Beer School

Any opportunity to obtain a little more beer knowledge is a good thing in my book. I think that's one of the great things about being into craft beer now, the landscape is ever changing.

If your looking for a little more from your enjoyment of beer, I have a fun and very popular option for you.

For quite a few years now the Desert Edge Brewery has been putting on Beer School, an immersive evening into making beer and pairing it with food. For the first hour Brewmaster Chris Haas takes participants through the brewery and gives an inside look into the equipment, the process and the ingredients.

Then students head upstairs and drink all eight or nine beers that Desert Edge has on tap at that time and talk about the flavor components and styles. The chef then whips-up four dishes to pair with the beer. Every session is different every time, all dishes are off the menu.

If this sounds like it'll float your boat, then you'd better plan ahead. Beer School is booked until November and takes place the the first Thursday of the month from 7pm till about 10:30.

And if that wasn't enough, Desert Edge just created a brand new brewing space and bought a new brew system that just went on line a few weeks ago. Chris also has four specials back on tap, and some good ones too. Try the Road Rage Rye, it is on at the Beerhive as well. Also on tap are The Munich Lager, Summertime Kristalweizen, and the Augustus Amber Ale.

Desert Edge is located on the East side of Trolley Square. 801-521-8917.

Cheers!

New Brewery/brew pub in Logan???

Utah could be getting another brew pub soon! A new start-up brewery/brew pub is so far meeting little controversy. The brewery, which is just in the planning stages right now (Cache Valley Brewing) would potentially open up downtown next year.

Remember this is Utah. Even though we are making huge strides in the legalization of adulthood around the state. All thing alcohol will stir controversy. So, what's the stink? Odors. An individual raised a concern about the possibility of the brewery emitting odors that could "stink up" the downtown area and it actually saw some discussion during a city meeting.


Really.... offensive odors?.... in a restaurant! Do you seriously think anyone would invest in an endeavor knowing that it's signature menu option would emit questionable odors, while people are eating? Well at least it's original. I was expecting the whole, "it will turn our five year olds into raging alcoholics" shit. Well let's hope hope this project gets off the ground. Our friends in Cache County could use some craft beers close to home. Cheers!

Oh for Shame, Jasoh!

Apparently our interpretation of a Brewpub and Jasoh's Fine Dining is very different. Where as we consider a brewpub to be a place where beer is brewed, fermented and served on premises; Josoh apparently thinks all it has to do is, have a bar and sell other craft beer brands there. I'm sure it's a fine place to eat, but it doesn't qualify to be talked about here. So, in the immortal words of Steve Martin I say, "I break with thee, I break with thee, I break with thee. And then I throw dog poop on your shoes".

Note: I should point out that they have already removed any inference to having a brewpub on their website before this post was made. Cheers!

Local Beers, Grown Locally

I'm a big fan of supporting local small businesses. I try to spend my money with our local entrepreneurs rather than national chains as often as I can. If your like-minded, consider heading over to the Desert Edge Brewery this October, where Brew master Chris Haas has put together a special beer made from all local ingredients. Radius, will be made with ingredients grown within 150 miles of the Wasatch Front(yeast too???). Chris says he found the malt just over the state line in Idaho and personally picked the hops locally. I'm not sure of what style he's planning on brewing yet, but I'm sure it'll be unique. Radius will be available on draft beginning in mid-October at the brew pub in Salt Lake City. 602 E. 500 South. Cheers!

Beer TV is a Go!

Last December we told you that Squatters brewmaster Jennifer Talley was recruited to be the host for a new television program devoted to all things beer. Apparently the beer gods have smiled upon her an deemed it good, because the green light has been given and On Tap is a go!

Jenny says; On Tap is expected to begin airing in the first quarter of 2009 on PBS, with filming to begin within the next few months. On Tap will present an inside look at how artisan microbrewers and their beers are taking the world by storm. Jenny, armed with 16 years of brewing experience from our very own Squatters brew pub will scour the country talking to brewers, chefs, and every day schmucks like us, for an inside glimpse on how beer is claiming it’s place at tables around the world.

Here's a glimpse at the trailer. Cheers!

RedRock's Hibernian

"HIBERNIAN", from the Latin term Hibernia (Ireland), meaning 'one who comes from Ireland'.

This ST. Patty's Day offering from RedRock is available year round at the brewpub, but for some reason it seems to find it's biggest audience during March. Hmm, I wonder why???

Hibernian poured a dark reddish brown with a moderate to thin cap of foam. The nose is mostly of malt with just a hint of smoke and hops. The taste starts with roasted malts, cocoa and caramel. The end had a light piney finish. The mouthfeel is full and round. This "Irish-style" amber ale had a little more body than I expected, even though the hop profile is somewhat less pronounced. A fine example of the style. Only available on tap at RedRock's Downtown And Park City Locations.

Beer Tv?

Believe it or not there are a few good television programs out there devoted to the art of beverage concoction. Off the top of my head; there's Three Sheets on Mojo, The Thirsty Traveler on The Fine Living Network and the cancelled Beer Nuts, Also on Mojo. These are all great programs and I recommend you check them out. Especially Three Sheets. (only available in HD) Zane Lamprey is riot. With the exception of Beer Nuts(only available in HD) there isn't really anything out there devoted to solely to beer. Beer Nuts Had the makings of a good show but didn't have the range of topics to make it watchable on a regular basis.

Now comes word Utah's Own Jennifer Talley of Squatter's Pub Brewery is shooting a pilot for a new program that reportedly is devoted to beer. She was apparently recruited by producer Peter Holmes who saw Talley in a video she did for her brewery and thought she’d be a good host, making the show about brewers, brewing and pairings. Things Jenny is eminently qualified to discuss. The Food Network or similar cable channel would be the likely home for a show like this.

Info provided from The Brookston Beer Bulletin has Jenny interviewing Shaun O’Sullivan at his 21st Amendment Brewery & Restaurant. Then O’Sullivan and Talley visited Magnolia and sat down to talk with owner Dave McLean over some food and beer. Then on Tuesday they filmed at Russian River Brewing in Santa Rosa. They filmed at both the new production brewery nearby and at the brewpub. Later Bruce Paton, the beer chef, cooked some food and he sat down with Talley and Russian River owners Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo to talk about the pairings while they enjoyed both the food and beer.

I hope this bird flies, it would be great to have a program out there devoted to beer by people who know and love it.

As I mentioned in earlier post I'm a Videographer by trade. Coincidentally I did a two-part feature on Jenny in '04 along With my colleague Sandy Riesgraf. The Story was called The Queen of Beers. And, if I can toot my own horn; we won the Beer Journalism Award for it at the '05 Great American Beer Festival. I'm not saying, that why got you the job Jenny, But... Your welcome. All kidding aside, Good luck with this project Jenny. Salt Lake has your back. Thanks to Jay Brooks from Brookston Beer Bulletin for the photo and the legwork.

Here is The Queen of Beers.