New Beer Friday 11/18/11

Looks like the weekend weather is gunna be crap. So we've found a nice diverse selection to help you trudge through it.

Rogue: Good Chit Pilsner - The nose has a subtle note of pear and grass. The flavor is malty with a strong floral and grassy edge, a fair amount of bitterness, a metallic tang and a whisper of fruit. A good Czech style Pils. @Beerhive

Lagunitas: Dopple Weizen - The nose is fruity, but dense. Lots of banana and peach. Some clove and pepper. Very nice. The taste follows suite with a healthy banana presence, as well as peach, apple, and fig. Herbal with a faint tart spiciness in the finish. Very nice! @Bayou, Beerhive

Deschutes: Fresh Hop Mirror Pond Pale Ale - The nose is fruity, grainy, and deliciously hoppy. This is a well-balanced pale ale. All of the flavors are there. It's hoppy, but not too much, has a significant malted barley flavor, mango citrus, and pine notes. Delicious! @Beerhive

Shades of Pale: 4 Play Porter - Just released. 4-Play Porter is a tribute to aviators across the ages for their courage and sense of adventure, especially friend of the brewery Marilyn, an acrobatic pilot, that flies a plane nick named 4-Play. It is a traditional English style porter right down to the top fermenting yeast. Brewed with high quality brown malts which gives this ale a light caramel, black liquorish, peat flavor porter fans love.. @412 Bistro, Park City.

Cheers!

Firm Recomends Liquor in Utah Grocery Stores

Bonneville Research, a private firm that helps state and city agencies be more fiscally sound was hired by the state to come up with a business plan to find out how to save liquor stores from further closures and to make more money.

They will present their $100,000, 83-page report to a legislative committee today to the Business and Labor Interim Commission. Bonneville proposes to expand the sale of alcohol in grocery stores. One of sections titled "Immediate Recommended Actions" lists one action for a test Package Agency program using grocery stores.

So what does this mean?

In all likelihood, nothing. Senator Valentine, the chairman of the Business and Labor Interim Commission has made his position very clear that access to alcoholic beverages is something that must be a difficult as humanly possible and hidden from everyone at any cost. This part of the meeting will likely be white noise in his ears because his mind is clearly already made up.

When asked, Sen. John Valentine, told FOX 13 news he is curious and wants answers. Republican Rep. Ryan Wilcox had proposed the state get out of the business of selling alcohol, but keep the state's liquor control status.

Bonneville Research's plan also includes consolidating stores; re-opening the Cottonwood Heights liquor store; hiring a new DABC director with significant retail experience.

I'll be at that meeting this morning and will hopfully have some info on it later. So what do you think, Is this all just minutia or a real possibility?

 

Cheers!

More Praise for Labyrinth

Over 1800 of some of the finest beers and ciders were sampled at The Ninth Annual Festival of Wood and Barrel Aged Beer in Chicago last Saturday. The country's first and largest beer festival dedicated to the art of wood and barrel aging.

62 different breweries across 22 States participated. 30 awards were handed out, and no surprise Uinta Brewing Company's Labyrinth Black Ale walked away with a Sliver Medal in the Strong Porter/Stout category.

I know many of you have already had Labyrinth but in lieu of it's recent praise on the world stage I felt it was due another mention.

Labyrinth pours black with a two finger brown head that left good lacing. The nose is of chocolate, coffee, roasted malts, molasses and a touch of vanilla. The flavor starts rich, big and slightly sweet with dark chocolate, caramel, dark roasted malts next comes black molasses, coffee, oak and some notes of vanilla bourbon with a sticky full body. Finishes slightly dry and warm.

Labyrinth is in wide distribution around the state and this is the perfect time of year to take in big, bold beers such as this.

Cheers!

The 2011 Holiday Tasting is Full

Thank you all for your RSVP's to Holiday Tasting. We reached capacity in record time.
Unfortunately we are out of room and the invites are now closed. If you've RSVP'd and find you can't make at some point, please let us know so someone can take your spot.

Again I apologize, the venue just won't allow more people than we already have.

Cheers!

The Holidays: Euro-Style

If there's one thing to be said about Europeans, they don't mess around when it comes to beers that celebrate the holidays. Every region of Europe has it's own style and flare.

If you'd like to get to know the Holidays "Euro Style" I suggest you head over to the Bayou, ASAP and partake of the most diverse holiday beer selection in the state.

Some are new, some are returning favorites. All are incredible and in limited supply.

New This Year:

Struise Tsjeeses Reserva - Struise took four barrels of Tsjeeses and gave it a 6 month vacation aging in oak barrels. Mark must be having an affair with someone at the DABC. How else could he manage to get such a hard to get beer? 10.0% abv. Coming Soon

Fantome Noël - A very dark and entirely unique holiday seasonal beer. Reportedly spiced with honey, caramel, coriander, black pepper, and other secret ingredients. 10.0% abv.

La Choulette de Noël - Stronger, fuller flavored version of the classic bière de garde. The New York Times anointed this beer the ultimate bière de garde, and rightly so. It’s a rich, rare treat from one of France’s old guard craft breweries. 7.0% abv.

Reindeer Droppings - Falling from the sky like little bombs of flavor come the Reindeer Droppings! Each one is sweet like California raisins, but bitter and pungent like a freshly peeled grapefruit, lip-smackingly tasty...then 'pow!' it's gone. 6.0% abv.

Returning Champs:

Ølfabrikken Kloster Jul - Ølfabrikken (The Beer Factory) is a small experimental brewery on the vibrant Danish beer scene. Kloster Jul is a hoppy Christmas Ale brewed with large quantities of American Chinook hops and wonderfully spiced with coriander and cinnamon. 8.0% abv.

Mikkeller Santa's Helper - A Belgian quadruple style ale. Delicious with big flavors of cookie dough, chocolate, figs and spice. The addition of actual cocoa powder makes this one incredibly special. 11.0% abv. Coming Soon

Mikkeller From/To - The dedicated guys at Mikkeller have simply outdone themselves with this holiday version of a Baltic Porter. Earthy and hoppy with hits of coffee, dark fruit and a full roastiness. A great example of the new hoppy Belgian artisan beer movement. 8.0% abv.

Struise Tsjeeses - (unoaked) A deep blonde abbey-style trippel that has been aged for 8 months over different stone fruits. Once you try one you too will say “Tsjeeses, what a beer”. 10.0% abv. Coming Soon

Thiriez Bière de Noël - A beautiful red-gold wheat beer, with quite subtle all-spice and orange peel added. A slightly tart and quite refreshing festive brew. Champagne for the true beer lover. 6.0% abv

Bad Elf - Old England meets the new world in this strong, warming winter IPA. 6.0% abv

Very Bad Elf - A Special Old Ale brewed from a 1795 recipe using specially-grown ingredients. 7.5% abv

Seriously Bad Elf - An English Double Ale with a bit of Belgian character. Unique for the U.K. 9.0% abv

Criminally Bad Elf - A boffo Barley Wine. Same basic recipe as Thomas Hardy's Ale. 10.5% abv. Coming Soon

Insanely Bad Elf - Billed as an Imperial Red Ale this is a gorgeous and tasty beer. 12.0% abv. Coming Soon

Warm Welcome - A stronger brown ale with more hops than you'd expect. 6.0% abv

Santa's Butt - Strong porter. The original name for porter was Entire Butt, meaning the whole barrel. 6.0% abv

Pickled Santa - Amber, spiced Christmas Ale. 6.0% abv.

Lump of Coal - Liquid consolation for a depressing holiday. Considering how bad you have been, this bittersweet chocolate stout is more than you deserve. 8.0% abv.

Reindeer's Revolt - A golden amber, hop-accented, English “winter warmer” brewed without spices. 6.0% abv.

And speaking of Europe. A couple of Utah breweries shlepped their suds all the way to Munich, Germany for the European Beer Star Awards and came away with a couple of trophies.

In the Ultra Strong Beer category, the Silver went to Uinta Brewing Company's Labyrinth Black Ale. No surprise there, eh?

And in the Imperial India Pale Ale category Epic's Hopulent IPA came away with a Bronze. That's two bronzes for two of Epic's IPAs in two months.

Nicely done Epic & Uinta!

Please note that not all of the above mentioned beers are available today. Some will be released closer to the end of November.... Can't have all the damn Holiday beer gone before the holidays even get here! right?

Also, a lot of RSVP's were received yesterday for the Holiday Tasting. Don't put it off, this party will defiantly fill up sooner than expected.

Prost!

The 2011 Holiday Tasting

*****My apologies, but the Holiday Tasting has filled up in record time and we are no longer taking any more RSVP's*****


What started as a good excuse to get together for a little holiday cheer has blossomed into one of the best lil' beer festivals in the west.

If you enjoy the great diversity that craft beer has to offer, I invite you to participate in the 3rd Annual Utah Beer Holiday Tasting on Saturday December 10th.

The concept is simple. Bring a nice beer, cider or mead. It can be in a bottle, can, jug, keg or jeroboam as long as it's "special" to you and you think it would be nice to share. It doesn't have to be rare - expensive or outrageous. Just something that you enjoy.

Homebrew is absolutely welcome! If you've got something that you'd like to share please bring it. Give us a heads up if it's kegged so we can make sure we have the appropriate amount of room.

If you have a tasters glass or a piece of stemware please bring it, you'll be glad you did. Plastic cups will be provided but I'd hate for anyone to have to use them.

The Tasting will not be held at the Irving Schoolhouse as it has been in previous years. It will be held at a private home and it's location will be given out only to those who RSVP. We will have to put a cap on the number of people attending due to the size of the venue. So get your RSVP in ASAP.

We'd ask that this be limited to "Beer People". People who know beer or are interested in learning more about craft beer. Please feel free to bring a guest if you don't want to come solo.

Speaking of "Beer People". Some of our local craft brewers will be in attendance as well as industry professionals. It'll be a nice opportunity for you to get to know them - and they you.

Please RSVP to utahbeer@gmail.com

Absolutely no one under 21.

So here's what we have.

What: 1-2 bottle for tasting - tasters glass or stemware - some Beer & snacks provided.

Where: Draper, Ut

When: Saturday December 10th at 7:00pm

Questions & RSVP: utahbeer@gmail.com

Don't hesitate to RSVP or ask questions!

Cheers!

DABC Show Episode 3 - Squaters Pt 1

Bill and Steve go into Squatters to talk with former Brewmaster Jen Talley and Head Brewer Jason Stock about sour beer and the delights of being a big brewery making small craft beers. They also go to The Beerhive and tell you which local beers you should be drinking.



Also, a big announcement for you craft beer lovers tomorrow

Cheers!

More New Beer Friday 11/4/11

As per, Mark Alston.

"New beer friday just got newier and fridayier. Deschutes Stoic and Boulevard White IPA just came in (collaboration). "

The Boulevard White IPA was listed as a top 25 beer for the year in Draft Magazine.

Thanks, Mark!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

New Beer Friday 11/4/11

Besides Epic's Fermentation Without Representation, which was released yesterday there is one more new beer available for you today. Lagunitas A Little Sumpin' Wild has arrived at the Bayou.

I really enjoyed the sumpin' sumpin' ale over this past summer so was excited to try A Little Sumpin' Wild. The nose is floral with peach, plum, and some farmhouse aromas. The taste starts with sweetness at first and hits tongue with citrus, peach, yeasts, malts and alcohol. Large spice backbone, with grassy yeast. The finish is bread-like and faintly sour. Overall - Pretty tasty and flavorful. It seems to want to fit in the saison family to me. 8.85% ABV.

Cheers!

Fermentation Without Representation

A little more than a month ago DC Brau Brewing's head brewer Jeff Hancock came to Salt Lake to brew a special collaboration beer with Epic's head brewer Kevin Crompton called Fermentation Without Representation.

The same beer was produced a week later back in D.C. Today this collaboration from two distant breweries, a pumpkin porter will be released at a special release party tonight at Gracie's in downtown SLC. And your invited!

I think you'll really like this one. Tastes of bittersweet chocolate, caramel, ginger bread, and roasty grains. Vanilla pops in next with allspice, cinnamon rounding out the back end. Medium bodied with creamy carbonation.

After tonight's release look for Fermentation Without Representation at Epic Brewing and wherever their Exponential Series is sold.

Cheers!

Time to Get Your Pucker On!

Are you a fan of sour beers? If you are your definitely in the minority of beer drinkers, but don't worry - our numbers are growing and the Bayou's own Mark Alston is on a crusade to educate us all on the finer points of some of the most un-beer-like-beers you've ever had.

This Sunday November 6th at 5:00 pm. The Bayou will be hosting their first ever mini-beer festival, the theme? Sour and Wild Ales.

For $25 you will get a wrist band and a 20 beer punch card that will enable you to sample all the festival beers. You must have both the wrist band and the punch card to be served. No sharing with non-participants!!! Anyone found sharing beer with people without a wrist band will have their wrist band removed and they will be barred from continued participation. As this event is all about sampling high quality beers in a responsible manner, all samples will be served in 2 ounce pours.

Quantities of some of these beers are quite limited so there is no guarantee they'll lasting throughout the entire fest.

9:30 pm is the cut off time so don't be late. The Bayou's menu is also available at it's normal cost. Seating and tables will be available only for those planning on eating.

If sour and wild ales are not your thing, Mark plans on having other mini beer festivals on a semi-regular basis with varying themes.

Whatdaya think? Any takers?

Here are the beers available at the sour fest:
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Biere
Jolly Pumpkin Bam Noir
Jolly Pumpkin E.S. Bam
Jolly Pumpkin Weizen Bam
Jolly Pumpkin Luciernaga "The Firefly"
Jolly Pumpkin La Roja
Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela
Deschutes Dissident
Mikkeller USAlive
Mikkeller Funky (e)* (funky e-star)
Red Rock Reve
Squatters 529
Squatters Fifth Element
Bacchus
Orval
Boulevard Saison-Brett
Boulevard Tank 7
De Ranke XX Bitter
Lindemans Faro
Lindemans Cuvee Rene

Cheers!

Mo, Mo'Town Brown

If you live outside of Utah your most likely to equate Mo'Town with the city of Detroit. If you've been in Utah long enough you may have heard it as a reference to Salt Lake City. In our case the "Mo" is short for Mormon.

Enough of local pop culture. This returning champion from Squatters is an American style brown ale from their Small Batch Series. It's subtle with Chocolate, caramel and roasted malts balanced with big American citrus hops and have an ABV of 5.8%.

$5 per bomber out of Squatters' bottle shop and $9.99 at the table.

Cheers!

Winter Organic Mix'r

Here's a "first" for local beer lovers. Uinta is now packaging their Organic Line in 100% organic 12 packs called the Organic Mix'r.

The first of the seasonal "mix'rs" is the Winter Organic Mix'r, featuring Wyld EPA, Baba Black Lager and Hazel Amber Wheat They should be hitting grocery store shelves anytime now.

Baba Black Lager: A wonderful blend of chocolate, coffee, and toffee combine with a swirl of caramel and vanilla build a nice complexity. The finish has a slight hop bite that brings a great balance. Very tasty black lager!

Wyld Extra Pale Ale: Floral hops with a nice grapefruit bite up front. A touch of orange peel which adds to the moderate bitterness of the beer. Toasted malts and bread give a decent amount of sweetness. One of my favorite session pales.

Hazel Amber Wheat: The taste is a classic wheat with a light twang of wet citrus along with some white grapes. A touch of honey-bread in the finish. Nice, crisp and clean.

Cheers!

Slackwater Pizza

Weber County has a new beer-centric restaurant that's gunna make a lot of northern beer lovers happy.

Slackwater Pizza, located at 1895 Washington blvd in Ogden offers a varied menu that specializes in pizza of course, but also has beer menu that boasts nearly one hundred beers.

The only drawback for the casual craft beer lover is that this is a restaurant not a bar. Go in with that mindset and you should be fine.

If you love your beer it makes sense to patronize businesses that cater to you. It better for your community and it creates a demand for quality beers in areas that may get overlooked otherwise.

Cheers!

New Fall Beer News

The Bayou just got a shload of great new beers in. If your in a funk and are looking for something unique to help get your groove back - listen up!

Jolly Pumpkin

La Roja: Crabapples and sour apples are the flavors that comes to mind, along with a little fruit juice and other bits of delicious sourness.

La Parcela: Sour apples and lemon peel combine along with a hint of funk. Pumpkin and light nutmeg spices really only come through in hints toward the end.

Bam: Taste is very tart and fruity with strong lemon notes upfront and lighter notes of orange and pear in the back along with light spice.

ES Bam: A great balance of hoppy and tart-funk. Like a funked-out Belgian IPA. Dry and tart; guava and exotic fruit flavors are also noticeable, they meld with the tropical-fruity hops.

Luciérnaga: Nicely tart, with tropical fruit notes of apple, banana and tangerine. Next comes a long spicy clove and coriander finish with some wild yeast funkiness and wee tangerine rind bitterness.

Mikkeller

Barrel Aged Chipotle Porter (Texas Ranger): A nice roasted malt flavor. There are some great coffee and chocolate flavors, along with a nice chipotle bite with very little heat. The finish has some lingering roasted bitterness and a bit of chipotle flavor.

Achel

Trappist Extra: Caramel, over-ripened fruits, plums, prunes and raisins. Sweet up front, but a little spicy in the finish. Alcohol flavors in the aftertaste. Moderate bitterness, medium bodied with moderately high carbonation.

Blonde: Grainy, with sweet honey, peach, apricot and spicy coriander. Light hoppy and dry aftertaste.

See something you like? I thought so.

Cheers!

I've Got a Bad Feeling About This...

If you've ever had any dealings with the Utah Department of alcohol control you know that "shit happens when it happens ". And if you don't like it you can go somewhere else... and as we all know we can't go anywhere else. So we deal with it.

But I don't think that any of us had the slightest clue how screwed up things really are over there. A new audit of the DABC released Tuesday describes a climate of incompetent management, and possible criminal activity.

The audit accuses the former director Dennis Kellen of bid rigging, falsifying financial documents and sending hundreds of thousands of dollars in DABC business to his son's company, Flexpak, without the knowledge or approval of DABC commissioners.

In some cases the department was paying twice as much for products through Flexpak compared to what other vendors offered, according to audit details. The audit says there was so little oversight that thousands of dollars in taxpayer money went out the door.

I guarantee you that those in the legislature, who already look upon alcohol as burden on society will be plotting behind closed doors, to concoct irrational policies and laws to overcompensate for what Kellen's alleged bad management has wrought.

I fear 2012 will be good for the DABC, but another bad year for Utah's beer lovers.

Here's a link to the complete audit.

Cheers!

Golden Halo: Reborn

Remember Golden Halo Blonde Ale from RedRock Brewing? It arrived nearly a year ago to mixed reviews. Some loved the extreme blend of Nobles hops and Pils malt, while others found the bitterness and earthiness too overwhelming.

Personally I liked it, but that damn label really made for some sleepless nights.

Beer Yogi, Kevin Templin has re-invented Golden Halo Blonde Ale and RedRock's art department has provided us with a more tranquil bottle to stare at.

The all new Golden Halo has a bright golden color with subdued malty character and Nobel hop aroma. Its crisp, clean flavor comes from a balance between German malt and Czech hops. It comes in RedRock's perfectly sized 500ml bottle with a 5.8% abv.

The reborn Golden Halo will debut today (10/18/11) at 5pm at RedRock Place (Fashion Place Mall).

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 10/14/11

Today's new beer Friday brings early Xmas gifts for everyone, even non beer drinkers.

Hum Bug'r: This seasonal offering from MacTarnahan's has toasted sweet chocolate ans hints of mild hops up front. Mild sweet soft black malt light Porter body with light biscuit coffee cocoa hints. Mild hop spice clean smooth end. @ Beerhive.

For those of you that like beer but can't enjoy it because it's full of all that "gluten crap" - your in luck. Utah's first locally made gluten free beer is on tap right now for a limited time at Squatters.

Kick in the Glute: This is described as a pale ale-esq brew that incorporates both sourgum and rice along with cascade hops. Bitterness is kept on the mid range and it is also dryhopped.

Don't forget that the Wasatch 25th Anniversary party is tomorrow (15th) from 11am to 6pm at the City Park in Park City, Utah. There is no cost to attend the party. There will be a selection of seven Wasatch Beers, including a specially brewed batch of their inaugural beer, Wasatch Premium Ale. The cold beer will be a cash bar – 16 oz. draft beers are $3 and high alcohol Beers are $5 each. A commemorative pint glass will be available for $6 as well. The weather should be perfect!

Cheers!

"This One Day at Beer Camp"....

About a year-and-a-half ago Sierra Nevada established "Beer Camp". The idea was to bring amateur brewers from all over to brainstorm & learn in an "an all-inclusive, hands-on, high-octane beer education bonanza!" It's been described by brewery officials, as nothing short of a Willy Wonka experience.

Those who were selected came up with many unique beers. Some of them are now available and for sale at the Bayou.

Called "The Best of Beer Camp," the pack includes a California common, double IPA, weizenbock, and American black ale. The following are SN's descriptions.

The California common (6.5 percent ABV) -- also known as a steam beer -- has a bready aroma with hints of sour apple. Orange-yellow in color and mildly hoppy, it has a bit of a citrus bite. The weizenbock (6.8 percent ABV) is a superb take on the style. Quite cloudy with a big, frothy head and an aroma that boasts lemon, bananas, and clove, it's incredibly tangy and somewhat spicy.

The Double IPA (8.50 percent ABV) -- Hoppy smell, with citrus the obvious primary sniff. A good combination of grapefruit and pine with some lemon battling to make some noise. Citrus hops dominate the initial taste, with grapefruit and pine battling for supremacy. Fairly bitter aftertaste. The bitter taste kept coming back, but it was pleasantly bitter. Medium body with moderate carbonation.

The Wiezenbock (6.60 percent ABV) -- Differnt from the normal Wiezenbock -- The aroma is sweet and malty with some spices (clove), banana, and yeast. There is no sign of alcohol in the nose whatsoever. The taste is equally as good as the aroma. The taste starts out with a lot of sweetness with some wheat and banana. The clove flavors come in next along with some yeast and a touch of warmth from the alcohol in the finish.

The Black Ale -- called Juniper Black Ale (8 percent ABV), because it's brewed with juniper berries -- provides healthy doses of malt and hops. Dark brown with a strong scent of roasted malts and notes of burnt chocolate, it offers sweetness up front and bitterness on the back end. The double IPA (8.5 percent ABV) has a big citrus nose and a hops assault that brings to mind fresh oranges and pineapples.

All are at the Bayou now and possibly state-wide soon.

Cheers!

Epic & DC Brau Collaboration Beer

There are two places in the United States notoriously known for their lack of representation. Washington D.C., which has none - and Utah, who's minority drinkers are a nuisance more that constituents.

It seems likely that factions from both places would find some common ground and rage against those that choose not to hear them. Leave it to the beer industry to rock the boat.

Last week, Jeff Hancock, the head brewer at DC Brau Brewing Co., was in Salt Lake City working on a “collaboration” beer with Kevin Crompton, the head brewer at Epic Brewing Co.

The brewers collaborated on the recipe for a new Imperial Pumpkin Porter, which will be called Fermentation without Representation. While the brewers will follow the same recipe, they don’t expect the beers to taste exactly the same.

Crompton heads to the D.C. brewery soon to help Hancock make batches of the new fall-flavored brew for their market. Collaboration beers are a big trend in the brewing industry, said Crompton. He said it’s a great way for brewers to get together, learn things from one another and of course build unity.

Both beers will be released in Salt Lake and D.C. on Nov. 3.

I love the name. Too bad it will only be seen seasonally instead of daily - as a reminder to lawmakers of their failings.

Cheers!

Head Brewer Wanted at Squatters

We are all sad that Jen is leaving Squatters, but somebody has to step in and take on the task of keeping the beer flowing.

If you think you have the nads to fill her rubber boots - Squatters is taking applications for the position of head brewer.

Salt Lake Brewing Co., LC / SQUATTERS is an innovative restaurant group rooted in world-class beer, exceptional food and service, a welcoming atmosphere, and an ongoing commitment to people, planet and profit. We are seeking a HEAD BREWER to join our team. Check us out at www.squatters.com.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefits package, including medical, dental, long-term disability insurance, 401(k) plan, paid time off policy, bonus program and much more.

The HEAD BREWER has total oversight for the brewery operations and facilities. Responsibilities include, but, are not limited to:

Inventory and scheduling
Maintenance and sanitation
New beer design and recipe formulation
Wort production, cellar operations, carbonation, yeast handling
Supports brewing, cellar and bottling operations
Supports removals and filtration
Quality assurance and quality control
Festival and competition participation

The role includes beer education, service and training for all staff. The Head Brewer is a member of the Support Management Team, plays an active role in product development, promotes the Squatters brand in various mediums, and participates in a wide range of cultural, community, business and media events.

REQUIRES:
Minimum 3 years in a professional brewing/equivalent experience.
1+ years of supervisory experience, preferred.
Financial and computer skills.
Ability to work under pressure and independently, as well as in a team-oriented environment.
Works flexible hours - whatever it takes to get the job done.
Troubleshoots and solves problems re product or equipment.
Physical demands.

Interested and qualified candidates can send their resumes to carol@squatters.com.

Cheers!

THANK YOU, Jenny!

It's a sad day for Utah's beer community. One of it's brightest and most innovative stars is leaving us after 20 years of enthusiasm, passion & perfection.

Squatters' Brewmaster, Jenny Talley has accepted a tremendous opportunity with the CRAFT BREWERS ALLIANCE, INC., an organization comprised of Widmer Brothers, Red Hook, and Kona Brewing Co. operating breweries in Portland, OR, Woodinville, WA, Portsmith, NH, and Kona, HI.

Jenny and her family will be relocating to Washington to become the Brewing Operations Manager at the Woodinville brewery where she’ll work in close coordination with the Plant Manager, Packaging Manager, and respective teams of employees to produce approximately 170,000 barrels of beer annually.

Jenny has always been hungry to learn and pursue new challenges, this opportunity will provide her with the knowledge to take her art to the next level.

I don't want this to sound like a eulogy, because it's not. No doubt there will be a hole in our hearts and mugs but life and the brew schedule goes on. The beer will flow and it will do so with a new equally talented brewer at the helm.

Jenny will be around Squatters for another week or so. Stop in, I'm sure she'd appreciate the well wishes.

Personally I'd like to thank Jenny for her friendship and for keeping my tongue so very happy. Also, please send me a growler of some of that killer Widmer Alt!

Cheers!

Photos: Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune

Attack of the Märzens!!!

A long time ago in a place far far away there were these people who made this incredible beer for a royal... Sorry. Can't do it. I had this plan for a cheesy-ass sci-fi story to go with the awesome title up there, but I just don't want to put you through it. So let's get on with it.

Yes, that's right the Märzens are attacking! they come from Squatters, Epic & Hoppers.

First up is Squatters' Oktoberfest. It pours a warm orange brown color with a firm, creamy white head. The nose is full of clean toasty malts with a bit of subtle nutty character. The taste starts with lots of crisp, smokey malts, biscuit tones and a good citrusy hop twang. Vanilla, orange peel and a spices lingering towards the finish. The bitter hops meld with a slight malt smokiness into the after taste. Very well balanced and highly drinkable with an ABV of 5.5%. 500ml bottle.

Next up is Epic's Oktoberfest. Look for it under the Festdevious label - batch #6. Pours a clear orange and amber with a moderately sized near-white head. The nose is grassy with an earthy hop character combined with a touch of caramel malt. The taste starts with quite a bit of toasted and caramel malt with a bit of vanilla sweetness. Next comes some sharp, grassy hops. Finishes slightly earthy. Overall, this is a classic, very drinkable Oktoberfest. 22oz. bottle

Finally we have the the 2011 Gold medal winning Märzen from the Great American Beer Festival. Stein Knocker from Hoppers. Pours an orange/copper color with a finger of white foam. The nose is of vanilla, earthiness, caramel, and a slight fruitiness. The taste begins on a caramel malty note, evolving to a vanilla/malt note, and then finishing with a clean and edgy orange peel dryness that cleanses the palate just as the malt elements start to compound and sticks around. Crisp and clean. This is a pretty solid interpretation on the style. 12oz. bottle.

Your best bets for all are at their respective locations. Though some may be available at you finer beer bars.

Also. The City of Provo has approved the sale of beer on Sunday in grocery and convenience stores. This has not happened in the span of most of our lives. I suspect that life will go on without a hiccup. Congrats, Provo beer lovers!

Prost!

BrewDog Dogma in SLC

BrewDog Brewing out of Fraserburgh, Scotland makes some of the strangest, most innovative beer in the world. "Bayou Mark" brings them into Salt Lake occasionally and his latest acquisition is one of the strangest yet.

Dogma is an ale, brewed with guarana, poppy seeds and kola nut all blended together with Scottish heather honey.

The nose has some honey sweetness with a spice, boozy, yeasty, fruitiness. The taste is slightly sweet and malty up front, there's a nice lingering spicy hop profile that lingers on through the finish keeping it balanced. Honey is only faintly noticed and there is definitely a nuttiness. Not sure exactly what to make this beer, it's very flavorful but muddled. Not sure if it's the hops or combination of the unique ingredients being used. @ The Bayou.

Cheers!

Utah's 2011 Great American Beer Festival Winners

There were 3,930 beers & 526 breweries at this year's Great Ametican Beer Festival. With all those talented brewers and their delicious beers you had to be top notch to earn an award.

Utah's Crew did not dissapoint! Here are the winning entries from Utah.

Utah's GABF Winners
3,930 beers 526 breweries

Silver: Uinta/Travis Grimm - Pro/Am

Silver: Epic Brainless on Peaches - Fruit beer

Gold: Squatters Provo Girl Pils - Session Beer

Gold: Hoppers Stein Knocker Oktoberfest - Marzen

Bronze: Epic Imperial IPA - Imperial IPA

Silver: RedRock Brown Ale - American Brown

Gold: Squatters Fifth Element 2008- Belgian lambic

Cheers!

Still Drinking Their Share and Selling the Rest

Looking at the way the Utah legislature has been operating as of late it seems their doing their best to keep Utah's beer lovers down. But as bad as some say it is, it has been far worse. For roughly 25 years there was absolutely no beer production in Utah. Then in 1986 That all changed when Greg Schirf opened the Wasatch Brewpub in Park City.

Ever since then Schirf and Wasatch have been doing their best to keep Utah's beer scene on the map. For instance - remember 2003? The Utah Legislature decided to add a $1.88 tax increase on every barrel of beer produced in Utah. In protest Schirf and his employees dressed as Ben Franklin/Patriots and hosted their own version of the Boston Tea Party at the Great Salt Lake, spraying 64 gallons of beer into the lake.

The stunt got national attention but did little to change the minds of lawmakers.

To celebrate their anniversary, Wasatch is throwing a huge Beer Bash on Saturday October 15th from 11am to 6pm at the City Park in Park City, Utah. There is no cost to attend the party. There will be a selection of seven Wasatch Beers, including a specially brewed batch of their inaugural beer, Wasatch Premium Ale. The cold beer will be a cash bar – 16 oz. draft beers are $3 and high alcohol Beers are $5 each. A commemorative pint glass will be available for $6 as well.

For more info on the Celebration click here

Also, we're leaving for Denver in a few hours to attend the Great American Beer Festival. We'll have all the info on how Utah's Breweries fare in the competition, including the Pro/Am.

Cheers!

Pictured above: Former Park City Mayor Hal Taylor and Greg Schirf tap the first Keg of Wasatch Brew

DABC Show: Utah Beer Fest

Today's Episode of the DABC Show Bill and Steve go to the 2nd City Weekly Utah Beer Festival. Was It great? Did it suck? Did they buy a belt buckle? Only your discerning eye can tell.

Rocket Across America: The Zion Curtain

A few weeks ago a couple of guys from New York were passing though Salt Lake looking for a good story. Reporter Justin Rocket Silverman and videographer Vivek Kemp of The Daily have been traveling on a cross-country expedition to find the best, the boldest, and the strangest our nation has to offer.

As luck would have it, Justin & Vivek got into town the day the Zion Curtain controversy was on the lips of of everyone in the state. He contacted me, hoping someone could help explain this local oddity that had been causing such a buzz.

Here's what they came up with. An outsiders eyes on what was likely the weirdest part of their cross country trip.



Cheers!

A Possible Beacon of Light

Today the Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee; you know them, they're the branch of the legislature that muddle our brilliantly freakish liquor laws.

Anyway, these "Mensas" are looking to appoint a new director to head up the DABC. Right now the department is being temporarily managed by Francine Giani who is currently the Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce.

Giani has been a steadfast consumer advocate as well as the Director of the Division of Consumer Protection from 1992 - December 2005.

Francine is due to go before the Senate Business and Labor Confirmation Committee this morning to convince them she's the one for the job. I believe she is.

I don't know Francine personally just professionally, I've interviewed and had conversations with her. She's bright, seems full of common sense and is not a Utah native (New York). Though she is LDS, she did grow up grounded in reality.

She could be the beacon in the darkness that we've been hoping for. If appointed, let's hope the Legislature doesn't completely crush her will and spirit. Good luck today, Francine.

Cheers!

photo: Salt Lake Trib

The Beer Pipeline

Admit it... you tolerate my B.S. because of that whole "beer pipeline" thing we have going on here. It's the promise of new beer that keeps you coming back. I am your bitch. Today I hope the bitch doesn't dissapoint.

First there's Epic's Pro-Am Scotch Ale (under Festdevious #5). This beer was brewed with local award winning homebrewer Mike Hahn. Mike's Scotch will be entered into the Great American Beer Festivals Pro/Am Competition.

Pours a nice burnt copper/orange color with a thick two fingered white head. The nose is of caramel, bread, citrus, pine, smoke and some whiskey notes. The taste starts smooth and malty with a nice toffee and nutty maltiness. Next come notes of smoke and whiskey. The finish has some lingering toffee. @ Epic, Bayou, Beerhive, Whever Epic beers are sold (soon).

Las Vegas' Tenaya Creek brewery was founded by ex Utahn/Uinta Brewer Tim Etter. Since entering the market last March their beers have only been available at the Beerhive. Now the Bayou has them as well. Look for Hop Ride India Pale Ale, Calico Brown Ale & Tandem Double India Pale Ale (limited release).

Cheers!

Big Bad Baptist

Remember Jack Mormon Coffee Stout from Epic? It was a big hit with beer lovers, but not the DABC.

The DABC found the name offensive and wouldn't allow it to be sold in Utah's liquor stores. I guess they were worried about the massive influx of Mormon traffic that Utah's liquor stores are famous for.

Anyway, now we have the Big Bad Baptist. I guess we'll find out if the Baptist have a sense of humor with these sort of things.

Epic's BBB is reminiscent of Jack Mormon but has the added benefit of bourbon barrel aging.

The nose is of roasted coffee, chocolate as well as some cherries & vanilla. The Taste starts with espesso followed hints of vanilla & bourbon. Next comes some sweetness, almost molasses-like, but not cloying at all. Slightly woody in the finish. Alcohol is present but it's not in your face. Full-bodied and heavy. The coffee leaves nice lingering roasted notes on your palette. Carbonation is perfect and creamy.

Big Bad Baptist is available starting today at Epic and should be creeping into places where you'll find Epic's Exponential Series soon.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/16/11: Hop Notch IPA

We're a little late today, but better late then never! There one beer today, it's local and a lot of people have been looking forward to it.

Hop Notch IPA is believe it or not, Uinta's first regular IPA. Sure, the Trader IPA has been around for years but it's 4.0% and Detour is a superb Double IPA but there has never been a "to style IPA" 'till now.

I know nothing about it. I assume it's an American Style and delicious. It's for sale right now at Uinta's Little Big Beer Store at the brewery, soon to be everywhere. If you get one before we do, give us a review dammit!

Cheers!

The DABC Show: Bohemian Brewery

Czech, this out! Bill and Steve head over to the Bohemian Brewery to learn why great beer and being Czech go hand in hand. They also discover the joy of pairing great beer and great food. Then they show you a great place to Belly Up and drink. Plus the lost interviews from Idaho Falls, a homebrewing tip from a pro and the science behind great 4% beer!



Cheers!

Tanks A Lot!

In the last few years, many of Utah’s home-grown breweries have been venturing out into the continental U.S. and, in some cases, the world, exposing people to the award-winning suds we’ve always known and enjoyed.

As a local beer lover, you may or may not have an interest in this. "Can my favorite brewery meet the national demand without affecting my beer enjoyment"? Simply the answer is "yes"!

50% of the breweries in the state are or have undergone a major expansion and a good percentage of the the other half - have something in the planning stages.

With beer production it's all about the fermentation tanks. Apart from barrel aging the fermentors spend more time nurturing the beer than any other vessel in the brewery.

In recent months a serious amount of stainless steel has made it's way into the state at great expense to to the breweries. I thought I'd share some images of the new hardware that's cradling some of your favorite Beers.

Utah Brewers Cooperative's Gargantuan 200 barrel fermenter

Epic's 40 barrel fermenters

Shades of Pale's new whirlpool tank

And there's more coming. Moab's new and improved brewhouse with all new equipment will be up and running soon, Shades of Pale Brewing is already looking at expanding their operations and Zion Canyon Brewing is in the process of building a new brewpub in Springdale.

Some State Legislators may be trying to hold you back, but that's not stopping breweries from moving forward to meet the increasing demand.

And, there's a new poll!

Cheers!

Beers You're No Longer Drinking

If your readings this, odds are you mainly pursue craft beer brands. Would it surprise you to know that these smaller craft brands are slowly "putting the hurt" on the big boys, and their sales are falling.

There are eight beers that Americans are drinking less and less of. Some of them may surprise you.

8. Budweiser
Sales loss (2006-2010): -30%
Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Barrels sold (2010): 18 million.

7. Milwaukee’s Best Light
Sales loss (2006-2010): -34%
Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
Barrels sold (2010): 1.3 million.

6. Miller Genuine Draft
Sales loss (2006-2010): -51%
Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
Barrels sold (2010): 1.8 million

5. Old Milwaukee
Sales loss (2006-2010): -52%
Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
Barrels sold (2010): 525,000

4. Milwaukee’s Best
Sales loss (2006-2010): -53%
Brewer: MillerCoors Brewing
Barrels sold (2010): 925,000

3. Bud Select
Sales loss (2006-2010): -60%
Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Barrels sold (2010): 925,000

2. Michelob Light.
Sales loss (2006-2010): -64%
Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Barrels sold (2010): 525,000

1. Michelob
Sales loss (2006-2010): -72%
Brewer: Anheuser-Busch InBev
Barrels sold (2010): 175,000

Oddly enough, Michelob; the most palatable of the eight (in my opinion) is tanking fast. I don't know what the average price point is here, but I suspect it's a significant factor.

What do you attribute to this slide?

Cheers!

Source: 24/7 Wall St. used two databases to do its analysis. One is kept by SymphonyIRI Group, one of the largest consumer research firms in the U.S. The other is from specialist research firm, beer marketer’s INSIGHTS, Inc.

New Beer Friday 9/9/11

Today we have three new style bending beers that frankly defy categorization. And just in case you missed last nights post Uinta's Jacked Imperial Pumpkin should be on sale today at the brewery.

North Coast Grand Cru: Pours a rich golden color, with a large quickly dissipating head. The nose is of apple, pear, honey and vanilla. The tastes starts with pear, raisins and sweet caramel. Dark fruits come next with slight bourbon notes. The finish is boozy and phenolic. This is one sweet som' bitch and it's 12.9% abv is not something to take lightly. @ Beerhive.

Deschutes/Boulevard Collaboration No. 2 - White IPA: The nose is of lemon and grapefruit with notes of coriander, pepper and Belgian yeast. The taste starts with coriander and orange peel with hints of lemongrass. Next comes a malty spiness that transitions into a hoppy, bitter - west coast IPA finish. This is an anomaly. It's like a Saison and a Belgian IPA got drunk while listening to the Conan The Barbarian Soundtrack (Arnold) and had a kid. Yeah, I know!
@ Beerhive & Bayou.

Epic's Brainless on Cherries #5: This one is unique from the others because it was aged in red wine barrels instead of white wine. It's described as less sweet as the dryer red wine adds more tannin and tartness to round out the cherries and malty sweetness of the beer. Sound like the dryer #5 will be more complementary toward the fruit. Can't wait to try it. @ Epic

Crom!

Jacked-Up!

This is a "Pre-New Beer Friday" announcement.

I have good news & bad news. The good news is That Oak Jacked Imperial Wood Aged Pumpkin Ale will be available for sale starting tomorrow! (9/9/11). The bad news is that the DABC has it's head up their collective asses (big surprise I know) and will only allow it to be sold at the brewery. Sorry to all you non-Wasatch Front beer lovers... the state has boned you once again.

If the availability issue changes we'll let you know as soon as it happens. As always call before heading over to the brewery.