New Beer Friday 2/28/14

The Mother Earth Beers are finally here! The Beerhive received four of the San Diego brewery's more popular labels.

Mother Earth Sin Tax Imperial Stout - The nose has a "whiff" of peanut butter with notes of coffee and chocolate. The taste is strong with coffee and chocolate. There's a hint of the PB in the end. Not too boozy for an Imperial Stout. 8.7 ABV. @Beerhive

Mother Earth Cali' Creamin' Vanilla Cream Ale - The nose is similar to Honey Grahams with vanilla notes. The tastes is fairly sweet with vanilla and malt.  There is a mild amount of grassy hop bitterness in the end. Overall, if your a fan of vanilla (which I am) you'll like this beer. The vanilla presence is pleasant. 5.2% ABV @Beerhive

Mother Earth Kismet - The nose has orange, grapefruit, peach, little white grape (Mother Earth must really love Nelson Sauvin hops). Taste is big with grapefruit, melon, and white grapes. Floral herbs come next with rye notes and more of that graham cracker sweetness. The finish is fairly bitter and dry. Damn tasty! 7.0% ABV @Beerhive

Mother Earth Hop Diggity -  The nose has nice citrus peel notes with an herbal pine resins. The taste starts with grapefruit,  melon and berries. Floral bitterness picks up from there as a graham cracker sweetness balances it out. It finishes relatively dry. A really nice and approachable DIPA. 8.0% ABV @Beerhive

Payette Rodeo Rye Pale Ale - Yes, they're here! This is quite a nice pale ale, Citra hops give it a tropical fruit nose that is full of passion fruit, peaches and mangoes with a malt profile that has that nice spicy, rye kick. 4.0% ABV. Found at Whole Foods, where else?

Squatters Means Business Lager - Named for one of my favorite people at Squatters, Jessica Means. The nose is of toasted malts and honey. The flavors starts with wheat crackers and tangerine. sweet malt comes next with a smack of herbal bitterness in the end. Finishes mildly bitter. 4.0% ABV @Squatters

Roosters Grizzly Brown Ale - Not had a chance to get to this one yet. Anyone? @Roosters

Bohemian Steam Beer - It's a brilliant copper colored beer boasting smooth caramel malt notes but with noticeable hop bitterness and finish.4.0% ABV @Bohemian

Desert Edge Citra in Red returns - If you've not experienced this citrusy, fruity delight you have my pity. 4.0% ABV @Desert Edge

Epic Copper Cone #56 - This version is made with Amarillo hops. Great pale ale. The malt and hop combo is right on. fruity and malty. Definitely one of the better versions of this beer. Absolutely love it! 7.0% ABV @Epic Brewing SLC, Denver

Cheers!

Bohemian Dampfbier

Bohemian Brewing thrives on sticking with old world beer styles. Now they have another new interpretation on a beer style born in the old world but perfected in the new.

Steam beer also known as California common beer, was originated by Anchor Brewing Company, which trademarked the name Anchor Steam Beer in 1981. Due to lack of refrigeration, these beers were originally thought of as a "cheap beer" because they were fermented with lager yeast at near ale temperatures. The name Steam Beer derives from "Dampfbier" (literally "steam beer"), a traditional German beer that was also fermented at unusually high temperatures and that may have been known to 19th-century American brewers, many of whom were of German descent.

Bohemian Brewery’s latest Brewer’s Stash offering picks up on this tradition. It's a brilliant copper colored beer boasting smooth caramel malt notes but with noticeable hop bitterness and finish.

It likely won't be around long, so get on it.

Prost!

New Beer Friday 2/21/14

Got a few morsels for you this morning. Like the Dude's rug, they'll really tie your room together.

Samuel Adams Cold Snap -  Kinda looks like golden lemonader with a slight white head. The nose is mild with citrus, coriander and crackers. The flavor follows suit. Somewhat similar to Blue Moon but with a greater emphasis on the orange and spices. It finishes a little on the dry side.

The Hive Winery Apricot Honey Wine - It pours a brilliant golden color with a nose of pleasant, apricot and sweet clover. It's a semi-sweet wine with subtle honey notes that complement the light tartness of the apricots. This is a limited release with only 203 full size bottles and 36 split size bottles hitting the shelves, so hurry in to get yours while they last! Available only at the Winery.

Firkin Friday at the Bayou is courtesy of Hoppers: Wheat Ale with African Red Rooibos, fresh   tarragon and mint.

And while I have you, I'd seriously consider getting your asses over to RedRock Brewing to check out some of their seasonal offering, they're killing it right now!

- Yeah, well. The Dude abides

Epic Cans Coming this Summer

When Epic Brewing first burst on to the scene a few years ago, their mantra was basically, go big or go home. And they stuck to that for quite a while. The beers were like nothing that had come before them in Utah; producing no beers under 4.5% ABV.  The packaging was also big, choosing to go with 22oz. bottles instead of the more common 12ozers.

The no 4% beers eventually fell by the wayside with the advent of the Unsacred Brewing line of beers as well as the the creation of the Annex Brewpub. Their new mantra soon became, "never say never". Now comes the official announcement that the Utah/Colorado brewery will be getting into the canned beer game.

Now, less than a year after opening their second production brewery in Denver, Co., Epic Brewing is getting ready to show it's new packaging with their first six packs in 12-ounce cans. The first beers to be released in cans will feature one Colorado Original and one Utah Original. Escape to Colorado IPA – a nicely fruity, dry-hopped Mosaic hoped IPA and Hop Syndrome – a hugely hopped Euro-style lager. The packaging that will feature the Hop Syndrome Lager will be a rotating seasonal, while Escape to Colorado will be the mainstay. Both beers will be brewed and canned exclusively in Colorado, with a tentative release sometime after June.

The Denver brewery is currently in the process of establishing a canning line because the Utah brewery is completely out of space. Epic co-founder Dave Cole said the Eco-friendly PakTech six pack cans will be distributed to the brewery’s markets across the country (including Utah), as well as to Japan.

Epic spokesman Matthew Allred says, While Epic is known for its 22oz bomber format we are also avid adventure junkies and when it comes to the outdoors, the can is king. We’re looking forward to joining you on your next excursion.

I've made no secret of my advocacy for cans and smaller packaging. I'm sure as more breweries recognize the profitability and portability of cans more and more labels will start to appear.

Cheers!

Zion Canyon's New Direction

We along the Wasatch Front and Back tend to get a little wrapped up in our own little beer world, living here in the north, I'm guilty of this as well. We tend to forget Utah takes up a huge chunk of real estate and that our beer culture thrives in all corners of the state.

Zion Canyon Brewing is one of those breweries that tends to get overlooked. It started as a production brewery located in the basement of the Majestic View Lodge - that made it difficult to find all on it's own. Then the distribution to the northern Utah was slow in coming and spotty at best. Now new life is being pumped into Southern Utah's only brewery and damn it you should be aware!

ZCBC  just finished a big remodeling and are opening their awesome new Zion Canyon Brew Pub at the entrance to Zion Canyon National State Park. With a new Brewmaster in tow they are revamping old brews while introducing all new beers, like their new Redemption West Coast IPA.

If you find yourself in Southern Utah, takes some time to get your asses to Springdale, UT and help support our craft beer brothers and sisters in the desert. They're all alone down there and need your "beer love".

Prost!  

Barley's Angels 2014 Beer and Chocolate Pairing

Ladies It's time again for a little Choco-Beer-Man-Free-Quality-Me-Time! The Utah Chapter of Barley's Angels is holding one of their most popular events - the Beer and Chocolate pairing. This sessions featured pairings will come courtesy of Uinta Brewing and MillCreek Cacao Roasters.



This Event is very popular and fills up fast, so don't put it off. To RSVP please call 801.719.0525 or Email BarleysAngelsUtah@gmail.com. This is a private LADIES ONLY 21 andolder, event (you must RSVP)

 The cost is $15 and will be held on Thursday, February 20 at the Boneyard Saloon in Park City at 7:00 PM Barley's Angels aims to advance the female craft beer enthusiast and encourages education and interest in beer.

Cheers!

Big Beer Small Bottle

No New Beer Friday today but we do have new twist on an old brew. For damn near ten years I've been bitching that huge alcohol beers don't quite jive with large bottles. There's nothing worse than craving a beer - then having to make the choice to commit to 22+ ounces when you only need 12.

Don't get me wrong, bombers are fine for your average abv beers, but when your flying solo - less is more.

So I was ecstatic to see that the Utah Brewers Cooperative was taking advantage of their "Little Slammers" bottles and putting Squatters Outer Darkness Imperial Stout in the 7oz pocket rockets. If you haven't tried or revisited Outer Darkness in a while this is the perfect opportunity.

It pores a thick, opaque ebony color with a good two fingers of dark copper colored foam. The nose was heavy with coffee, chocolate, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Definite alcohol perfume in the end. The taste starts with Chocolate covered raisins, followed by some underlying dark fruits. The sweetness fades into big roasted coffee and cocoa and finished up with a nice roasted vanilla malt taste. The alcohol is noticeable but it doesn’t taste like a 10.5% beer. An amazing, full and complex Imperial Stout. The mouthfeel is thick and rich, you really get a sense for how heavy all of the ingredients are as you swish it around.

Exclusively at The Beer Store!
Located at 1763 S. and 300 W. SLC.

Cheers!

Live and Let Live Blonde Pale Ale

In response to the recent developments in Utah regarding same-sex marriage Wasatch Brewery is releasing a new beer called Live and Let Live. By pairing two types of the same ingredients, Wasatch has created a unique, but very natural beer designed to appeal to both sexes.

“Live and Let Live is a blond pale ale built with two beautiful malts and two wonderful hops, all fermented with a pair of yeasts," says Wasatch brewer Dan Burick. “This pairing of similar ingredients is a first for Utah and we think its way overdue.” The beer is an agreeable 4% alcohol by volume and will be sold on draft in Utah and tapped to pour on Valentine’s Day.

“Our new beer has an attitude and we believe Live and Let Live will make life better for a lot of people in Utah" says Wasatch founder Greg Schirf. “Some of our political leaders would benefit from a hearty serving of Live and Let Live.”According to Burick, market research has shown that Live and Let Lives’ delicious taste, easy quaff-ability and same ingredient pairings will be enthusiastically received by many of Utah's non-discriminating beer drinkers.

“We realize this beer is not for everyone, and we will not force it on those who prefer more traditional brew styles." he said. "These pairings are not the norm in Utah right now and we expect resistance from many. However, we are confident that in the near future Utah will look back and wonder why they didn't embrace and celebrate Live and Let Lives’ natural combinations. They will also realize that Live and Let Live is not a threat to traditional beers."

Schirf hopes the beer sends a message beyond Utah. He noted that he was going to send some of his Live and Let Live beer to Sochi. “I am thinking Vladimir Putin needs to lay off the vodka and drink about a case of this stuff," he joked with his impish grin. “Live and Let Live may be hard to swallow for the majority of people in Utah right now,” Schirf concluded, "but we think it’s a step forward.”

Where to find Live and Let Live on Tap Valentine’s Day:
• Bout Time Pubs (Cottonwood, Gateway, Park City, West Valley, West Jordan, Herriman, Taylorsville)
• Wing Nutz (District location in South Jordan)
• Duffy's Tavern (Downtown Salt Lake City)
• Poplar Street Pub (Downtown Salt Lake City)
• Paper Moon (South Salt Lake)
• Dick N’ Dixie’s (Downtown Salt Lake City)
• Lumpy’s Sports Bar and Grill (Highland location)
• Willie’s Lounge (Salt Lake City)
• The Point After Sports Bar (Murray location)
• Double Tree Airport Inn
• Wasatch Brewpub (Park City)
• Squatters Pub Brewery (Downtown Salt Lake City)
• Squatters Roadhouse Grill and Pub (Park City)
• Squatters Airport Pub (The Salt Lake International Airport)

Cheers!

Evolution in a Can!

Looks like Wasatch's Evolution Amber is due for new packaging. Look for their Amber Ale in cans in the coming days or weeks. It not exactly an eye catching design.. as long as it drinks well, I think we'll be fine. Anything else your "Jones-ing" to see appear in cans?

By the way, It's the City weekly's "Best of" time again. If your voting please consider us for Best Local Blog.
Much thanks!

Prost!

Payette Brewing Coming to Utah

Boise's Payette Brewing has inked agreements to start sending their Rodeo Rye Pale Ale to the Beehive State. The 4.0% Rye Pale Ale will be available in cans at grocery and convenience stores in various regions of the state beginning March 1st. Bald Eagle Distributing - Marty Distributing - Bow Tie Beverage - C&H Distributing - Tooele Beverage - General Distributing - Big Four and Wasatch Distributing will handle the distribution.

This is quite a nice pale ale, Citra hops give it a tropical fruit nose that is full of passion fruit, peaches and mangoes with a malt profile that has that nice spicy, rye kick.

I'm sure once they're established in the market, it will be easier to get other Payette offerings in the state.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 2/7/14

Let the Winter Olympics Begin! Some of my colleagues are in Sochi, Russia right now, probably suffering through some pretty poor beer choices (Russia isn't know for it's beer variety) So I thought we'd rub it in a little and let them know what they're missing out on. Be safe Boys and Girls!


Anderson Valley - Heelch O' Hops DIPA: The nose is full of pine, citrus And peach. The flavor starts peachy with citrus and pine. Sugary caramel malt and toast bring up the middle with a nice piney bitterness rounding out the end. finishes semi dry with a hint of alcohol. Overall a very nice, juicy beer. 8.7% ABV @Beerhive

Squatters - Chocolate Rye Stout:  Made with chocolate rye malt the roastiness of the beer is a little more subdued than those made with regular chocolate or roasted barley. But the flavor is also so much more intense. It has a wonderful, smooth milk chocolate flavor with a hint of spicines. The amount of roasted bitterness is also much less making this one damn quaffable chocolate stout. 4.0% ABV Now Pouring on Squatters' "Bumper Crop" Seasonal taps where available.

Zion Canyon - Redemption India Pale Ale: I've not had this one, It's described as a "West coast style pale ale with assertive citrus notes and a rich, malty body". 4.0% ABV @Zion Canyon

The Annex - Pale Ale with Simcoe Hops: Not tried this one yest either. Anyone? I love Simcoe hops I'm sure it's nice and fruity. 4.0% ABV @The Annex

I'm sure I missed something, please share if I did!

Budem zdorovy!

Uinta's Detour Double IPA to be Downsized

It looks like Uinta Brewing is making a change to one of their Crooked Line beers. Detour Double IPA is getting a makeover - moving from it pretty corked and caged 750ml bottle to a more managable and user friendly 12oz bottle.

From a profit and consumer standpoint I think this is a win win. I know I will personally be drinking more Detour now that I don't have to commit to 3-4 solo servings. Plus it'll be more affordable in the 12ozer.

Look for different labeling as it will need to conform to Uinta's compass style bottles and theme.
As the sign says, "February 2014" - However the DABC won't stock the new 12 ozers 'til all of the 750s are gone, so drink up!  Thanks to Matt Hanson for the info and the photo. The pic above was taken at the Foothill liquor store.

Cheers! 

The Utah Beer Blog 2014 Beer Based Prediction Engine

I've seen a lot of statistical data being spewed about in regards to the upcoming Super Bowl Between the Seahawks and Broncos. Most of them rely on "facts" and "numbers" (scoff). This game is looking to be a tough one to predict. You have the number one scoring offense vs number one scoring defense - number one total offense vs number one total defense match-up of Number one seeds.

Given that these teams are so evenly matched up, there is only one true way to gaze into the future and know for certain which team will prevail. I present to you the Utah Beer Blog 2014 Beer Based Prediction Engine.

Beer will be the number one consumed beverage at most Super Bowl gatherings, so it's influence will be substantial. We've come up with a highly developed formula that we spent minutes devising. It is as follows.

Using data compiled from the Brewers Association, Ratebeer & Beeradvocate we will use the following formula. The number of licensed beer manufacturers in the city named for the teams (Seattle/Denver) x each State's per capita beer consumption ÷ the number of home brew shops in the state ÷ that number by 2 (conferences)  = winner.

(46 Denver Breweries) x Results for Colorado 33.4 gallons per year ÷ 25 ÷ 2 = score
(32 Seattle Breweries) x Results for Washington 27.9 gallons per year ÷ 24 ÷ 2 = score

We get a score of

Broncos.   46 x 33.4 ÷ 25 =  61.4 ÷ 2 = 31
Seahawks 32 x 27.9 ÷ 24 =  37.2 ÷ 2 = 19

Colorado is a beer juggernaut and Seattle is no slouch in that department as well, but the pints don't lie. Though these teams are evenly matched, beer's influence in the given markets will bring glory to the Denver Broncos.

As in previous years; if this formula proves successful, I will take it globally and use it to predict all aspects of life and become a living god among men. If it fails? It was your lack of faith in beer!    

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/24/14

This month has been a pain in the ass for this poor, dry beer boy. Luckily my self imposed beer hiatus is nearing the end. Trust me, my appreciation for beer has never been greater and today's New Beer Friday is like lemon juice on a paper cut. Please drink one or four for me.

Uinta Brighton Revolver: This is the second version in this rotational IPA offering from Uinta. The debut IPA killed, it was extremely drinkable and fresh tasting. Round two is a Black IPA. I don't have much info on it as I'm still on the wagon. :( It's available at Brighton Ski Resort of course and and some of the better beer bars around town. This also, being served from a Firkin at the Bayou. 4.0% ABV

RedRock White IPA: This is a new offering from RedRock. This White IPA was developed by RR brewer Chris Harlin and was just tapped yesterday. Only at RedRock downtown. RedRock's Poor Red Ale is back on tap as well. Both are 4.0% ABV

Avenues Proper Fire-pit Porter: This smoked chocolate porter was brewed with chocolate from APs neighbor, Hatch Family Chocolates! @Avenues Proper. 4.0% ABV

New Belgium 1554: Pours black. The nose is of toasted corn with dark chocolate and coffee. The taste is very, very dry, with coffee, the middle holds lots of sweet dark chocolate. 5.6% ABV

New Belgium Blue Paddle Pilsner: Pours a clear and golden with a dense white head. The nose is grassy and floral with hints of honey. Malt is slightly sweet off the top, then grassy hops come in along with some lemon zest and apple. The finish is crisp and smooth. Aftertaste is grassy with notes of lemon. 4.8% ABV

New Belgium Shift Pale Lager: The Nose Has soft grains and spicy, grassy hops. Nice flavor. The grainy bite of a lager met with the grassy hops of a pale. Maybe a touch of honey as well. Softly bitter, very clean, smooth and drinkable. 5.0% ABV

New Belgium Sunshine Wheat: The nose is zesty with lemon, coriander, citrus and malts. The taste follows suit with lots of spices, lemon and citrus. Some pear and banana notes in there as well. Light malt backbone and light hop flavors round out the end. 4.8% ABV

These New Belgium beers have been seen at a few DABC stores. Draper in particular. If you've seen them elsewhere please share.

Returning beers of note.

Desert Edge Brewing All The Way Alt is back. This one is a brilliant copper color with a strong malt flavor without being sweet.  It also has a nice bitterness to pair with that malt flavor and end with a medium hop flavor. 4.0% ABV

Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball: It's good to see the Lagunitas seasonals are flowing into the market with some regularity. Hairy Eyeball has been absent from the Utah scene since 2011. I'm happy to see it back. Tastes like malt and fig with some chocolate notes. Finishes with some alcohol and some citrusy hops. It doesn't mesh as well as it probably could. Still, it's pretty damn tasty. @Beerhive - DABC? 9.4% ABV

Cheers!

Beertown, Utah

What city do you live in? Does it have a brewery? It may not now, but once upon a time there was likely a brewery in your neck of the woods. Breweries once dotted the Utah landscape before the uber-richeous destroyed our much beloved beverage during prohibition. Every corner of the state had a regional brewery to take care of the needs of thirsty pioneers and settlers.

Just for the Hell of it, I'd thought I'd wax nostalgic about Utah's beer past as others try to wedge their heels into the throats of our present.You may be surprised by the location of some of these breweries.

Alta, Utah: Wm. Nichnitz Brewery          1877-1884 Charles Thied Brewery          1884-1888 Beaver, UT: Geo. Buchner Brewery          1874-1877 A. A. Fischer Brewery           1877-1880 Jas. Valentine Brewery           1880-1884 Bingham, UT: Albert Uebel Brewery            1875-1877 Wehrsitz Brewery                   1877-1878 Corinne City, UT: N. Amsler Brewery                 1874-1880 Baier & Dehler Brewery    1880-1884 Emigration Canyon, UT: Henry Wagener Brewery         1874-1875 Frisco, UT: John Savior & Co Brewery 1879-1880 John C. Reher Brewery            1880-1884 Hot Springs, UT: Crossley & Co. Brewery    1874-1877 James Crossley Brewery            1877-1879 Logan, UT: Jacob Theurer Brewery              1886-1887 Theurer & Bloom Brewery    1887-1888 Cache Valley Brewing Co.          1888-1912 Henry Worley Brewery               1879-1884 Hermann Vogel Brewery             1884-1893 Logan City Brewing Co              1893-1901 Milford, UT: M. Ormond Brewery                   1882-1884 Minersville, UT: Dupax & Keisler Brewery    1874-1877 G. Kiesche Brewery                    1877-1878 Murray, UT: South Cottonwood Brewery         1888-Unknown Mayfield & Co. Brewery       1893-Unknown Nephi City, UT: Samual Coulson Brewery               1878-1884 Becker Brewing & Malting Co.    1892-1918 Beckers Products Co.                    1934-1962 Becker Brewing Co.                       1962-1965 Brickmiller & Wells Brewery   1874-1879 Ransom A. Wells Brewery              1879-1882 Ransom A. Wells & Co Brewery    1882-1897 M. Brickmiller Brewery                   1874-1875 Richter & Frey Brewery          1874-1882 John J. Frey Brewery                      1882-1884 Richter & McCarthy Brewery   1884-1886 L. Schmidt & Co. Brewery       1886-1890 Schellhas Brewing Co.                     1891-1891 Ogden, UT Becker Brewing & Malting Co.  1893 - 1954 Ophir City, UT(Ghost Town near Stockton, UT): Benedict Brewery                             1874-1875 Hall and Beyer Brewery                    1874-1875 Henry Horning Brewery                    1875-Unknown Nestler Brewing Co                          1904-1904 Salt Lake City, UT: James Burns Brewery                        Unknown-1878 Joseph Dudler Brewery                     1874-1875 A. Fisher Brewing Co.                       1884-1918 Fisher Brewing Co.                            1934-1960 Lucky Lager Brewing Co.                  1960-1964 General Brewing Corp                       1964-1967 William Fuller Brewery                       1874-1875 Fred Heime Brewery                          1875-Unknown Harry Joseph-Becks Hot Springs Brewery    1933-1933 Richard B. Margetts Brewery               1878-1881 Richard B. Margetts' Estate Brewery    1881-1895 A. B. & S. H. Margetts Brewery   1895-1900 Utah Brewery                                       1900-1913 Utah Brewing Co.                                 1913-1918 Mayetto & Donse Brewery           1874-1875 Jacob Moritz Brewery                          1871-1874 Moritz & Co Brewery                   1874-1877 Keyser & Moritz Brewery             1877-1882 Keyser & Cullen Brewery              1882-1884 Salt Lake City Brewing Co.                   1884-1918 Moritz & Johnson Brewery            1874-1875 Nestler & Co Brewery                  1903-1904 Pfaudler & Co. Brewery                1874-1875 Henry Wagener Brewery                       1864-1894 Wagener Brewing Co. Inc                     1894-1897 Henry Wagener Brewing Co.                 1897-1915 Sandy, UT: Joseph Schuler Brewery                       1874-1877 Maria Schuler Brewery                         1877-1882 Geo. Martin & Co. Brewery          1882-1884 John Hardcastle Brewery                      1884-1886 Riley H. Graves Brewery                      1886-1888 Silver Reef, UT (now Leeds, Ut): B. Noebling Brewery                           1879-1879 P. Welte Brewery                                 1878-1884 Leo Welte Brewery                              1884-1888 South Cottonwood, UT: R. Winkler Brewery                             1878-1879 John Arnold Brewery                           1879-1884 Springville, UT: Geo. Dallin Brewery                             1875-1877 John Dallin Brewery                              1877-1884 Vernal, UT: Joseph Dudler Brewery                         1890-1891 I'm sure some breweries are missing. Record keeping wasn't always the best and some towns flat out try to omit the fact that breweries and distilleries ever existed in their little corners of the state. And just a reminder that Utah's 2014 Legislative session begins next week, we'll do our best to filter all the relative adult beverage happenings to keep everyone informed of what going on in our little beer universe. Cheers!

Mother Earth Brew Co. Arriving Soon

New beers will soon be entering the state via the Beehive. Del Vance (owner) informed me that he has struck a deal with Mother Earth Brew Co. out of San Diego to bring some of their portfolio of beers to the Beerhive.

Mother Earth Brew Co. was founded in 2008 with the goal; to create distinguished, hand crafted beers that stimulate sensory conversation and to promote the art and science of craft beer making.. Their brewery not only houses a 6,000 sq. foot Tap House but also has it's own Homebrew Supply Store.

Del tells me he's getting two of their nine IPAs, a Vanilla Cream Ale and one of their Stouts. They should be arriving at the Beerhive any day, we'll let you know when.

Note: There are two breweries in the U.S. that use the name "Mother Earth". These are the San Diego beers not the North Carolina brews.

Cheers!

New "12er" From Bohemian

From the brewery that specializes in "Old School Brew" comes a new multi-12 pack with an old school look. I've seen that box before when I was a wee boy; it looks like something out of 1960, circa Alta, Utah. There's something comforting to me about packaging that harks back to the days of the old Fisher and Becker Breweries.

Anyway, there's nothing new inside but it feels new. The new boxes should start popping in the coming days.

And don't forget, Bohemian's new Altbier (5.3%) and Export Lager (6.0%) are just around the corner. We'll keep you posted.

Cheers!  

New Brewer needed at Vernal Brewing Co.

Think you've got some mad homebrew skills? Been in the game for a while, but are looking for a change of scenery? Then Vernal Brewing wants to hear from you.

Vernal Brewing Company has an immediate opening for a brewmaster/head brewer for their 10 bbl system with production line. Please send resume to vernalbrewing@gmail.com or PM. VBC is a brewpub/brewery with emphasis on craft beers.

Don't let people of Vernal suffer longer than they have to! Locally made craft beer is too precious a commodity to be without! 

 Cheers!

Photo: Chad Kirkland/SLUG Magazine

New Beer Friday 1/17/14

In an effoert to try and broaden all of our horizon we're going to try to mix in some more ciders and meads into tthe mix when available. The Hive Winery has a new Melomel in their line-up this week. Melomels are basically meads that contains fruit (such as raspberry, blackberry or strawberry).

The Hive Winery's Preacher's Son Blueberry Honey is rich, flavorful, blueberry dominates the front flavor with delightful delicate notes of clover honey. sure to live up to it's slogan. This is a very limited release with less than 177 full size bottles.


Returning  Beers


Double Black Lager is back on at Hoppers . It pours a dark brown with garnet highlights just a hint of cocoa powder or dark chocolate in the finish, yet creamy smooth and dangerously easy to drink. All German except for the water and the brewer.

The Avenues Proper's Hopspital IPA returns as well, but with a twist. This latest batch was hopped exclusively with Simcoe hops so it should have a nice tangerine smack.  

RedRock has the firkin today at the Bayou. This afternoons offering is RR's Organic Zwicklebier with citra hops. A traditional lager with very nontraditional hops. 

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/10/14

Just to let it be known... I'm not a happy camper. My ass has been on the wagon since the year began and I still have a couple to go. Which means, even though I'm still writing about beer - the lack of it is turning me into a whiny lil' bitch. So while I may not have had some of the new beers available this week, some people who's opinions I trust have.  Here's my best interpretations of their drunk'n slurring remarks.

Uinta Tinder: This one I have had! The first whiff in the nose gives off hints of smoked pork. The smoke definitely comes through in the taste as well. I got much more subdued smoke in the taste - along with dark caramel malts with hints of cocoa in the finish. The hops are grassy and spicy. They add to the nice lager bite. 6.5% ABV @Uinta Brewing

Roosters Hellevation IPA: My friends that have tried Hellevation (feel free to chime in) have mixed reactions, and by mixed reactions I mean, they either hate it or love it. Here are some of their brief thoughts. 7% ABV @Roosters Brewing & other better beer bars

New Belgium's "Hop Kitchen Series" Rewind: This the Second in the Hop Kitchen Series that Utah has recived. This one is is described as more of an English IPA with hops that lean more toward the floral end of the spectrum with citrusy hops backing them up. 7% ABV @Beerhive

For Firkin Friday, Wasatch's Park City 50th Anniversary w/ Styrian Goldings hops is being poured at the Bayou at 3pm and I believe at Poplar St. Pub.

Some fine beers have also returned this week as well.

Epic Santa Cruz Brown IPA: One of my favorites from Epic. Nice malty and toasty bed with a decent dose of pine and citrus. Yum!

Uinta Yard Sale: A great toasty amber lager full of Nobel hop goodness. Always in my fridge. Formerly Gelande Amber Lager. 4.0% ABV. Available everwhere

Lagunitas Brown Shugga: Basically a barleywine, this is an excellent beer with a nice balance of hops against a sweet malt bill. Hop flavor is on the the piney side but finishes with grapefruit notes. 9.99% ABV @DABC and better beer bars

Lagunitas Sucks Brown Shugga Substitute Ale: Brown Shugga's little brother has a nice candy sweetness paired against lots of tropical fruits. Toasty towards the end  - but it takes away nothing from the juicy tropical hops. 7.85 ABV @DABC and better beer bars

Prost!