The Second Coming

No it's not Jebus! It's that other guy with the God complex, Del Vance(kidding Del). After a very successful first printing Utah's second best beer scribe(after me) has decided to spew forth more detailed info about Utah's Beer; past present and future. Some of the new topics in the book include Zion Canyon Brewing and updated beer legislation. Available at most craft beer establishments and bookstores.

Also, if your wondering about the status of Del's new beer bar the "Beerhive House" don't worry, it's still in the works. The plans are at city hall, waiting to be approved. Apparently there's a huge back-log of plans waiting for approval. But Del assures me that once approved it should come together rather quickly.

Squatters: Fifth Element

If you live in or have ever visited Utah, you know that we have to do things a little different than most states when it comes to the making and enjoyment our suds. What may seem usual and mundane elsewhere can be a big deal here.

Seasonal beers are nothing new to Utah's brewers, they crank them out all the time. But when it comes to special edition brews, things become a little tricky. Especially if those special editions want to venture above the hollowed 4.0% ceiling. Things are getting better. The recent creation of the of the states new Type 5 package license gives brewers the ability to create, bottle and sell, right from the brewery or brewpub. Eliminating the tedious and needless Sell, buy-back, then sell again, crap that brewers have had to deal with for decades.

The first beneficiary of this new law is Squatters Brew Pub. Over the past few years Jenny Talley has been seeking inspiration and advice from all over the world to come up with a way of putting a new spin on old-world staples. Seeking input from some of America's best brewers; including(but not limited to) Firestone Walker's Matt Brynildson, Vinny Cilurzo of Russian River and Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery. Jenny told me that the the support she had from these folks including many, many others gave her the inspiration to start creating more daring beers as well as a name for her first bottle conditioned, oak aged ale.

Fifth Element like most beers are made up from the four primaries. Malted barley, hops, water and yeast. The "fifth element" according to Jenny is the brewing community for which she credits a great deal of her inspiration. Fifth Element is a Belgian style Saison ale. These are traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Fifth Element was brewed December 2007 and laid down to age in oak barrels January 2008.

Poures a cloudy apricot/straw color with a fizzy white head that reduced to a thin froth. The nose has a bit a of barnyard funkiness to it, with hints of lemon. The tastes starts with light citrus notes then transitions into tart green apples and peach. Next comes a dry oakiness that compliments the tartness well. The finish is a combination a champagne like dryness and bitter florals. Light and dry but highly drinkable. It's 6.75% ABV is well hidden. A great effort, well worth trying. Available only at Squatters. Cheers!

Squatters Debuted Fifth Element on August 13th

Uinta Represents at The Great British Beer Festival

If you love beer and have never attended North America's largest beer fest, the Great American Beer festival... well... damn it, you should! Three days of all things beer, in city (Denver) that loves it's suds. Like GABF, The Great British Beer Festival is Britain's largest beer festival and brings together a wide range of real British ales, including a large contingent of American and international craft beers. There are at least 450 beers available throughout the festival. Golden ales, fruit beers, stouts, bitters etc. This fest is mostly about proper British ales, but this year brings a slew of some of the most popular and well respected labels of some of America's craft breweries.

Utah's Uinta Brewery is one of the few breweries chosen to represent this year. They're sampling a limited amount of Anglers Pale Ale, King's Peak Porter and Uinta 14th Anniversary Barleywine. Uinta is in good company, I'm sure they'll represent Utah well. Congrats to the Uinta crew!

Am I Dreaming?

Good news is a round the corner for breweries, distillers and consumers. Wednesday the Utah Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission approved a rule change that would no longer require brewers and distillers to ship their on premises made heavy beer and spirits to the D.A.B.C. warehouse for tags and taxes. This means that patrons can buy strait from the source in stead of having to travel to a state liquor store. The so-called Type 5 package license affects Salt Lake Brewing Co., Utah Brewers Cooperative, Uinta Brewing Co. and High West Distillery, all located in Salt Lake City.

This will really help with quality control. Before breweries would have to ship their products in unrefrigerated trucks to the unrefrigerated DABC warehouse. Now beers will stay cold from bottling to purchase.

Remember this has to do with stuff made on premises. For instance a six packs of Squatters India Ale, may only be purchased at the Salt Lake coop where it is brewed - but not at Squatters Pub Brewery in Salt Lake City, Squatters Airport Pub at the Salt Lake City International Airport or Squatters Roadhouse Grill in Park City. The license allows for heavy beer to be sold in bottles as take-out only where it's brewed although the beverages may be sold on tap in pubs. At this point, Squatter's Pub Brewery in Salt Lake City has no plans to sell take-out heavy beer - unless there's a high demand for it. Still, for those anxious to buy the soon-to-be released Fifth Element, a rustic, wood barrel aged sour beer. I guess we can try and ask our servers for a take-home bottle.... couldn't hurt.

Suds Brothers Brewery

My wife and I went to Evenston, Wyoming last Saturday for a long overdue change of pace. We decided to to meet up with friends and attend, A Taste of Evenston. It's a little"get acquainted with Evenston" Street festival put on by the local chamber(plus it was a good excuse to pick up some out-of-state beers)

We had heard that Evenston had it's own brew pub, and of course we had to check it out.Suds Brothers looks small on the outside but is actually quite large. It occupies an old, unassuming retail space on towns old main street. If your not paying attention you might miss it. The inside has an "old west saloon" feel with a small five tank brewery in the back. With a little inspiration this could be quite an attractive place.Their tap selection wasn't too bad, on my visit they had an Amber Ale, Koelsch,Hefeweizen, IPA, smoked porter and an Alt.

The Amber, ironically poured an amber color with a creamy off-white head that stayed 'till the bottom of the cup. The nose was of light pale malts with a slight hop perfume. The taste started with caramel & moderate piney hops up front. A little nuttiness sneaks in as it warms. Finishes with malt sweetness & moderate piney hops.

The Altbier poured a clear amber/brown with thin foam cap. The nose mainly consisted of dry malts. The flavor has some nice roasted overtones and carries a bit of hop bite to bitter the malt base. Good drinkability.

The food was... okay my nachos weren't the best but my wife's patty melt was very good. The place seems to do a brisk local business, and apparently fills up in the evening. I probably won't make many special trips up there for just to visit, but I'll defiantly stop in when I'm in the area.

Due to it's proximity to Salt Lake(a mere 1 hr 15 min. from mi casa) I'm adding it to the brewpub links even though it's not a Utah brewery... Why the hell not, it's closer than some places, the beer is not too bad and it's not restricted to Utah's 4.0% draft cap. Please check 'em out. Cheers!

Mr. Liquor

There's a great article in the current issue of City Weekly called Mr. Liquor. It's a well done profile on former DABC Chairman Kenneth Wynn, that gives a "behind the scenes" look into the the highs and lows of the last 30 years in the creation of Utah's crazy liquor laws and the people who oversee them.

The New American Beer

Well it's official InBev's offer to purchase Anheuser Busch was approved by AB's board last week. So what will this mean for the average consumer? Well for the most part not much.
You will most like see an influx of other Inbev brands into the U.S. and perhaps better prices. The industry itself will most likely see minor cutbacks with some workers loosing their jobs and
AB's satellite breweries for the most part will not close(we hope). Possible pro's of the merger could mean
a greater influx of other Inbev brands into the U.S. and perhaps better prices. I guess another question would
be "what about AB side ventures ie: Amusement parks and festivals. My guess is they will most likely be sold-off
or closed they seem the likely places to trim the fat. And finally if your one of those guys or gals
that had to go with "Freedom Fries" over french fries after 9/11 looks like your going to have to do a
Little soul searching. If drinking only "American Beers" is a must for you... beware!
Of the Big American Three. Bud, Coors and Miller. All three are no longer American owned. Samuel Adams is now America's
Largest Domestically owned brewery. So start looking toward them. Or better yet! Start Looking toward your regional,
and local craft breweries. You should be doing that anyway.

Jenlain Bière De Mars

If your not familiar with Saison or Farmhouse Ales, this is a good time of year to get acquainted with them. Saisons are traditionally brewed in the winter, to be consumed throughout the summer months. Jenlain's Beire De Mars is the only one I could find in the area. Saisons were close to becoming an endangered style, but over recent years there's been a massive revival; especially in North America.

Poured a hazy golden color body with a nice resilient white head. The nose was soft with flowery hops, sweet malts and yeast. The taste started like the aroma with a creamy balance of gentle flowery hop character against a sweet but light malt background. The end is a little earthy with a dry hop (Hallertau) snap. The bitterness is rounded and not too harsh, but the malts do tend to hang around a little too long on the tongue. Nothing super complicated here, just a simple, down to earth Saisons. If not for the price, this would be a nice summer sipper. 5.40% abv. Available at The Bayou.

Bottle Conditioning at Squatters

Last Friday the crew at Squatters began bottle conditioning for the first time at the brew pub. This is a great thing for Squatters. It gives Jenny and the crew a little more independence from the Utah Brewers Co-op. Now they don't have to rely on UBC's bottling facility every time they want to produce high gravity and unusual styles for Utah's Beer lovers. Squatters first bottle conditioned beer is called Fifth Element. It's a wood barrel aged sour beer that should be available at Squatters in about a month. Congrats Guys!

Also, Jenny was the guest on last Sunday's The Sunday Session an online craft beer radio program on the Brewing Network. They discussed low gravity beers, strange Utah beer laws, ect... Thanks for representing, Jenny! Here's a link to the mp3. Cheers.

Uinta: No Longer Screwed

Beware! Starting today you'll need to keep an eye on your Uinta bottles. Our buddies at the wind powered brewery began the industry preferred switch to vacuum caps from twisties yesterday. What's the difference? Well, if you try to twist off a vacuum cap with your grubby little paws, all your going to do is turn your fleshy little mitts into hamburger. So your gunna need to keep an opener handy. Why? glad you asked... vacuum caps offer a better seal against oxygen which as we all know is bad for beer. So thank our happy beer friends at Uinta for caring so much about our beer enjoyment.

The Benefits of a H.S. Education

Ahh children... You raise them, nurture them, give them the benefit of your knowledge, (or lack there of) send them out into the world to find their way. When they do find their way back hopefully they will bring back knowledge, experience and good beer. Well, we raised our kid well. On a recent whirl-wind trip of Italy my freshly (high school) graduated daughter knew to forgo the Gondolier T-shirt and Colosseum paper weights, and bring back the ol' man Venetian suds.

Pedavena poured a clear yellow gold color with a firm two fingers of thick foam. The nose was light and grassy, with just a hint of sweet malts. Maybe some mild yeast undertones as well. The taste started with dry biscuit notes with a lite fruitiness. Sharp grassy hops dominate the rest of the way finishing slightly dry. 5.0% abv with high/moderate carbonation. It was OK... I've never had a stellar Italian beer so my expectations for Pedavena weren't too high. But the kid did alright. Ollie my cat seemed to like it, gave it two paws up! Wadaya want, he's a wine drinker...

Ava Lee Belgium Style Triple (review)

Last month I mentioned that Squatters had released a one-time-only Belgium style triple. This month I have to say "get out and try it before it goes." It really is quite tasty, and you'll be a sad, sad lil' beer geek if you never get to try it.

Poured a clear golden orange with a finger of white foam. The nose was yeasty and fruity with apple bready malts and hint of orange. The taste started with apple and mango. Next comes dry banana notes with some biscuit notes. The end was tart, spicy and dry. Carbonation was moderate. Nicely complex, not as sweet as I was expecting. It’s 9.0% abv is well hidden. Looks like Squatters has another winner.

Dirty Little Secrets

Everyone has those dirty little secrets about themselves that they like to keep hidden. You know, parts of your personality; that if were to get out would destroy or taint what little credibility you have with your friends and family. You know like... like... liking ABBA. Okay I said!!!

I-like-ABBA, so fuck you!... Now before you start tuning-out let me get on with my point. In the world of the beer-snob there are all kinds people with little dark secrets. You know, that guy who only drinks true Belgium beers, but keeps a "Natty-Light" hidden in the back of the fridge "just in case" someone comes by. My dark beer secrets are PBR and Blue Moon. Again, fuck you!

I can't help you with the PBR. There are thousands of alternatives to hide your proclivity for cheap beers, but if your embarrassed to show up with the Blue Moon or simply want an alternative to it, I have a great and somewhat better alternative in Hoegaarden. Some would say this is the Witbier that all others are judged. I'm not sure about that but it is quite good and widely available around the Wasatch Front.

Poured into a branded Hoegaarden glass a dull, cloudy yellow color with a frothy two fingers of head. The nose is sweet and fruity with banana, pear and sweet melon. Taste starts with sweet spices, banana, melon and some coriander. Next comes notes of bready wheat, but the fruit flavors dominate. The finish was very mild with light, floral hops. The mouthfeel is light with moderate carbonation. 4.9% abv. This is a great summer session beer. Very drinkable because of it's light body, well-balanced; smooth and creamy flavor. Mama-Mia!

Summer Lightning

Well it looks like summer has finally found us. If your looking to get out of your summer-beer- rut, I'll do my best to profile some great alternatives that you may not know are out there. First off is offering from the U.K. Hop Back's Summer Lightning is a nice English bitter that pours a light golden straw color with a slightly off-white foamy head that faded to a thin cap The nose was biscuity with hints of vanilla, grassy and lemony notes. The taste started with peppery/ grassy hops and light toasted malts. more spicy/honey notes come next with a light grapefruit 'smack' rounding out the end. This is smooth and light bodied. Very drinkable and quite refreshing - a nice summer quencher. 5.0% abv. Overall, a decent beer... nothing too exciting but very drinkable. Defiantly worth trying. Cheers!

Brew-tah

19 Medals! That's what Utah's suds-meisters managed to compile at this years Mountain Brewers Festival in Idaho Falls, Idaho. From Smoke to Root Beer, our brewers dun-did-us-prowd! Here's a list of the local winners and a link to all medalist. Congrats to all!

Bronze: Bohemian Brewery - Czech Helles.

Gold: Desert Edge Brewery - Anniversary Amber.

Gold: Hoppers Grill & Brewing Company - This is the Pilsner.

Silver: Moab Brewery - Scopian Pale Ale.

Bronze: Moab Brewery - Merrimack.

Gold: RedRock Brewing Co. - Bamberg Rauch Bier.

Silver: Red Rock Brewing Co. - German Pilsner.

Bronze: Red Rock Brewing Co. - Bohemian Pilsner.

Bronze: Ruby River Steakhouse and Brewery - Ruby's Root Beer.

Bronze: Four Plus Brewing Co - Monkshine.

Gold: Uinta Brewing Company- Kings Peak.

Gold: Uinta Brewing Company- Blue Sky Pilsener.

Bronze: Uinta Brewing Company - Solstice Kolsch.

Bronze: Uinta Brewing Company - Bristlecone Brown Ale.

Gold: Wasatch (Utah Brewers Cooperative) - Squatter's Hefeweizen.

Silver: Wasatch (Utah Brewers Cooperative) - Wasatch Evolution Amber Ale (Irish Red).

Silver: Wasatch (Utah Brewers Cooperative) - Wasatch Polygamy Porter.

Bronze: Wasatch (Utah Brewers Cooperative) - Squatter's Organic Amber Ale.

Bronze: Wasatch Brew Pub - Polygamy Porter.

Rodney Scores a bottle of Grand Tetons' Double Wheat Utahns represented a good portion of the crowd

Did You Know???

In my neck of the woods, the beer selection at my (not very) local liquor store is pitiful at best. When I want a special "heavy" beer I often have to call around to every outlet within fifty miles just to see if they have what I'm looking for. Nine times out of ten I end up at the state's best beer outlet; downtown SLC's wine store. Even then there's no guarantee that I'm gunna find my special brew.

But did you know-there is a little known way to increase the odds that you'll find what your looking for. And that it's been available to you for many, many, many years. The best kept secret retail outlet is the DABC's warehouse.

Located at 1700 south and 900 west, all alcoholic bevs over 4.0% begin their statewide journeys at the already overcrowded booze hub. It's not a perfect place to do your shopping but it does give an alternative option for the person who needs that special brew yesterday.

Some of the cons: Only open from 8-5 mon-fri. And there's no browsing. You need to know what want and they'll grab it for you. To help you with your shopping, the state's website provides a list of all bevs that the state carries. And the warehouse people swear that it's updated daily. Here a link to the states beer selection. Use it wisely. Use it for good. Cheers!

SLUG Beer

Writing a beer blog is a lonely pastime. My days mostly consist of sitting in my refrigerator box beneath the Fourth south overpass. Scratching notes onto a used bar nap with my fist full of yellow crayons(regular, not Perma); Doing all I can to spew-forth all that is good for the inter mountain beer faithful. Thankfully this month I'm not alone. Angela Brown editor extraordinaire at SLUG(Salt Lake Underground) Magazine decided to pull her box up next to mine a publish Slug's first ever beer only issue. "The Beer Issue" consists of everything a beer lover could want to navigate they're way through "green jello'd" hued landscape that is Utah.

From reviews to brewers insights to rants from yours truly, It's a must read. Available throughout the month of June in the along the Wasatch Front as well at Slugmag.com

Coming & Going

For most of my adult drinking life Uinta Brewing's beers have been a staple in my fridge. I'm quite fond of most of their beers and I'm quick to pimp them to whom ever will listen. Well stand by for some pimpin' especially if you live in Georgia or Colorado. Uinta has had a great year so far, expanding into the east coast and most recently into one of the more competitive craft brew markets in the country. Brewing is big business in Colorado, it's currently home to 24 breweries(including Coors) and 72 brew pubs! Colorado is serious about their beer. The state ranks number one in terms of gross beer production, producing over 23,370,848 barrels in 2006. That being said, it's no easy thing to break into a market with such stiff local competition. Add in the fact that a good majority of Uinta's line will be at 4.0% abv, you've got yourself a tough task. It's tough enough around here for people to get past the Utah beer stigma, hopefully Colorado beer lovers will be more open-minded.

And as we give we also get to take. In this case a long time bootlegging favorite of many Utah craft brew lovers finally comes to our stores legally. Big Sky Brewing out of Missoula has started shipping Moose Drool Brown Ale, Scape Goat Pale Ale and it's Big Sky IPA. I spoke with the brewery this morning. They said they shipped out an order last week, so we should see bottles in our liquor stores with in the week. Hopefully! Things aren't exactly swift over there at the DABC. If you see them let us know where. Cheers!

Trust, Yet Verify

If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. Right? I mean at least that's what most of us have been taught. Trust yet verify. That's my position on the current possibility of abolishing the state of Utah's private club system. Even though the plan has the full support of Utah's LDS Governor and the states liquor-control commissioners agreed (by a 3-1 vote) to gather information on the proposed club elimination I still have a bad feeling the rug will be pulled from under us.

The Utah Hospitality Association would like to see the state's 77 taverns - which can only serve beer up to 4.0% - to be allowed to stock heavier beers(above 4.0%), wines and distilled spirits, moving bars into the "private club" category. Thus abolishing membership fees. Under this proposal, everything would operate in a similar fashion to Utah's airport lounges, where alcoholic beverages are sold with or without food, at a bar or table.

It all sounds fine and dandy, 'till you find out that LDS Church has made no comment as of yet on the possible abolishment of private clubs. In reality no such proposal can proceed with out their backing and it would be political suicide to advance without they're input. "The church is reserving comment until it sees a final draft of the law." said LDS Church spokesman Scott Trotter Wednesday in the Salt Lake Tribune.

And what about Utah's Tea totaling Legislature. These people don't make major changes in Utah's liquor laws without demanding a large piece of flesh in return. If the proposed club elimination ever sees the governors desk I guaran-fuck'n-tee-you we will loose a drinking liberty that we now enjoy. Remember we only got .5 oz more booze per shot because it was traded away for the "alco-pop" ban. Don't get me wrong, no one would be happier than yours-truly to see this arcane system of the sixties die. But it sounds too good to be true.

The Breakfast Club

You know your a real beer geek when you come across a rare beer-find and start screaming like a school girl at a Zac Efron sighting. Even more so, when said beer is discovered at your local watering hole... Further still, even more giddiness ensues when it's the last two left in the state. Well kiss my b'dizzle ya'll, cause we done up-an'-swilled those bitches!

What 'bitches' am I referring to? only one of the best named, most robust beers on the planet. Mikkeller's Beer Geek Breakfast. Fellow beer gnerd Douglass Byrd and myself were on a sampling tour of some of Utah's finest new seasonals last Friday evening, when we finally came to rest at the Bayou. There tucked away on the "Off the Menu" menu was this stout that we had often talked about but never had a chance to try. I'm glad I got the chance to try Beer Geek Breakfast it really is that good. And If you love coffee or coffee stouts it's a dream.

Poured a surprisingly thick opaque black with a sturdy dark brown cap of foam. It reminds me of my grandmas ebony lacquered piano. The nose was a barista's dream. Strong roasted coffee with dark chocolate, raspberry and fig. The taste starts rich with bitter espresso and dark bakers chocolate. Next comes a smokiness with a touch of nutty-vanilla bean. Hops are bearly noticeable in the end. The finish is Silky and smooth and it's richness lingers on the tongue for quite a while. Very little of the 7.5% alcohol is noticeable. Full bodied with moderate to light carbonation. Nicely over-balanced with great drink ability. I haven't been overly impressed with Danish beers. Mikkeller is quickly changing my attitudes. Sorry to rub it in. They might be a little pricey. If you come across any, snag 'em they'll be worth it.