New Beer Friday: Let's Get 2016 Over With Edition

For the last New Beer Friday of 2016 we not only have new beer but a new brewery has entered our market as well. Elysian Brewing out of Seattle quietly slipped in this week, we will hopefully be seeing some of their more infamous IPAs and other beers very soon. As for now I'm only aware of one. Here it is.

Elysian Bifrost - The nose has a faint hint of citrus with a bit of nutmeg and malt. The taste has a rich citrus and malt blend with  assertive hoppiness. There is a slight alcohol kick as well. The finish has mostly citrus with a faint zesty pepper note to top it off. Through it all, this beer manages to retain it's pale ale character despite the added spices and higher than normal alcohol. 8.3% ABV @ Beer Bar, Beerhive

2 Row Oatmeal Stout - Big roast, some char with faint molasses dark, dark chocolate and liquorish. Very complex for an oatmeal stout. It has the body of an 8% beer but it's only 5.6%. Just bottled yesterday, it's at the brewery for now. Look for it we you normally enjoy 2 Row's brews next week.

Desert Edge American Amber - This is an unfiltered Amber Ale full of big caramel malt, citrusy and floral hop aroma. The toasty caramel malt and bright hop flavor is balanced by a medium bitterness for a complex but very drinkable beer. This is an unfiltered Amber Ale full of big caramel malt, citrusy and floral hop aroma. The toasty caramel malt and bright hop flavor is balanced by a medium bitterness for a complex but very drinkable beer. 4.0% ABV @ Desert Edge

Proper Ahern Nut Brown Ale - I haven't had a chance to try this one yet, I see it in my future this afternoon. 4.0% ABV @ Proper Brewing

Big Sky Pack Train DIPA - The nose is tropical with citrus and crackers. The taste follows with some mango, grapefruit up front. Vague citrus pith comes next with dry malts and a bit of booze towards the end. Fnishes hoppy and dry. 8.7% ABV. @ Bayou, DABC

Cheers and Have a Happy New Year!

New Beer Friday - 2016 Holiday Edition

Hopefully, you've been good little beer nerds and nerdettes. If that's the case? Santa may reward you with a shiny new spaceship or better yet, you may get that 15 year vertical of that coveted Bulgarian Boza you've had your geeky eyes on since 2001. I can't help you with the Space Ship or the Boza (or Boza's side effects) but I can help you with the new beers that are guaranteed to make your holidays bright.

Uinta Hopscursion Brett IPA - Somewhat hazy in appearance, the head retention is pretty good. The nose has bretty barnyard funk, but not so much that you can't smell the citrus peel like hops. The taste starts with full on young and doughy brettanomyces. There is a bit of tartness but it's almost undetectable. The malt starts to show itself next with the citrusy and tropical hops carrying you away the end. Finishes yeasty and somewhat dry. This is not the type of brett beer to age. Hopscursion is perfect right now - like any fresh IPA. Drink 'em up now! 6.25% ABV @Uinta, Bayou

Uinta Sea Legs Brett Baltic Porter - I got to sample a bit of this from the barrel a few months ago. It reminded me of Jolly Pumpkin's Bam Noir - this final version is so much more than just a dark brett ale. The flavors here are deep and fruity. Dark fruits, cherry, vine berries and cocoa. After your tongue recovers from all of this, you get a little funk along with vanilla and bourbon on the back end. The result of all of this is rich and complex beer that's a sensory overload on the tongue. This is a very limited offering, don't wait too long. 8.2% ABV @ Uinta, Bayou, Beerhive, Beer Bar

Proper Géol English Barleywine - The nose is of toasted malt, caramel, toffee, slight nut, and alcohol aromas. Taste is much the same with toast, nut, earth, and wood flavors on the finish. There is a mild amount of toast and earth bitterness and an alcohol kick on the palate with each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a slightly crisp and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is a pretty good beer with solid toast and nut aspects all around. This beer was designed for the winter solstice - a perfect warmer for the holidays. 9.8% ABV @ Proper Brewing

Melvin *(Asterisk) - Dank and chewy with some nice tropical hops. Pretty dry and unbalanced for such a big beer. Some medical burn. This is far from unenjoyable, it's very nice and has a wonderful hop presence. It just lacks the craftsmanship of many of Melvin's predecessors. These are limited as well. 9.5% ABV @ BeerHive, Beer Bar and Slackwater

Mountain West Green Urban Lunchbox Hard Cider - This unique cider is made from over twenty different varieties of apples that were grown in the backyards of happy apple loving Utahans. This a limited release cider made in collaboration with The Green Urban Lunchbox. A portion of the proceeds will go to them. This is one of those ciders that will be different every time it's made, due to the randomness of the apples. I'd suggest you snag some of this, if it's brilliant it may never exists again! 6.9% ABV @ Mountain West Hard Cider

Talisman Bourbon Barrel aged Stout #2 - Not had a chance to sample this latest batch. Please share if you have. 6.3% ABV @ Talisman

Also returning this week is Uinta's Cockeyed Cooper Barleywine. This beer missed the rotation last year. It's back with a modified label. Look for a beer that has a nice medley of toffee, vanilla, bourbon and caramel. I missed this beer! 11.1% ABV @Uinta

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Epic's Utah Session Series Cans & Uinta Brett Beers

If you're a fan of craft beer in small packages, we have some great news for you. Epic Brewing will be putting some of their Utah Session Series beers in cans.

Epic's Session Mid Mountain Mild, SLC Lager and Session IPA will be getting the new packaging sometime in the second quarter of 2017. This great news for consumers that prefer the ease and mobility of cans versus the cumbersome bombers that currently occupy grocery and C-store shelves.

The Mid-Mountain Mild is malt forward with nice biscuit and caramel - The SLC Lager has a smooth, crisp bite, ample hop bitterness, lemony, herbal, bready, with a clean, dry hoppy finish - Epic Session IPA  has tropical, papaya and grapefruit with a smidge of sweet malts, Light and bitter.

In other local beer news, Uinta has Released their two newest wild ales. Brett Sea Legs is a wild interpretation on Uinta's Sea Legs Baltic Porter. It combines cocoa and whiskey and twists it wild funk. The Hopscursion Brett IPA is part of a new trend flips IPAs upside down adding doughy barnyard funk with a bit of tartness. Uinta has also brought back Cockeyed Cooper Barrel Aged Barleywine. This beer took a year hiatus, but it's back now! I'll have my full tasting notes on these and other new stuff tomorrow for New Beer Friday.

Cheers!

New Release Coming to Shades of Pale

We've got your fist peek at some new stuff coming from Shades of Pale Brewing this morning.

First up we have the Salt City Citrus IPA. If you've been keeping up on the IPAs coming out of shades you know they always are big on the citrus edge. I'm currious to see what this one brings to the table. This IPA will dial in at 7.7% ABV and be packaged in 12oz bottles.

Next up is Tin Angel. I believe this is a special label for SOP's Ready to Fly Amber Ale. This could be a label for a private entity. The Tin Angel Cafe comes to mind. I'll get that straightened out and fill you in soon.

Cheers!

Images found at Shipcomplient.com

New Beer Friday 12/16/16

Proper Brewing Gruit - Gruits are basically ancient ales. These are the way beers were made many, many centuries ago in continental Europe. These beer rely heavily on spices and berries to add flavors to the brew. The results are a somewhat herbal tea-like beer that has a bit of fruit for balance. This beer will be an Abbey Ale at it's base and be spiced with the traditional yarrow sweet gale with the addition of Labrador tea. This beer goes on sale Saturday

Desert Edge Holiday Chocolate Stout - This is a Irish stout brewed with cacao nibs and vanilla beans. The addition of unsweetened cacao nibs gives this stout a big chocolate flavor without a candy like sweetness. They added just enough vanilla to enhance the chocolate while keeping the flavor of a stout. Served on nitro it's a smooth and creamy chocolate treat. 4.0% ABV @ Desert Edge

Magic Hat Circus Boy - Pours a light golden color with a very fizzy head. The smell was mostly wheat with a little bit of citrus on the nose. I found the taste to be the exact opposite with a lot of lemon grass and orange flavors while not that much wheat. It was a little thin but for the summer I was pretty content with one. Overall it didn't blow me away or anything, but not a bad beer by any means either. 4.5% ABV @ DABC Stores

Cheers!

2 Row Dark Alley - Barrel Aged

Later this morning (12/13/16) at 11am 2 Row Brewing will officially put it's new Dark Alley Imperial Stout on sale. If you've haunted one of SLC's beer bars over the weekend, you may have already tried it.

The nose has chocolate with a hint of cookie followed by a bit of roasted malt and mocha. The flavor is very intricate. As in the nose, there is a bit of sweetness on the tongue which quickly turns in to deep strong dark chocolate. The bittersweet finish is biting but leaves the mouth watering. A few more sips brings out molasses and cocoa. As it warms a bit of raisin edges it's way out, but the dark coco stands strong. Considering the ABV is 13.4% the alcohol is pretty well subdued - don't be fooled, you will loose if you underestimate it.

On the heels of this release, you'll be happy to know that there's a Barrel Aged version of Dark Alley current asleep in in High West whiskey barrels. The label for Barrel Aged Dark Alley is pictured above. If you're a fan a big hearty Imperial Stouts, this one may make you squeal. It's already 13.4% - the barrel will likely knock that up a bit more.

As soon as it's done aging, I'll provide the date and time.

Slainte!

Label found at Shipcomplient.com

Breckenridge in Utah

Stopped in to the Maverik in Centerville to grab a "mixer sixer" last Saturday night and what do I see? A Breckenridge Avalanche Amber staring back at me!

I'm usually pretty up to date with these things, but this one hit me by surprise. Too bad it's just the Avalanche. It's a mediocre amber ale at best. I guess it's time to start rattling some chains and get some of their better options in the mix!

Has anyone seen anything else from Breckenridge other than this? Your fellow beer nerds would love to know!

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 12/9/16

This will be my last New Beer Friday. I've been replaced by Doctor, Ben Carson - who was once in the same room with someone who drank a beer from Utah. Due to his newly discovered expertise in the field of Utah's beer, I must obviously acquiesce. I hope to get my job back next week.
 
Vernal Brewing Rigor Mortis Red Ale - The nose has aromas of roasted malts, and caramel. Nice hop presence up front balanced nicely by the rush of malts. Really nice balance with this brew. Overall really a solid brew and definitely worth a shot. 4.0% ABV @ Vernal, coming soon to the Wasatch Front Area.

2 Row Dark Alley Imperial Stout - The nose has chocolate with a hint of cookie followed by a bit of roasted malt and mocha. The flavor is very intricate. As in the nose, there is a bit of sweetness on the tounge which quickly turns in to deep strong dark chocolate. The bittersweet finish is biting but leaves the mouth watering. A few more sips brings out molasses and cocoa. As it warms a bit of raisin edges it's way out, but the dark coco stands strong.Considering the ABV is 13.4% the alcohol is pretty well subdued - don't be fooled, you will loose if you underestimate it. @ Beerhive, Bayou, Beer Bar, Slackwater - goes on sale to the public at the brewery on Tuesday Dec 13th

Proper Brewing Beer Bar Blonde - Brewed exclusivly for SLC's Beer Bar. Havn't had it yet, it will debut tonight at 7pm at beer Bar.

Returning is a newly amplified Czechulator. This new version comes in at over 9% from the former 7.6%.

Bohemian CzechUlator Dopple Bock - The nose is nutty, chocolate, clean notes of malty sweetness. Some toffee and caramel in there as well. The flavor starts off similarly with some notes of traditional chocolatey, nutty, and toffee malts. As the flavor develops on the palate, though, I get some berry sweetness towards the end. Easy drinking and enjoyable. A limited release that is only available at Bohemian's Brewery.

Be sure to check out New Beer Friday on KBER 101 with Mick and Allen along with myself at 3:30pm this afternoon.

Cheers!

Fisher Brewing Update

I got the opportunity to go and revisit the guys over at A. Fisher Brewing the other day. It had been a quite a few months since my last visit and boy have things changed. My last visit to Fisher showed
more chaos than the cozy brewery I was hoping for. That is not the case now. While there is still a small level of chaos, it's far overshadowed by the new bar and collection of new stainless steel brewing vessels.

The guys have been busy collecting relics from Fisher's past to add a little old to all of the new - reclaiming much of the
 charm from the old garage that the brewery now inhabits. They even acquired an old wooden ice box that will store all of the Fisher beer you'll be buying. It may look small but it's mounted to the breweries walk in cooler, so it will always be full.

A lot of you have been asking me, "why it's taking so long"? to get this place up and running. Well, simply put, Colby, Tom, Tim and Steve are doing everything that they can do by themselves. While that may not change the taste of the beer, it may make you appreciate it and the brewery more.

If the beer gods are all happy and smiling, the A. Fisher Brewing Company should be resurrected mid to late January. It will take a while to start filling the 18 tap handles, tanks, kegs and getting
the staff up to speed, but early 2017 looks to the perfect time to enjoy a beer at the Granary District's new brewery.

Fisher Brewing is located at 320 West 800 South in Salt Lake City. As the time draws near, I promise to fill you in. 

Prost!

Great News for Vernal Brewing Co.

Great news is coming in from Vernal Brewing Company to help you stay in touch with your favorite Vernal beers. Utah's eastern most brewery has just released their “VBC Beer Locator” Android App which will give current Android users the ability find Vernal's beer, and or share the retail locations and brands offered with other potential users in “real time”.

The goal of the app is to help consumers and encourage them to locate all beers and this will in turn help every person out there. The more locations entered into the app, the easier VBC fans will be able to locate their favorite beer. Vernal's distributors also have many other craft brands in their portfolio’s, so users could even start locating other craft brands they’ve been looking for. More features will be added to the app in time to make it more useful, informative and fun for all users.

Android is the only device offered at the moment, but the iPhone version is being worked as we speak and will be available to consumers in the near future.

Vernal has provided a QR code to direct you to get you to the app faster.

Once you get the app one of the first things you may want to do is find Vernal's newest packaged beer, Rigor Mortis Red Ale. While this beer isn't completely brand new, this release will help it find a wider audience. It's malty sweet with caramel tones, a bit of grapefruit and moderate hop finish. 4.0% ABV - 36 IBUs. Look for it soon in the Utah and Wyoming distribution areas.

And if all of that isn't enough excellent news, Vernal Brewing just received their full blown liquor license - which mean no food requirements with beer purchases.

Cheers, to that!

RedRock's - The Twelve Days of Christmas at the Beer Store

RedRock Brewing Company has a sleigh full of surprises awaiting you this month at the Red Rock Beer Store.

First, if you’re a fan of Red Rock Brewery’s barrel-aged beers, we’ve got good news. The good people at RedRock have stashed a fair number of their most coveted beers for a new game that they've aptly named, “The Twelve Days of Christmas at the Beer Store”.

The concept is pretty simple. Every time you visit the Red Rock Beer Store between now and December 24th, you will be given a uniquely numbered “12-Days of Christmas Card”. Then starting on December 13th, RedRock's staff will be randomly picking numbers and matching them with one of the “sold-out” beer styles displayed in the photo above (click to enlarge).

The winning numbers will be posted on the Red Rock Beer Store Facebook page at 11:30AM daily. If your number is selected, you will be given 24-hours to decide if you would like to reserve your allocated bottle for purchase. If you do not claim your reserved bottle, the beer will roll forward to the next day’s contest.

RedRock expects to draw about 5-10 winning numbers daily, starting on Tuesday the 13th.

You can pick-up one card (entry) per-person, per day. Each winning number will be matched with (1) 750mL bottle or (2) 500mL bottles. Beer styles will be assigned randomly to each winning number. Take it or leave it…you have no obligation to purchase and RedRock will gladly keep your winning number in the game if you are assigned a style that doesn’t interest you.

Just by coming into the Beer Store, you’ll have a random chance of winning free Red Rock merchandise throughout the day. We’ll be giving away glasses, shirts, bottle openers, etc. There’s no purchase necessary to win.

Better get you asses over to the RR's Beer Store and start collecting your cards!

Cheers!

More Previews from the RoHa Brewing Project

As promised we have more of what's to come from The RoHa Brewing Project's all new portfolio of beers.

Named for the street RoHa resides on the Kensington Grand Saison will pack a little more punch than the typical Saison. Look for flavors that will be somewhat tart and complex with the spicy coriander accents that the yeast is famous for. Look for an ABV of 6.8%

Three Deep American Ale is dedicated to the founders of The RoHa Brewing Project. Light golden wheat in color this American Ale will be bright with American Malt and hops that will likely be full of all those citrus and pine notes that have made American Ales so popular around the world.

The final preview is for the Thirsty Thursday IPA. If you have beer tasting tradition or routine then you understand the name from which this hails. For the RoHa guys is all about varity being the spice of life for you it's about zip of
hops. Look for an ABV of 6.5%.

It's hard to say, when you'll be enjoying some of these new beers. Odds are pretty good they'll be out of the fermenters by February. When days get closer we'll have a better idea.

Prost!

New Beer Friday 12/2/16

Squatters Holiday Spiced Ale - This described as being made with Bengal tea, plus cinnamon, roasted chicory, roasted carob, ginger, cardamom, black pepper, cloves and nutmeg. These create a complex yet inviting aroma and flavor to his new holiday treat. 4.0% ABV

Samuel Adams Winter Lager - Nice flavors of ginger, allspice and nutmeg with a surrounding malty breadlines with hints of sweetness and a medium hop bitterness. A nice drinking brew with a decent combination of spice and malty sweetness. 5.6% ABV

2 Row Amber Ale - This is 2 Row's first 4.0% offering. The nose is mostly pine and citrus. The taste starts with biscuit and some nut brown and caramel notes. The hops a re a nice blend of pine and citrus peel. They complement each other well. The end is mildly earthy. 4.0% ABV @ 2 Row, Beer Bar BeerHive, East Liberty Tap House. Check these locations first before making the trip. The beer is in, but waiting for tap handles to free up.

Stone Best Before 12/12/25/16 - Pours hazy golden color with a mouthwatering nose of citrus, tropical fruits, pine, and bread. The is a massive juicy explosion of citrus, following through to the slightly bitter finish. A slight hint of booze comes though in the end as well. Nice beer, a little less enamel destroying than some releases. 9.4% ABV @ Beerhive, Bayou, Slackwater

Stone Best After 12/24/16 -  Hazy apricot color with a mostly yeasty brett nose along with nice citrus hops. The flavor follows. less hoppy than the nose but the brett funk is more pronounced. Need to try this again after the recommended date. 7.0% ABV @ Beerhive, Bayou, Slackwater

Cheers!

Bonneville Bottles Coming Soon

Last June we brought you the news that Tooele's Bonneville Brewing Company was going to be packaging their suds for Northern Utah distribution. The time of their debut will soon be upon us.

Starting as soon January 2017, you'll start seeing four of Bonneville's more popular beers available for purchase. Most grocery and C-stores will initially only be selling two of the four (Free Roller and Redline). Here's the lowdown on what else is coming.

Pilot Peak Pilsner - Named for the peak that is the summit of the Pilot Range that stretches from Nevada to Utah, this pils is made with two types of German malt and is bittered with Hallertau Hops (squeee). This beer will have a nice toasty, floral and herbal flavor profile. 4.0% ABV

Antelope Amber - It's named for Utah's Antelope Island, but the label has a bison on it. If you live in
Utah you'll get it's significance. If not? you'll just have to use your Google. This is an American Amber Ale that will fuse biscuit and caramel malts combined with earthy American hops for a perfect balance. 4.0% ABV

Redline Red - The infamous world record breaking engines of the Bonneville Speedway inspires the name of this tasty red ale. The focus here is on the toasted malts that will impart a light fruitiness to play off the American hops.4.0% ABV



Free Roller IPA - From the old days at the Salt Flats and invokes images of boldest speed nut that would lay across their bikes to reduce drag.This Session IPA will have sweet bready malts to play on the generous amount of citrus and pine flavors given off by the hops. 4.0% ABV

These beers aren't new they can be found on tap at Bonneville's brewery, All Star Lanes and various better beers bars around the Wasatch Front. If you havn't tried them, they're worth your time. Keep checking back for their packaging and release dates.

As promised, we have the next debut label from RoHa Brewing. Today's up and coming beer is the Big Green Couch Double IPA. For this beer Roha's Brewmaster, Chris Haas pays homage to a... well... a couch... a green couch.. in Michigan. This beer is a tribute to Haas' adventurous spirit and the one unnamed, yet remarkable individual who made it possible for him to stay on the... Big Green Couch. This definitely gives new meaning to the term "couch beer". Can't wait to get the full story on this one. Anyway, this beer will be RoHa's stronger, drier, yet balanced DIPA. 8.0% ABV.

Check back tomorrow for more RoHa updates along with other Utah specific beer news.

Cheers!

The RoHa Brewing Project Debuts it's Portfolio

Over the next few days I'll be sharing with you what beers will be coming out of The RoHa Brewing Project in the coming months. RoHa hopes to be online by the first part of January. The brew house is already taking shape and I've already scoped out my seat in the RoHa's taproom!

Brewmaster, Chris Haas is debuting his pale ale first. These are some of the most drinkable of all beers. It's my personal favorite style and this one looks like it will be yummy.

Back Porch Pale Ale will be a hop forward ale with a touch of amber - nicely balanced for drinkability. This will likely be one of the first beers to go on sale and it will be available on draft and in 22oz. bottles.

Stay close there's much more to come from RoHa, plus other beer geek news from around the state. Need more info on The RoHa Brewing Project? Here's a story I wrote about them from earlier in the year.

Prost!

New Beer Friday: Black Friday 2016

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I trust you had plenty of great beer to keep your bird company?  As most of these beers are debuting today or tomorrow, I haven't had a chance to sample many of them yet.  Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

ProperBrewing Foreign Gentleman Coffee Stout - Described as being brewed with Belgian yeast and Guatemalan coffee beans from La Barba Coffee, the Foreign Gentleman layers the roastiness and bright acidity of the coffee with dark chocolate, caramel, rum, and brown sugar notes from the base beer. All of that + nitro. 4.0% ABV @ Proper Brewing

Epic Sour Brainless on Pineapple - Not tried this one yet. Brett sour made with pineapple! Available today at 10am. @ Epic

Mounain West Stillwater Bourbon Barrel Cider -   Aged six months and high west bourbon  barrels barrels.  The nose is spicy and sweet with a taste that is mildly tart and fruity but not overly so. It finishes with a nice oaky bourbon flavor some sodium A hint of coconut.  A perfect holiday warmer or a great aperitif. 9.0% ABV @ Mountain West Cidery

Talisman - Talisman Presents Wheat Session IPA - Not tried this one yet. This WIPA dials in at 4.0% ABV. @ Talisman 

Talisman - Talisman Presents Double IPA - Not tried this one yet. 9.3% ABV Available today at Noon. @ Talisman, Slackwater 

Prost!

Proper's Gruit

Well here's something you don't see well.... ever in our market. A Gruit. Gruits are basically ancient ales. These are the way beers were made many, many centuries ago in continental Europe. These beer rely heavily on spices and berries to add flavors to the brew. The results are a somewhat herbal tea-like beer that has a bit of fruit for balance. It's also said that they can be intoxicating and can be helpful as a libido aid. Check...and...check!

Well Brewmaster Rio Connolly and his crew are up for the challenge and will be releasing this special brew just in time for the Holidays. This beer will be an Abbey Ale at it's base and be spiced with the traditional yarrow sweet gale with the addition of Labrador tea. These usually range from 4 - 6% ABV. We'll know soon enough what this will be. Can't wait!

Skol!

Utah Beer Trailer: Uinta's Brett Sea Legs Baltic Porter

Today's Beer Trailer is yet again from Uinta and I think this one will make you all squeal. Uinta has taken their popular Sea Legs Baltic Porter and dosed it's rye whisky barrels with brettanomyces, lactobacillus and pediococcus.

I got my tongue washed with a tiny dose of this new brett beer and I think you'll be happy. The result is a dry roasty beer with a tiny bit of earthy char that combines nicely with the brett, the tart plumb, lemon and malt. The ABV is respectable 8.2%. Probably my favorite label from Uinta.

I'm hearing that there's a push by some on the brew staff to send this one into bottles "still" meaning zero carbonation. What do you guys think about a "still brett beer"? Anyway, Uinta is hoping to have this out by early December. When the specifics emerge, you'll see it here - so stay close.

Slante!

Image found at Shipcomplient.com

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!