finishes moderately dry. Holy Shit! This is the best Session IPA I've had in months! It has a great body for it's low ABV. A must try while it's super fresh. 4.0% ABV @ Uinta Brewery pub on tap right now. Soon to grocery and convenience store and where you'll find Uinta seasonal taps.

Epic Big Bad Baptist Beer Bar/Bulleit Barrel  - Pours black with soem nice copper hued foam. The nose is big with rich coffee aromas. The tastes follows with great coffee flavors to start. A bit of char and roasted malt comes next. Some molasses sweetness creeps in and traditions into subtle vanilla bourbon sweetness. The sweetness from the Bourbon keeps the harsher notes from the coffee and roastiness in check. Great balance, highly drinkable for big beer. 12.3% ABV  This version of Big Bad Baptist can only be found at The Beer Bar in Salt Lake City.

Anheuser Busch Best Damn Apple Ale - I've haven't had a chance to try this, though trusted beer geek Craig Folkman has. He describes it as having a clear golden straw color with a small white head that dissipates quickly to a small white ring, no lacing. Aroma of a green apple jolly rancher. Flavors of candy apples, sugary, plastic, finishes sweet. Not too bad. 4.0% ABV @ Most Grocery and Convenience stores. Craig, thanks for letting me hi-jack your review!

Shades of Pale Mischance White IPA - Pours a murky off white/straw color with a large pillowy head. The nose is fresh with citrus meat grapefruit. The taste fallows with citrusy hop that have some berry like qualities as well. Thin bready malt round out the hops proving a bit of doughy sweetness. A nicely refreshing and light White IPA. 4.0% ABV @ Shades of Pale's Tap room.

I got some bad info on yesterday's post on the Beer Bar Big Bad Baptist. The whiskey barrels used were not Bulleit but Buffalo trace. When reading it just swap those whiskeys and add Frankfort, KY instead of Lawrenceburg KY. My apologies.

Cheers!

Anderson Valley Brewing Events This Week

Anderson Valley Brewing Company is re-introducing themselves to the Salt Lake market with a couple of "get togethers" designed to reacquaint Utahans with their beer. Anderson Vally has been in Utah for quite some time - nearly fifteen years to be exact. The were partially responsible for giving Utah's beer drinkers a good idea of what the taste trends were like on the west coast, opening up our appreciation for the new trends.  

At the Beerhive this Wednesday from 5p-7p – Andersion Valley Reps will be serving Boont Amber Ale, Hop Ottin’ IPA, Poleeko Pale Ale, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, Seasonal, Brother David’s Double, Brother David’s Triple, and Wild Turkey Barrel Aged Stout.

On Thursday from 5p-7p - The Beer Bar will be pouring all of the beer above plus Kimme the Yink and the Holy Gose and Blood Orange Gose on draught.  These are great opportunities for the breweries to get to know what you want from them, so they can better serve the market. Hope to see you there!

Also, you will also be seeing these Gose beers popping up in Grocery stores very soon.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/9/15

Thanks for hanging in there during this slow time of the year, things look to be gathering momentum in the coming weeks. Look for a lot of changes in the coming months!

Ninkasi Expo58 - Pours a crystal clear straw yellow color with a fizzy cap of foam. The nose has some slight spicy yeast esters with a bit of floral hops. The flavor starts with malty with a bit of wood dryness. A bit of clove comes next with a hint of sulfur. The end has some floral and spicy hops notes. The finish is dry and light. 5.0% ABV
 
The Annex Kettle Sour IPA -  Pours a somewhat hazy apricot color with a thin to moderate amount of foam. Citrus and floral hops dominate the nose with a bit of sour dryness beneath. Look for sour green apples on the tongue with a bit of flowery bitterness and resiny citrus peel slightly underneath. The beer is not overwhelming sour, but there is some puckering. 4.0% ABV @ The Annex

Wasatch Brewmaster Special: Gose - Haven't tried this one yet. Look for lemony tartness with a light to moderate sodium finish. I believe this is the first beer produced on premises in the brewpubs's pilot system. 4.0% ABV @ Wasatch Brewpub in Sugarhouse 

Hive Rhubarb Wine -  It's described as having a slightly sweet nose capturing the essence of berries and floral notes. However, don’t let the nose fool you, this wine is unexpectedly dry with only a hint of sweetness which complements the berry notes in the wine. A soft and smooth wine with a slight tartness and subtle spice on the finish. Only 140 bottles produced.

The Annex's "Middle of the Firkin Wirkin' Week" firkin tapping has moved back to Fridays. So now I guess it's "End of the Firkin Wirkin' Week" Firkin? Today's offering will be their Bavarian Hefe with Lemon and Lime zest. I believe the tapping is at 4pm. 4.0% ABV

Returning Favorites
Desert Edge's Powdershot Porter and Desert Hell Helles 4.0% ABV


And congratulations go out to Salt Lake City's Beer Bar for making it into Draft Magazine's Top 100 Beer Bars issue. The feature's photo shows co-owner Richard Noel and praises Beer Bar's dedication to innovation, proper glassware and temperature specific storage. Prost, Beer Bar!

Cheers!

Pioneer Day for Some. Pie & Beer Day for Us!

Pioneer Day in Utah is a state holiday that takes place on July 24 each year to commemorate the entry of Brigham Young and his Mormon pioneers into Utah’s Salt Lake Valley in 1847. It was a difficult journey, many died and it's a feat that definitely deserves some recognition.

Some praise Pioneer Day more than others. If your part of that culture (Mormon) you likely consider it one of the more important holidays of the year. If not? Well your likely a minority thinker in our state.

About a decade ago some non-Mormons coined the phrase "Pie and Beer Day' be cause it sounds like Pioneer Day and it also contains two things all (mostly all) counter culture Utahans hold dear, pie and beer. The term quickly caught on and has now turned into a legitimate, counter Pioneer Day movement. It's not meant to be be offensive to Mormons it's more of a "Festivus for the Rest of Us" - something for us "normal' folk to do while we have this odd day off.

There are many private Pie and Beer Day gatherings around the state, if your looking for one but don't have a clan to celebrate with, we have a great option to help you rejoice. The Beer Bar, Salt Lake's newest craft beer hot spot is throwing a Pie and Beer Day bash on Thursday July 24th from 3pm - 5pm. Craft beer and pies from such great eateries such as Carlucci's, Copper Onion, Eva Boulangerie & Bakery, Tulie Bakery, Cafe Rio and Pago will be offered with a specialized beer pairing from the Beer Bar's own Kyle Trammell.

The cost is just $15 and proceeds go to help 90.9FM KRCL. The Beer Bar is located at 161e. 200s. in Salt Lake. Hope to see you there!

Also, former Uinta brewers and current Tenaya Creek Brewing owner, Tim Etter will be featured on this weeks episode of Brew Dogs. If your not familiar with Brew Dogs, it's a TV program that's currently on the Esquire Network that follows the owners of Scotland's Brewdog Brewery as they tour American cities looking to brew extreme beers in unconventional ways. Tim's episode (Las Vegas) has to do with making the world's most expensive beer. New Episodes air Wednesdays at 8pm. Check your local TV provider for channel info. Tenaya Creek's Beers are currently available at the Beerhive and Bayou.

Cheers!

The Beer Bar Opens Today!

Wahoo! Finally the news most SLC beer geeks have been waiting for the Beer Bar is finally open for business. Three years ago Duncan Burrell, Richard ­­­Noel and Modern Family actor Ty Burrell decided to get into the bar game and open a high end cocktail bar at the sight of one of SLC's most infamous watering holes, The Bar X. Gone was all the old school remnants of notorious "men only" past in favor of a more modern mixology based cocktail experience.

 Though cocktails put them on the map, craft beer was always on their minds; and when the two vacant spaces next to Bar X became available, it was the perfect opportunity to infuse more new life into Salt Lake's beers scene with their newest concept, The Beer Bar.

This place is more than just a "beer bar". The owner have gone to painstaking efforts to make this new place a beer lovers dream. Not only did they bring in some new out of state brands, they also hired former RedRock brewer Kyle Trammel to oversee the implementation and design of their beer menu, staff training and systems. From a wide range of style- appropriate glassware to separate temperature controls for ales and lagers, the high tech European influenced bar is designed for the fussiest beer drinker.

I can describe it, but you really have to go down and check it out for yourself. I've been teasing most of you with the great new beers that Beer Bar has brought in, now I can finally release the new beers on their extensive beer list. And while your there check out the house beer, a unique, specially made collaborative beer made with Bohemian Brewing. This rotating beer will change multiple times over the year - right now it's a Helles style lager.


Here's the newest additions to the market. What do you think?

10 Barrel – Apocalypse IPA
10 Barrel – OG Wheat IPA
10 Barrel – Project Failed RED
10 Barrel – Sinistor Black Ale
Alameda – Papa Noel Olde Ale
Alameda – Sisikou Golden Ale
Alameda – Klickitat APA
Alameda – Yellow Wolf IIPA
Alameda – El Torero IPA
Alameda – Black Bear STOUT
Burnside – Oatmeal Pale Ale
Burnside – India Pale Ale
Ninkasi – Pravda Pilsner
Ninkasi – Total Domination 22oz
Ninkasi – Total Domination 12oz
Ninkasi – Tricerihops IIPA 22oz
Ninkasi – Tricerihops IIPA 12oz
Ninkasi – Believer Dred
Ninkasi – Dawn of the Red
Ninkasi – Oatis Oatmeal Stout
Guinness – Forign Extra Stout
Moab – Forign Extra Stout
Greene King – Old Suffolk
New Belgium – TRIP
New Belgium – Blue Pad Pils
New Beglium – Shift Pale Lager
New Belgium – Sunshine Wheat Ale

And more coming.....

Cheers!