Utah Beer: Still in the Top 50

Even though Utah is dead last in U.S. beer consumption, some of our brewers still manage to make and sell enough brews to keep our suds in the the top 50 of Craft Brewing Companies.

The Utah Brewers Cooperative which bottles Wasatch and Squatters beers came in at number 48 in 2007, down a notch from 2006.

A craft brewery is small, independent, and traditional. With an annual production of less than 2 million barrels of beer per year.

1 Boston Beer Co.BostonMA
2 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.ChicoCA
3 New Belgium Brewing Co. Inc.Fort CollinsCO
4 Spoetzl BreweryShinerTX
5 Pyramid Breweries Inc.SeattleWA
6 Matt Brewing Co.UticaNY
7 Deschutes Brewery, Inc.BendOR
8 Boulevard Brewing Co.Kansas CityMO
9 Full Sail Brewing Co.Hood RiverOR
10 Harpoon BreweryBostonMA
11 Alaskan Brewing and Bottling Co.JuneauAK
12 Magic Hat Brewing Co. & Performing Arts CenterSouth BurlingtonVT
13 Anchor Brewing Co.San FranciscoCA
14 Bell's Brewery, Inc.GalesburgMI
15 Shipyard Brewing Co.PortlandME
16 Summit Brewing Co.St. PaulMN
17 Abita Brewing Co.Abita SpringsLA
18 Gordon Biersch Brewing Co.San JoseCA
19 Brooklyn BreweryBrooklynNY
20 Stone Brewing Co.EscondidoCA
21 Rogue Ales / Oregon BrewingNewportOR
22 Long Trail Brewing Co.Bridgewater CornersVT
23 New Glarus Brewing Co.New GlarusWI
24 Kona Brewing Co.Kailua-KonaHI
25 Dogfish Head Craft BreweryMiltonDE
26 Firestone Walker Brewing Co.Paso RoblesCA
27 Great Lakes Brewing Co./OhioClevelandOH
28 The Lagunitas Brewing Co.PetalumaCA
29 Flying Dog BreweryDenverCO
30 Sweetwater Brewing Co.AtlantaGA
31 Bridgeport Brewing Co.PortlandOR
32 Rock Bottom Brewery RestaurantsLouisvilleCO
33 Odell Brewing Co.Fort CollinsCO

34 BJ's Restaurant & BreweryHuntington BeachCA

35 Victory Brewing Co.DowningtownPA

36 Mac and Jack's BreweryRedmondWA
37 Lost Coast Brewery and CafeEurekaCA
38 Big Sky Brewing Co.MissoulaMT
39 Pete's Brewing Co.San AntonioTX
40 Otter Creek Brewing Co.MiddleburyVT
41 Karl Strauss BreweriesSan DiegoCA
42 Breckenridge BreweryDenverCO
43 Gordon Biersch Brewery RestaurantChattanoogaTN
44 Anderson Valley Brewing Co.BoonvilleCA
45 Boulder Beer Co.BoulderCO
46 North Coast Brewing Co. Inc.Fort BraggCA
47 McMenaminsPortlandOR
48 Utah Brewers CooperativeSalt Lake CityUT
49 Capital Brewing Co.MiddletonWI
50 Blue Point Brewing Co.PatchogueNY

Utah's Worlds Beer Cup Entries

Today judging begins in San Diego for the 2008 World Beer Cup. On April 19th beer makers from around the world will compete in what is referred to as "The most prestigious beer competition in the world".

Utah brewers stacked up an impressive stack of hardware, acquiring seven medals. Two bronze, four silver and one gold. 33% of the beers entered won medals. Only six other states had better medal counts.

Here is an incomplete list of some of the Utah brews being judged this year.

Squatters Pub Brewery ENTRIES -
Black Forest Schwarzbier - Category: German Style Schwarzbier

Vienna Lager - Category: Vienna Style Lager

Alt and in the Way - Category: German Style Brown Ale/Dusseldorf-style Altbier

Emigration Amber Ale - Category: American Style Amber/Red Ale

Epiphany (Vanilla Porter aged in a Bourbon Barrel) - Category: Wood and Barrel-aged Dark Beer

Fifth Element - Category: Belgian French Style Ale - Saison.

Broadway Kolsch - Category: German-Style Kolsch / Koln-Style Kolsch

Utah Brewers Cooperative ENTRIES -
The Devastator Double Bock by Wasatch - Category: German Style Strong Doppelbock

Ava Lee by Squatters - Category: Belgian Style Triple

Squatters India Pale Ale - Category: English Style India Pale Ale

Wasatch Polygamy Porter - Category: Brown Porter - Low alcohol

Squatters Provo Girl Pilsner - Category: German Style Pilsner - Low alcohol

Wasatch 1st Amendment Lager - Category: European Style Lager - Low alcohol

Wasatch Evolution Amber Ale - Category: Irish Style Red Ale

Squatters Full Suspension Pale Ale - Category: Cellared or Unfiltered Ale - Best Bitter or Special Bitter

Wasatch Apricot Hefeweizen - Category: Fruit and Vegetable Wheat Beer

Squatters Chasing Tail Golden Ale - Category: English Style Summer Ale

Squatters Hefeweizen Category: American Style Hefeweizen

Squatters Organic Amber Ale - Category: American Style Amber/Red Ale

Bobsled Brown by Wasatch - Category: German Style Brown Ale

Squatters Orphan Abbey - Category: Belgian Style Table Beer

Squatters Captain Bastard Oatmeal Stout - Category: Classic Irish Style Dry Stout

Uinta Brewing Comapny ENTRIES-

Golden Spike - Category: American Style Hefeweizen

Kings Peak Porter - Category German-Style Schwarzbier

Gelande - Category: American-Style Amber Lager; California Common Beer

Cutthroat - Category: Ordinary Bitter

Anniversary Barley Wine - Category: American-Style Barley Wine

Solstice - Category: German-Style Koelsch/Koeln-Style Koeslch

Anglers - Category: American-Style Strong Ale

Four Plus Brewing Co. ENTRIES-

Monkshine - Category: French or Belgian-Style Saison

Also, Cutthroat ( a 3 time World Beer Cup medalist) will be one of the featured beers at the competitions Gala Dinner this year.

I'm sure there are more beers entered from other brew pubs but that the stuff I know of. Winner will be announced April 19th. I'll try to get the winners list out ASAP. Cheers.

Three Sheets Returns!

The best show on T.V. dedicated to adult beverages returns tonight on Mojo. If you've never seen or heard of Three Sheets, imagine a travel show that deals only with the indigenous 'hooches' of foreign lands and the customs that surround said 'hooches'. That in itself sounds like a good time, then mix in the priceless timing of host Zane Lamprey and you have one of the best half-hours on the telly.

Each episode follows a basic formula, Zane, introduces the country, profiles and samples local concoctions, visits a few watering holes, experience the traditions, then wakes up the next day and tries the local hangover cures. Along the way you'll also learn a little history and meet the local color. Zane is very entertaining and obviously loves what he does.

The only drawback(for some) is that it's only available on Mojo. An HD only channel that as far as I know, is only available through Comcast in the Salt Lake market. But don't worry, I have have your back. If you can't watch it via Comcast here's a link to a website that streams Three Sheets episodes for free. New episodes air every Thursday at 7pm(mountain). Cheers!

75 Years = 75¢ Pints

Officially, Prohibition ended on December 5, 1933, with the ratification of the 21st Amendment. But earlier that year, newly-elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt took steps to fulfill his campaign promise to end the national ban on alcohol. Thus on April 7, 1933 Roosevelt himself received newly legalized beer at the White House to toast what was the beginning of the end for Prohibition. In the 24-hours that followed, more than 1.5 million gallons of beer flowed as Americans celebrated.

To commemorate this 'oh so happy day', Squatters Pub Brewery in downtown Salt Lake City and Squatters Roadhouse Grill in Park City will celebrate 75 years of beer- flowing legally since the drought of Prohibition. The date will be marked with a specially brewed commemorative beer: Prohibition Pale Ale, brewery tours and 75¢ pints all day!

Jenny told me me that Prohibition is the first real Pale Ale that they've done in a very long time time. Of course, Full Suspension Pale Ale has been a staple at the the brew pub and in markets for years, but it's uber-hopped profile takes it slightly out the "traditional" category.

So, get in, sample a new brew and chat it up with Jenny & Jason.

Here's to beer lovers everywhere, lift a glass and toast to beer -- our legal privilege.

Sam Adams Imperial Pils

The Boston Brewing Company makers of Sam Adams Beer is a bit of an anomaly on the American beer scene. They're not quite a macro brewer, but there not a 'little guy' anymore either. Some trends in the beer industry seem to suggest that when a breweries production volume increase to certain levels, their ability to produce certain styles become hindered, because it isn't cost effective to produce some styles, and keep the cost to consumers down.

Arguably, This may or may-not be happening at Sam Adams. I would say not. Especially after trying Samuel Adams: Hallertau Imperial Pilsner. I have to admit I kind of scoffed at it when friends suggested that I give it a try. I was very happy to be wrong. This beer is a full-on sensory assault(in a good way)!

Poured a hazy golden-bronze color with a huge two-fingers of meringue head. The nose is a complex mesh of spicy, floral, citric, and resiny pine from the obvious generous doses of Hallertau hops.

Despite the sweet nasal assault the taste starts smooth and almost creamy with just the right amount of bitter hoppy 'bite'. At first sip it seemed to be all Hallertau, but the more I got into it the malt sweetness became more pronounced and balanced out nicely.

The finish is equally pleasant with a mild floral dryness that gradually blankets the malty sweetness. The malts are accentuated by a slight alcohol warmth. Really bold and hoppy, more like an IPA. Just incredible. One of the great accomplishments of this beers is it's ability to bring you full circle, from the nose to the back of your tongue. It tastes exactly like the first whiff.

I wasn't expecting the Dogfish Head-esque crazy bitterness even though the label claims "reckless" hops. It's far from one dimensional.

BlackFriar

I'm all about the 'beer love'. If there's a good beer out there, I'm happy to pimp it to anyone who will listen. That being said, I'm a little torn about revealing BlackFriar to everyone. Selfishly, I've been keeping this one to myself. Telling only those whom I feel I can take in a fight(sorry Doug). This Scottish Ale quietly arrived into town a couple months ago and immediately became one of my favorites.

Poured a hazy ruby/orange color with a big rocky head which dissipated quickly. The nose is earthy, with peat-smoked malts and faint, sweet caramel undertones. The first thing I notice is how heavily hopped this Scottish ale is. The taste starts surprising with orange rind, caramel and dark fruit. Next comes some smoky/burnt notes with some toffee undertones. The finish has a lingering tobacco bitterness with an alcohol pepperiness. It's complex without being to scattered and slightly off-balanced. But that's it's appeal for me. This isn't your text book Scottish Ale, but it's well worth seeking out and trying. It dials in at a well-hidden 7.0% abv and is only available at the Bayou.

To Pong, or Not to Pong

Normalcy in Utah is a relative term. There's normal for Utah. And Normal for everywhere else. Part of "normal" here in Utah and elsewhere, is shedding your adolescence for your inevitable adulthood and trying to find your place in this world. Some of us will attend college or move far away. Or my personal favorite, squatting in mom and dad's basement 'till your given the boot(man, I miss that couch).

Part of the growing experience are the "Pack Games". These are the competitions that are usually played at the Frat house or in a friends kitchen and usually involve one of the following. Beer and or schnapps with the object: have fun, without getting completely shit-faced to the point you find yourself naked in a Denny's parking lot at 4am.

Some of the more popular of these Pack Games are Quarters, Mexico City, Beer Checkers, This Is My... and the ever so popular Beer-Pong. For those of you who don't know, the objective of beer pong is to bounce a ping-pong ball from one end of a table into a cluster of six cups at the other end. If the ball lands in a cup, the owner of that cup drinks its contents - usually, beer. I haven't played most of these games in a while, but I have very fond and not-so-fond memories of them. And I guess that's my point. That which makes you happy, can also make you unhappy. We've got to learn the price of excess and a respect for the fermented grain.

But at Utah State University, a dry campus with a heavy Mormon population, the Aggies play with root beer. "We want to make this a tradition at USU." Campus Recreation Chairman Lance Brown elaborated on why he thinks the game, which students played Friday at the Taggart Student Center, has caught on. "It's like people here want to look worldly, but they don't want to be worldly," he said. "Living in a Mormon community, students want to push the edge a little." It's good for our student body to relax and help people experience something they normally wouldn't," said Lindsay Hall.

Brown said he doesn't see the game they've named Beirut fading away any time soon. I guess there's something very enticing about the worlds drinking cultures. When people who promise to abstain from a culture of drinking concoct social events called "mocktail parties" to experience a social tradition that's denied to them because of some primitive superstitions, it tends to make members of the said drinking cultures shake their heads in disbelief.

If your going to set yourself apart, great. Just do it with a little integrity. Faux cussing, faux indecent attire (rolling up the magic jammies so they don't show), and now faux drinking of alcohol. Appearance and intention is just as important as the act. What's next a smoking section for bubble gum cigars or snorting lines of Fun Dip? Well, don't worry. There will still be plenty of vomiting and hangovers, but with a diabetic edge.

Malt Madness

This is classic, I wish I'd thought it first. The Colorado Springs Gazette is pitting local brews against one another, sip for sip, in a blind tasting to pick the unofficial champ of Colorado Springs' beers. The beers will be judged in a blind tasting from five members of Colorado's beer community and will announce their elite eight, the final four and the champ on the news papers website. Readers are encouraged to participate marking(and sampling) they're own brackets(beers) to see how they compare to the blind tastings. It'll be interesting see to the outcome. Click above for the link.

No Green Beer Today!

To put it simply, no green beer today. Got it? The only colors you should see in your glasses or mugs today are red, black and earth tones. If you want green in your gut, eat a salad. Hope to see you out there. Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Squatters St. Patrick's Day Options

Even though Squatters and RedRock are only a hundred yards apart from each other geographically, they're brewmasters' brewing styles are with out end. Just as RedRock provides their Irish Red for St. Pat's day, Squatters offers-up a traditional ale as well. Squatters brews quite a few stouts at their brew pub on Broadway. Captain Bastard's Oatmeal Stout and Custard's Last Stout: to name two. Both great and are offered on tap and nitro periodically.

The third stout is a dry Irish Stout called McGrueh's. McGrueh's Poured black with a thick creamy tan nito head. The nose rich with espresso and roasted biscuit The taste starts with coffee then turns to espresso. Heavily roasted malt come next with a nutty/smokiness in the end. Mild hops come late and provide a slightly dry finish.

McGrueh's is available on nitro 'till it's gone. And if I know Jenny's beers, that will probably be Monday. If you can't go out and play on Monday (St. Patrick's Day) Squatters will be throwing a bash this Saturday March 15th in the loft after the parade and continuing into the night. Dancing and and an Irish fiddler will also be on hand. Also, on March 20th , they're releasing for the first time: Epiphany, a bourbon barrel aged vanilla Porter on nitro. G'damn! can't wait to try that one, sounds tasty.

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.

Dale Harris of Zion Canyon Brewery, left a comment the other week about the status of distributing his beers north to the Wasatch Front. I thought it was worth posting to the main page.

Hello beer fans,Beer distribution update from ZCBC. Winkel Distribution is getting my kegs and bottles as far as Richfield. I am working on getting ZCBC all over the state by the end of May. In the meantime Zion is beautiful in the spring!! So come to Zion and have a beer and hit a hike. Also ZCBC is sponsoring Earth Day celebration at the Bit n Spur on 4/19 in Springdale.

CHEERS!!!

Dale E. Harris

Owner/BrewerZCBC

D'oh!!!

I owe everyone an apology. I reported yesterday that hb 425s01, legislation to legalize home brewing in Utah passed the house. When in fact it did not. Apparently, it went before the senate and was sent back to the rules committee, the legislative session ended before the bill could make it back to the senate for its final vote. Hopefully Rep. Christine Johnson will attempt to reintroduce the bill next year. Sorry for the misinformation.

New Utah Beer Legislation

Well it's over. The Cluster on Capitol Hill wrapped-up late last night and Utah's beer faithful came out slightly ahead. Senate Minority Leader Mike Dmitrich's bill that would decrease the markup on locally made beer wine & alcohol passed the House and now awaits the governor's signature. SB95 would cut the markup the state imposes from 86 percent to 64.5 percent on heavy beer(over 4.0% abv) and decrease the markup on spirits to 47 percent.

As with everything in life, with the good comes the bad. If your reading this your probably not a huge fan of "malternative" beverages like Mike's Hard Lemonade, Smirnoff Ice, ect. If you are then you've got 'till October to purchase them at you local grocery/convenient store. After that they're off to the state controlled liquor stores, where the selection will drop and the alcohol content and prices will climb. "Why is this happening"? Well, the state of Utah and the LDS Church determined that the makers of these beverages are primarily targeting underage drinkers. And that this is the only solution. To justify the move legally the lawmakers site that anything containing alcohol derived from distillation must be state controlled. Note: the primary method of alcohol production in these bevs is through fermentation. The distilled alcohol in the drinks come from the flavoring extracts used for sweetness. The distilled content is around 0.5% abw per 12oz. bottle. Under this law mouthwash and food extracts have to go to the liquor store as well. Will they? I doubt it. but that what the law states.

To give you an idea of how messed up this is Jack Daniels Bourbon is 43% abv. 86 proof.

Mike's Hard Lemonade is 4.0% abv. 6 proof.

Listerine mouthwash is 27% abv 38 proof.

I got a little off topic but there it is, your latest, ever-changing Utah Beer-a-Thon.

Utah Homebrew Clubs

Please check the column to the right for an updated list of Utah's Home Brewing Clubs.

"Enjoying beer is best when shared" The lord said to St. Arnold. I'm paraphrasing... or full of shit. Most likely the latter of the two, but the statement is true non-the-less. The same is also true for making it. If you enjoy homebrewing consider getting together with some fun, like-minded individuals and brew-up a little barley love. Here's some info on some homebrew clubs from around the state. If there are more clubs than I have listed let me know and I'll gladly post them up. Slainte!

New Website for Zion Canyon Brewery

Zion Canyon Brewery has finally got a new website up. Now if we could just get them to start sending their suds north to Salt Lake...

Home Brew & You Too

(When this post was originally written Homebrewing was illegal. It was made legal in 2009)In Utah home brewing beer is technically against the law. Even though home brewing has been recognized as a legal activity by the Federal Government since 1978. Yesterday Rep. Christine Johnson, D-Salt Lake City, carves out an exemption in Utah law which currently requires any person who manufactures an alcoholic beverage to obtain a license to do so from the state, including a requisite $10,000 bond.
Johnson's bill will allow the home manufacture of "fermented beverages" up to a limit of 100 gallons a year per person, with a 200 gallons a year limit, per household.

Mark Alston, owner of the Salt Lake City home brewing store, The Beer Nut, testified on behalf of HB425.
"People who are doing it are an amazing cross-section of Utah culture," Alston said.
Alston also noted that home brewed beer is not a "binge drinking product" since brewers devote too much time, energy and care to brewing a batch, which is typically about five gallons.
HB425 was passed out favorably by the committee and now moves to the House for further action.

Contact your local representative and let him or her know it time to join the 20th Century.

Hopefully, socially bigoted, State Senator Chris Butters (R) will be busy drowning kittens when the vote goes to the floor. For the record... I like kittens.

Hey Baby, Nice Stems!

I'm a push-over for glassware. In fact I love them so much they're starting to over-run my kitchen cabenets at home. If your like me you know there's nothing better than enjoying your favorite beer in a great piece of glass or ceramic. Here are some links to some smart and affordable glassware to enhance your beer enjoyment. Cheers!

https://store.merchantduvin.com/e/mdv/scan/MM=d08e83a9dd99be1f0e8e3de5f466aaca:0:4:5?mv_session_id=pR4EYtUB&mv_more_ip=1&mv_nextpage=itemlist

http://www.pubglasses.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=SP

http://www.straubs.net/

A Ruby in St. George

*******************Ruby River Steakhouse has Closed in St. George***********************
There's a new option for craft beer fans in Utah's Dixie. Ruby River Steakhouse added it's sixth location a few months ago giving the beer parched area of the state a long needed craft beer boost. Ruby River is one of the more quite craft brewers in the state. In fact, I've talked to many that aren't even aware that they serve they're own brews.


As far as I know the St. George location doesn't brew on site. If your looking for an on-site brew pub in southern Utah you'll need to venture to the Zion Canyon Canyon Brewery in Springdale. Ruby River offers an American & English Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Porter, a Blonde, Hef and a Mexican Style Lager.

Cask Beer

It's a great time to be a beer lover in the U.S. Breweries and brew pubs through-out the states are producing incredible representations of new and traditional beer styles for every taste imaginable. Brewers are making great efforts to make sure that the patrons experience the favorite beers of cultures that they may, or may-not be very familiar with.

Advocates of one tradition style are trying to bring back awarness to a beloved cultural standard that has fallen by way-side as of late.

There's a movement underway in the U.K. and North America to expant the beer consumers awareness of real (or cask conditioned) ales. Fans of the cask have an up hill battle to fight because of the notion that cask ales are naturally "warm and flat". Wrong! cask ales ideally, are served between 54-56 degrees - cool, but not cold like keg beers. They should have a noticeably softer carbonation from the secondary fermentation in the cask. This process creates a gentle, natural CO2 carbonation and allows malt and hop flavours to develop, resulting in a richer tasting drink with more character than standard keg ('brewery-conditioned') beers. Cask ales are always served without any extraneous gas, usually by manually pulling it up from the cellar with a handpump (also known as a 'beer engine').

Beer engines are poping up at steady rate through out the Wasatch Front. I urge you to check out somthing different the next time your out enjoying a pint.

Here's a list of places that serve cask ales.

Squatters Pub Brewery

147 West Broadway

Salt Lake City, Utah 84101-1914

Phone: 1 801 363 2739

Squatters Roadhouse Grill

1900 Park Avenue

Park City, Utah 84060

Phone: 1 435 649 9868

Desert Edge Brewery

273 Trolley Square

Salt Lake City, Utah 84100

Phone: 1 801 521 8917

The Bayou

645 South State Street

Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-3819

Phone: 1 801 961 8400

Wasatch Brew Pub

250 Main Street

Park City, Utah 84060-5113

Phone: 1 435 649 0900

MacCool's Public House

1400 South Foothill Drive

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84108-2327

Phone: 1 801 582 3111

MacCool's Public House

855 Heritage Park Boulevard, Suite #3

Layton, Utah, 84041-5633

Phone: 1 801 728 9111

MacCool's Public House

11610 South. District Main Drive

South Jordan, Utah

Note: McCools in South Jordan, Utah, has become the 500th establishment in the US for selling cask ales. This is the 3rd McCools in Utah, and all sell cask.

Reform or P.R.???

I honestly try to avoid the topic of f'd-up Utah liquor laws on this blog. But recently it's just unavoidable. Were it not for the absolute shitheadedness of some state lawmakers/leaders I'd be a much happier and much more well adjusted individual.

Over the past month or so Utahns and the world have been learning the "Utah Way" when it comes to liquor monopolies. Back in November we learned that malternative beverages need to be removed from store shelves because their deliciousness is too irresistible and impossible to keep out of the hands of babes.

We also learned recently that state liquor cops will go to any extreme to coerce restaurants and bar employees to violate state law. And the cherry on top, cold beer needs to be banned.

These three examples have become topics of extensive debate over that past few weeks. So much so, that the growns from within and from without are finally being heard in the states highest office.

When Gov. Jon M. Huntsman Jr. took office in 2005, one of the issues he identified in his campaign was to normalize Utah's liquor laws, as compared to the rest of the nation. The three previous hot topics have apparently struck a nerve. To combat the negative press the governor has proposed a change to Utah's liquor laws. To do away with the need for the meddlesome "sidecar" and bring the state's liquor pours more in line with the rest of the country.

Input from the gov regarding liquor reform has been long awaited.

Huntsman said that when he came into office, his transition team identified the liquor laws as an area that should be changed. It suggested allowing wine sales in grocery stores, easing private club requirements and increasing the 1-ounce limit - long deemed inadequate by out-of-staters and others used to the standard pour. But, he said, the proposals fell flat with legislators three years ago and haven't been advanced since. The new initiative sends a message, Huntsman said, to those from outside the state who think you can't get a drink in Utah and goes toward "proving the point that we aren't out of sync with the rest of the nation."

This seem to be more P.R. than real reform but I think it helps combat the insanity that the in-state neo-cons have been proliferating.

Utah Considers Banning Cold Beer!!!

If you've spent any time looking over this blog you may have noticed that we who live in Utah experience some pretty difficult and unique challenges when it comes to the enjoyment of adult beverages. The difficulties usually stem from conflicts between ultra conservative Mormons and well... everyone else. Mormons don't believe in the consumption of alcohol (even though Mormon elected officials run the states liquor monopoly) and for the most part don't believe it should be available for purchase at all.

That being said, it has comes to light that a proposal to ban the sale of cold beer is now being talked about by some powerful Mormon lawmakers. The idea of selling only warm beer actually came up Tuesday at the senate's republican caucus. Reportedly, their thinking is, if beer at Utah grocery or convenience stores had to be sold warm, that might discourage people from drinking beer right away or from drinking as much.

What these Taliban-esque zealots don't realize is that beer is a fragile product that requires refrigeration to keep it from spoiling.

I urge the the nice people from surrounding states to invade our borders and liberate us from our Mormon Overlords. The Emperor Has No Clothes!!!

Utopias Ahoy!

For good or bad there's one thing that Americans excel at. Taking an idea, embracing it and morphing it to the Nth degree. Case in point, Samuel Adam's Utopias. This is an anomaly in the beer world. It's a beer that seems to blur the line between beer and spirits. creating controversy over whether it is technically beer. Well, it is beer. A top fermented uber-beer! Even though it may not have many of the characteristics you'd associate with your favorite ale or lager.

The decanter it comes in is a beautiful recreation of an old style mash tun. Made of glass and copper, it's nearly worth the price alone.

Utopias currently enjoys the status of being the worlds strongest beer. At a whopping 27% abv it will warm your core on the coldest winter night.

Note: I haven't sampled the the latest vintage of Utopias. This review is for the '05 vintage. Poured a deep amber/ruby with no head or lace. The nose was bourbon-esque with massive dark fruits, tons of alcohol, malt and caramel. A touch of maple syrup like character is also noticed. The flavor is vinous and ripe. Full of raisin, plum, butterscotch, sweet Carmel and brown sugar. The finish is full bodied, bitter and all alcohol. This burnt like hell going down. Every sip steals your breath. At $200 a bottle you should try it; if anything to say, you’ve had the strongest beer in the world.

If you want to try it, the Bayou is the sole place in Utah to get 'em. I believe Mark said he got six. I'd recommend getting a dozen of your closest beer nerds together and share in the experience. It will definitely help defray the cost. Besides things like don't come around too often and are best shared.

Devistator Double Bock

There's a new kid on the beer block and he's packing a welcomed punch. The happy kids over at Wasatch Brewing have been working on bringing more high-gravity suds to the Utah faithful, and have happily "nailed it" with Devastator. The Devastator is a Double Bock. If your not familiar with Bock Beers, they're a little more hearty than your normal beer. Double Bocks or Doppelbock are a Bavarian specialty beer that were first brewed by the monks of St. Francis of Paula. They're stronger than most beers (between 6%-10% abv). During the Spring religious season of Lent, monks were required to fast. High-gravity Bock beers; high in food energy and nutrients provided sustenance during this period. Hence bocks were considered "liquid bread" by the monks.

So, how does it taste? Pretty damn good!

Poured a nice clear amber/ruby color with a thin foamy head. The nose is nutty with chocolate, molasses and a bit of alcohol perfume. The taste starts with Molasses, brown sugar and pecans. spicy cocoa comes next with toasted grain and finishes with a nice hoppy pine finish. It's 8.0% abv is nicly masked. The label defiantly screams Utah. It says, Utah will never be the same.
Let pray they're right.

The artwork on the label is quite nice it depicts a Ram(Bock= Buck in German. Get it?) Busting through downtown Salt Lake City. Appropriately, snorting fire and being an all around nuisance. Sorry the pic is of low quality it seems when these come available to me, I don't have my good camera.

Devastator is available at State Liquor Stores, Wasatch brew pubs and most private clubs.

The Utah Beer Year in Review

A lot of good and a little bad came to the Utah beer community in '07. Here's a brief review of high and low lights.

The year started appropriately enough our usual winter weather phenomena The Inversion. And Desert Edge Brewer ---- wasted no time in concocting a tasty companion to the murky winter air. Named coincidentally Inversion. It's a nice lite, moderately smokey Rauchbier with a nice bed of malt hops and a whole lotta smoke.

Another style out of the norm that made it's way into local brew pubs was the Flanders Brown Ale style that has it's origins from the Flemish region of Belgium. Jenny Talley from Squatters put together this authentic sour Belgian farmhouse ale with tart cherry accents. Cherry Luv is a seasonal and has no set production schedule.

In February Fifty-four Barley Wines and ninety judges from all over North America converged at the Toronado in San Fransisco to enjoy and select the continents best. Uinta's XI Anniversary Barley Wine tied for third in the annual high octane competition.


Author and beer geek Del Vance published Beer in the Beehive: a History of Brewing in Utah. The book documents Utah's earliest beer producers from past to the present and the cultures that influenced them.

Squatters officially became the largest brewpub in the state expanding to take over the entire three storey historical building it occupies.

We learned in 2007 that the word Merlot is so offensive that it had to be stricken from the licence plate of Glenn Eurick's Merlot colored 1996 Mercedes Benz. After having the plate for ten years he was forced to give it up because it offended the delicate sensibilities of an anonymous caller.

We also learned that were on can tear down, another can rebuild. For the first time since the start of Prohibition, a Utahn will be producing home grown hooch from the states first legal distillery. David Perkins has some pretty great plans for the P.C. distillery, like a top to bottom renovation of the proposed property and a tasting room for patrons to sample the various spirits produced.

Following a nation-wide trend Utah beer makers started producing certified organic beers. Squatters was the first to offer it's Organic Amber Ale at they're brew pub. Uinta's Wildfire Pale Ale was fist to be offered in stores and bars.

Statistics released by the Brewers Association, shown that even though Utahns drink less beer than the rest of the nation our breweries do very well in sales. Two of Utah's breweries ranked 47th & 49th out of just under 1400 craft breweries. Nearly 80% of all craft beer sales in the U.S. came from these 50 companies.

The Mountain Brewers Festival yielded many medals for Utah Breweries in June. Judges from all over the country, participated in blind tastings, awarding 18 medals to the most misunderstood beer producing state in the nation.

Some fresh blood (good & Bad) was injected into Uta's D.A.B.C. after three decades of stagnation.

In July we found that Utah loves Lions more that any other state. Lev Lion a Czech beer that has been in in Utah since the 1995 and is distributed in 12 states, Lev has, for some inexplicable reason, made its biggest splash in the Salt Lake City market. It sells better here than anywhere in the country since it was introduced. The state consumed 10,000 cases in '06.

Famed Beer Author and enthusiast Michael Jackson passed away at his home in London, England. He was arguably the foremost authority on beer and whiskey in the world.

The best reappearing & disappearing act of the year goes to the Utah Brewers Festival. After years of being on hiatus it's return was heralded as trip back to the good ol' days. But Mother Nature was nursing a hangover and it had to be cancelled due to weather. Bitch.

Zima, Smirnoff Ice, Mike's Hard Lemonade and the like were deemed to be too damn enticing for consumers by a member of the states booze patrol. The low alcohol beverages(4.0%abv) were to be moved to the state run liquor stores from grocery outlets so they would be harder to get and taxed at a much, much higher rate. After voting down the move. The Dabc council lost it's spine and decided it's a matter for the state legislature.

Utah scored big at the Great American Beer Festival. Three breweries won eight medals. As well as The Large Brew Pub & Brewer of the Year, going to RedRock and its Brewer Kevin Templin. Other beers awarded were Hopper's Lil' Pip's Mild(gold), Squatters' IPA(gold) & Their Organic Amber(silver).

The last quarter of '07 saw a influx of new imports to the state. Most from Belgium!

Finally, South Salt Lake City blames it's crime rate on the number of bars in their town. So no new licenses are to be issued and bar owners cannot sell their business with liquor licenses included.

All in all it was a good year. People are slowly getting it. Utah got some game!

Buy Utah First!

If you live, have lived or have visited Utah in the past thirty years you've probably noticed the price we pay for our liquor and beer is beyond obnoxious. If Sen. Mike Dmitrich, D-Price has his way consumers could pay less for spirits from small breweries and distilleries. Currently, alcohol sold at the State Liquor Store is subject to an 86 percent markup. The new bill would reduce that markup to 47 percent for liquor and wine and would drop to 30 percent for heavy beer(over 4.0% abv). Last year the state collected $53 million in liquor profits.

If the bill passes, consumers would potentially pay less for spirits produced by local companies when purchasing alcohol at the liquor store because the state markup would be lower on those than on large chains' products. The bill would not affect alcohol prices from any brewery for beer at the grocery store. In addition, the bill would still funnel 10 percent of gross sales from the liquor store going to fund the school lunch program.

Don't hold your breath folks, there's a line already forming to quash this minor tax break.

Twelvth Day of Xmas: Pilsner Urquell

Well here we are. A 12 pack later and twelve days wiser. The grand holiday experiment concludes with a bad case of the narley barleys and a world-wide classic. I hope that the past dozen days have given you the opportunity to try something new, or at the very least get you out of comfort zone for the holidays.

I was thinking that the final beer would have to be something rare and special. You know, some uber-octane, malt-beast. Crafted by the heirs to some mythical European beer dynasty. But that's not what the twelve beers has been about. It's just about good beer. This may not be a beast of a beer but it does have a hallowed history. This is the Pilsner that all other Pilsners take their names. Pilsner Urquell.

Pours a nice burnt yellow with a fine fluffy white head. The nose is nice with grassy hops and malt. The flavor starts bready with a light hint of honey followed by burst of floral/grassy Saaz hop spiciness. And ends with lingering floral spiciness. Finishes crisp and clean. This would probably serve you better during the warmer months, but after days of heavy Holiday food this will be a welcome change. A great session beer. 4.4% abv. Available Statewide. Merry Christmas, be safe and thanks for checking out Utah Beer!

Eleventh Day of Xmas: Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale

Oy! I got stuck with the stomach flu kids, so day eleven is going to be brief. Sorry... So, on the Eleventh day of Xmas may barkeep served me a Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale.

Saving one of the best for last, this one pours a nice ruby/brown with two fingers of head which left a beautiful web of lace in the glass. The nose was of caramel sweet malts banana and vanilla bean with a nice balance of piny hops. The taste was mostly sweet carmel, vanilla and a hint of hazelnut. The finish was dry and and had a nice piny bite. They list this as an IPA but I can easily see this being a "Strong" or "Spice" ale. Either way, it’s an awesome beer. It dials in at 6.8% abv and you'd never know it. Available state-wide. Cheers.

Tenth Beer of Xmas: Uinta's Kings Peak Porter

The Tenth Beer of Xmas that my Barkeep gave to me, is Uinta's Kings Peak Porter. After the recent snow storm nothing sounds more satisfying than cozying-up with a fine brew to put you into your special place and keep your spirits alive. This is a multi-award winner that's been a staple in our home for years.

Pours a dark ruby-brown with a moderate tan head. The nose is huge with roasted malt and coffee, a light toffee sweetness is also notable . Taste starts with a good dose of roasted malts. Dark cocoa notes come next providing a minor sweetness. The end is cappachino-esque. The finish is similar, with some residual hop bitterness. This is a nice, medium-bodied porter. That satisfies in cold or warm weather. Kings Peak Porter is available year round at most grocery and convenient stores in and around Utah.

Ninth Beer of Xmas Delirium Noel

It's day nine. At this point you should seeing pink elephants. If for some reason your not, beer number nine will cure that visually and mentally. So, with that, The Ninth beer of Xmas is Delirium Noel.

Pores a slightly hazy dark amber color with a solid head that dissipates into a thin cap of foam. The nose is of toasty malts with a boozy perfume of peach, prune, nutmeg and clove.
The tastes starts sweet with honey, dates and nutmeg. Oak and vanilla finish it out, with burnt cherry and cinnamon notes carry you into the finish. Smooth, sweet malt body with just enough of a hint of hop bitterness to keep it from becoming cloying. A very nice holiday brew that goes down as well as any high ABV Belgian brew. The 10% abv is well hidden, opening the door for the pink elephants to sneak-up and molest you with they're trunks before you even know what's happening. So stay on your bar stool and beware.

Eighth Beer o' Xmas: Rogue's Santas Private Reserve

One of the most highly kept secrets about Santa is his love of beers. You don't hear many songs about the jolly ol' elf tossing back his favorite dram of ale . Or about his home brew sessions with the Heat Miser. That would throw Utah neo-cons into hissy of biblical proportions. Go ahead, take your chances. Leave him milk and cookies, but be warned your just screwing yourself in the long run.

To be assured of getting your G.I. Joe with the kung-fu grip, or that blow-up doll you've had your eye on. Place a bottle of the Eighth Beer of Xmas on your table and you'll be golden in his eyes.

Pours a copper/red color with a nice pillowy two finger head. The nose is very hoppy. A perfume of Pine and florals assault your sniffer The taste starts with a slightly malty flavor, then a very strong hops prescience comes through. Piney and roasted grain flavors are present also with a nice bitter finish. This beer is huge on hops and is probably the reason Santa’s nose is red. A very good pale ale for the holidays.

And if your worried about Santa drinking and driving, don't. The reindeer do all the driving.

Seventh Beer o' Xmas: Bohemian Brewery's Cherney Bock

Sticking with the local brews, I thought I'd select a lager that been around for years, but may have never passes your lips. Therefore Bohemian Brewery's Cherney Bock is the seventh beer o" Xmas. Cherney Bock is part of a quartet of old school lagers made from the finest Czech & German traditions in Midvale, Utah.

Poured a very dark chocolate brown with a thick tan head. The nose was full of roasted malt, dark fruits with a pleasant nuttiness. The taste starts with a deep roasted malt taste, then a dark nuttiness with minor raspberry notes beneath. The end was nicely balanced with an easy piny hop bite at the end. If I had not been told this was a Bock I would have thought it was a schwartz beer or a Stout. Which is not a bad thing at all. Actually Bocks are a fine alternative to the traditional winter warmer crowd. This is an awesome, tasty beer. Even if it’s "Bockness" isn't textbook. I really love this stuff and with a ABV of 4.0 I could drink it all night. And maybe I will Damn-it!!!

Sixth Beer of Xmas: RedRock's Rêve

One of the best beers to come out of Utah in years(from in fact the west) is here and you'd better snag one now because it's in very limited production. Since 2003 the crew at RedRock have been experimenting with recipes to come up with the perfect Barrel-aged, Belgian-style tripple. It's been a long hit-and-miss process. Over the past four years we've gotten a chance to sample various stages of the development of this brew from local area beer festivals. At one time; I believe it was aged in a Bourbon barrel and the result was, well.... unique. Well never fear, experimentation and diligence has paid off with a spectacular interpretation on a centuries old classic.

This has been RedRocks' year. Garnering awards left and right, it's seems they can do no wrong. And it looks like they've saved the best of '07 for last. So for the Sixth Beer of Xmas, I highly recommend Red Rock's Rêve.

Poured into a Chimay goblet a light golden honey color with with a moderate fluffy white head that dissipated to a very thin froth. The nose is a little boozy with banana, cloves malt and ripe mango. The taste is very much the same starting with candied sugar and cloves that transitions into toasted malt and banana. The end is sweet and oaky. The alcohol is warming and welcomed, masked well by Rêve's full body. It adds a whole new dimension to the beer You really get a good sense of the oak in the finish. It's barrel aged for one year. Don't get me wrong it's got a kick. It's 10.2% abv is more than enough to warm your inner beer geek.

RedRock Rêve is more proof that that Utah beers are much more than just 4.0% anomalies . Earning the bronze medal at the '06 Great American Beer Festival and the silver medal in '07, Kevin Templin and his team are proving big things can come in small packages.

RedRock Rêve is available in limited quantities at RedRock's SLC location and it's Park City Pub as well as The Bayou and Fiddler's Elbow! The special edition trippel is available in a commemorative 750mL corked bottles, so snatch 'em up while you can. Cheers!

Fifth Beer of Xmas: Ayinger Dunkel

The fifth beer of Xmas that my barkeep served to me was Ayinger's Altbairisch Dunkel. Keeping in mind that "cousin love" is bad and that I'd like you to hang in there until day twelve, we'll remain on the path of lower alcohol beers for another day. This beer is pleasant and is sufficiently complex for any beer palate.

Poured a rich reddish-brown color producing a 1/2 inch thick head of rapidly dissipating foam. The aroma is incredible, fresh, dark roasted malts with a hint of cocoa. The taste started with rich roasted malts, hazelnut and a hint of molasses. Hops come next nicely balancing the malt sweetness carrying it through to the end. A subtle sting of espresso in the finish leaves you with the perfect mixture of sweet and bitterness. Don't let the photo fool you this is a creamy, light-medium bodied lager. When they coined the term liquid bread this is the style I'm sure they were referring to.

Drinking Ayinger is a no-brainer. They craft they're beers in the finest of German traditions. This isn't a holiday beer but it serves the season well. It's pleasant and sufficiently complex for any beer palate. ABV 5.0%. Available in Utah year-round.

Fourth Beer of Xmas: Wasatch Christmas Ale

The first three beers of Xmas are going to put us in jail if we don't take it easy. So let's tune it down a notch and try something a little more subdued. Wasatch's Christmas Ale has been a holiday staple in Utah for quite a few years, one thing in particular I like about it is the packaging. The twelve packs are/were sold in a nice pine crate. Need one? let me know, I think I have fifty of 'em. Yet I digress

Pours a hazy light orange with an off white head that dissipates quickly. The nose is slightly spicy with nutmeg and grassy hops. The flavor starts relatively light with ginger and and other Holiday spices and transitions to a decent amount of grassy hoppiness. The finish is light and dry. As far as Holiday beers go this is pretty subdued. Not as in your face as the previous three. And it's 4.0% abv will help keep you from hitting on your cousin. Yeah, we were all watching. Your sick dude, get a girlfriend for Christ sake.

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.

Third Beer of Xmas: Wassail

For the third beer of Xmas that my barkeep gave to me(please sing along). Full Sail's Wassail! When this winter warmer comes around, you need to snatch 'em up quick. Utah only gets one frig'n pallet a year, then buh-bye. Trust me, this is one delicious beer.

Pours a dark maraschino brown with a nice bulging cap of foam. The nose is very pleasant with citrus rind, toasted malt, caramel and allspice. The flavor starts spicy with orange and clove. Toffee and a hint of chocolate round out the middle complement the spiciness. The end is all hops with sturdy grapefruit and pine notes. The finish is a little boozy; which is surprising because the label lists it at 6.5% abv.

This is one of those ales that had me raising an eye brow at the first swig, but by the fourth, I was hooked. This is yet another outstanding winter warmer that is far more than just malt and hops. Wassail is one of Full Sail's best beers and should be a no-brainer this holiday season.

It's a good thing we're spreading out our little "experiment" over twelve days. I suspect most of us would be tits-up on the Berber by day eight. Cheers.

2nd Beer of Xmas: Winter Solstice

For the second beer of Xmas my barkeep gave to me, Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Winter Solstice. AVBC is on of those breweries that can do no wrong in my eyes. Everything that they have produced over the years(that I've sampled) is nothing short of delicious. Hence they must be represented. And for the holiday's they're winter seasonal is a must try.

Winter Solstice pours a beautiful reddish-brown color with a creamy, fluffy head. The aroma is mildly hoppy with delicate malt sweetness. Vanilla bean is dominant with orange peel for balance. There also seemed to be a hint of nutmeg. The Taste was of roasted malt, vanilla and carameled apple. The bitterness was mild which allowed the vanilla to finish slightly above the hops. Sweet and slightly spicy, The higher alcohol (6.9% ABV) added a nice warming affect. The balanced was perfect from start to finish. I love this beer so much I buy up all that I can, as to enjoy it year round. I find it very drinkable and I’m eagerly looking forward to this years fresh batch.

The Twelve Beers of Christmas

Time for a new twist on an old theme. I'm sure this is nothing new, but hopefully it will give you a chance to try something new or at the very least revisit an old favorite. Today starts the Twelve Beers of Christmas. Traditionally the Twelve Days of Christmas begins on Christmas day and goes for the proceeding twelve days. You all know the song. For our purposes we'll begin today(12 days prior to Xmas) and instead of giving a gift; gift yourself the joy of beer. Over the next twelve days I've selected a variety of beers available to those of us behind the Zion Curtain. It was tough coming up with a list of diverse beers available to the local beer faithful. But i think I've come up with some offerings that'll bring some cheer to the waining days of '07.

The first beer of Xmas that my barkeep gave to me is Uinta's XIV Anniversary Barley Wine. This Local heavy weight pores of dark chestnut/orange hue with a luscious foamy tan cap. The nose is of burnt oranges, warm caramel malts, heavy toasted breads with pungent hops that produce pine and citrusy overtones. Earthy notes cinder behind most of the hop twinge in the nose. The taste started with hops up front, bittering with pine and dark citrusy stuff of orange and highly ripe peaches, malts play second fiddle with burnt caramel and toffee, crispy biscuit toasty edging, touches of chocolate, brown sugar, and then turns back to a hoppy finish of pine and citrus orange. The bottle says it’s at 10.3% abv but it doesn’t burn like it. I have a six pack of the no. X that I’ve lay'd down to age. It's incredible! just hope I can make it last another year. This is without a doubt one of the best barley wines that I’ve ever had. Home team bias aside.

When Passions Collide

Beer is my hobby, But it's television that pays the bills. Back in '04 I was hired to shoot a profile on Uinta Brewing Co, here in good ol' Salt Lake City, Utah. The story originally aired on The Fine Living Network's The Insider's List. This particular episode profiled ten unique breweries from around the U.S. Uinta was chosen for their environmentally conscious business practices. And of course their great beer. Enjoy.

Enjoying a Beer Today? Thank Utah!

If you have an uncontrollable urge to have a sip of one of your favorite adult beverages today(12/5) there's a very good reason. Today in 1933 the United States of America breathed a collective sigh of relief as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, nullifying the 18th amendment. The ink was hardly dry on Utah's vote before President Franklin Roosevelt issued an official repeal and tossed-back the first legal beer in years.

Prohibition of liquor proved to be a massive failure both socially, legally and economically. By the by the end liquor law enforcement was virtually non excitement or payed to look the other way. In 1923 Utah's attorney general claimed that drinking in the larger cities was just as popular as it was before prohibition. Huge profits from the manufacture and sale of liquor made it impossible to stop.

Problems of enforcement and the unpopularity of prohibition led to cries for its repeal. Following his 1932 election, President Franklin D. Roosevelt kept his campaign pledge and each state soon began voting on the issue in special conventions. Despite the Mormon church's efforts, Utahns voted on November 7, 1933, for repeal of national prohibition and in the same election also repealed the state's liquor law. Utah was the thirty-sixth state to vote for repeal and thus, ironically, delivered prohibition its death blow.

Legal liquor began flowing again in Utah in 1935 when the first state liquor stores in Salt Lake City and Ogden opened their doors. Business was brisk at the new stores as Utahns eagerly bought-up the once forbidden libations; in the first fifteen days of operation receipts totaled $54,866.

So, thank Utah... er... or maybe Utah should be thanking the rest of the U.S. For if we hadn't the entire United States may have collectively come together to beat the holy shit out of us. So, your welcome! I think.

Cantillon Iris

Let me start out by saying that don't have much experience with true lambics. I never know what to expect from these extremely wild beers they range from the sweet to the acerbically tart. I've never had an unblended lambic before. The closest I've tried is the gueze style(blended). Iris comes from the Brasserie Cantillon in Brussels. Pours a hazy honey orange with a moderate off-white head. The nose was sour with green apple and grapes and cheese. The taste is wildly tart and funky. Starting with an assertive sour mustiness then dry oak. The end is of citrus peel and sharp cheddar cheese. The finish is old and dry. Far too tart for my taste, however, it is complex and intriguing. This an interesting lambic to reflect over.

They'd Make Carrie Proud

It's no secret that the South Salt Lake City council has a problem with beer. In '03 they officially placed into law a ban on home brewing. A ban they they had no intention of enforcing. Then they wanted to shut down bars on Sunday because, Well... why not? it's Sunday! You should be begging for your soul, not watching football and having beer. That failed.

Now the mayor and council is pursuing it's next richeous ban. According to police statistics, Salt Lake has the valley's highest crime rate and has about two dozen active Tavern licenses. A few years ago, the City Council capped those licenses at 15, hoping to trim the number of taverns. They intended as bars folded, they would not issue new permits. Well bars in the city didn't fold like they thought they would and those who did want to sell they're business simply transferred their beer licenses to bar buyers. Now the council, possibly as soon as Wednesday, hopes to prohibit such transfers and thus, over time, slash the number of bars.

This issue was addressed a few years ago and obviously didn't go over well with bar owners. It will likely happen again. But this time I believe it will pass. The council will base it's decision on the number of tavern-related crime in South Salt Lake. This will be the councils main source of ammo in the fight.

Now to play Devil's Advocate, the city has 26 bars and private clubs to serve a population of 26,000. Not a bad ratio. I think the county I live in has only 10 tops. South Salt Lake's effort to cut back on bars comes up for further discussion, and a possible vote, at Wednesday's 7 p.m. City Council meeting at City Hall, 220 E. Morris Ave. (2430 South).

I Told You So!!!

The other week I tried to compile a brief walk-through of Utah's Liquor laws. Toward the end, I mentioned that because Utah's Liquor laws are so convoluted and ignorantly written, they undergo changes that often add to the confusion of the laws.

The state was going to move 4.0% flavored malt beverages to State Liquor stores because they were just too damn enticing to the young'ins. Well in a rare act of sanity the states liquor board voted against the proposed move. So for now; no change. However this doesn't mean that some legislative zealot won't try to override that D.A.B.C. ruling and and start this mess all over again when law makers gather for the '08 legislative session in January. So enjoy the convenience of buying your "Foofy Beers". For now...

Grain, Grapes and Grounds

Let's go back in time. Back.... back.... back. Can you see yourself??? Sitting in your third grade class; one finger in your nose the other stuck down your trou??? Ah sweet memories. Besides all the digging and scratching, you were probably also learning the three R's, amongst other youthful pursuits. Now that your an "adult", the digging and scratching still remains, but your academic refinement has evolved(for those of you who believe in evolution).

Gone now are the three R's. And if your reading this, most likely your now into the three G's. Grains, Grapes and Grounds. Coincidentally there is a place to to take care of all your steeping needs. G3(Grains, Grapes and Grounds) opened in Ogden, Utah mid 2006 by Heath and Jennifer Stockard, avid home brewers who saw a need for a home brew shop to serve the Northern Wasatch Front. Whether your itch is brewing beer, making wine, coffee or even tea this charming renovated space in Ogden's new re-development project has nearly every tool the noble art of beverage concoction has to offer. So if you enjoy adult beverages, get your ass over there and support the Stockards. Located at 2340 Washington Blvd and open Tuesday thru Friday 11:00AM-5:30PM and Saturdays 12:00PM-5:00PM (Closed Sunday and Monday). Cheers.

Insanely Bad Elf

I don't know... I guess I should have been closer paying attention. The label was a dead give-away, I should have noticed the clues. It was my own fault. I mean it's called Insanely Bad Elf for Christ's sake!!! The label has some kind of sociopathic mutant elf all bound up and and looking like he's ready to molest a cat.

This is another from the boys at Ridgway. It comes from a line of "theme beers" the brewery does around the holidays. It started with Bad Elf, then to Very Bad, then Seriously, Criminally and finally Insane. I haven't tried the others but this reminds me of one of those beers that people make just to say "We can make one of those."

Poured a clear ruby red with absolutely no head at all. The nose was boozy with raisin and toffee. The taste started sweet with caramel then transitioned into spicy raisin and fig. The finish was syrupy, boozy and cloying. A good dose of piney hops would have made this a much more palatable brew, but as it sits it's a tough drink'n little bitch. It's label calls it it an Imperial Red but let's not kid ourselves it's all barley wine. It's abv dials in at 11.2% and never lets you forget it. As a holiday warmer it will warm you right the fuck up. Straight jacket not included.

Wreck the Halls

At this point in my Beer-a-thon I was starting to feel the effects of all this holiday cheer Wreck the Halls from Full Sail Brewing isn't new to Utah but this seasonal ale is defiantly worth checking out.

Poured a dark copper color with a moderate, foamy cap. The nose was sharp with pine and citrus zest. Very nice. The taste started sharp with a huge citrusy hop smack with a full malty backbone. The finish was bitter slightly fruity and boozy with apples and oranges. The hops zest hangs in to the very end. I wish that the nose could have come through a little more in the taste. Mmmm... This beer me like. A solid performer, defiantly worth checking out this holiday season.

Equinox Winter Beer

We should probably mix it up a little, so today let's get out of the U.K. and check out a seasonal from Belgium. Looking at the label, you'd never know this is a holiday beer. There's no elf asses or drunken cherubs to suck you in; just a big frigg'n boat. Don't let labels deceive you, this is one of the best of the new arrivals.

Poured dark brown with a thick two fingers of creamy foam that reduced to a thin cap. The nose was earthy with malt, cocoa and musty spices. The taste started with roasted coffee and malt. Cinnamon, citrus and spicy dark fruits spices come next. The end is nice and bitter with a good dose of hops. Equinox is perfectly balanced. It's near cloying fruitiness is immediately countered with solid pine bittering. It's a remarkable winter brew that should savored and enjoyed. Only available at the Bayou It comes in a 750 ml. bottles and it's 8.5% abv is easily masked by it's full flavor.

Highly recommended!