Laughing Dog Beers Coming to SLC

On the heels of Ballast Point's entry into the market, Sandpoint Idaho's Laughing Dog Brewery has announced that they are about to enter the SLC market. Established in 2005 Laughing Dog produces around 6000 barrels annually and is currently available in 26 states. What makes their move into this market different than others is the commitment to make new session brews that are tailor made for our market. Here are some descriptions of some of the beers coming soon to grocery stores and bars near you.

CREAM ALE
This is a traditional Cream Ale fermented with both ale and lager yeasts. Brilliant clarity with a malt aroma and a soft, malty sweetness. Available year round. 4.0% ABV

HUCKLEBERRY CREAM ALE
We begin with slight variations on our traditional Cream Ale recipe. Real huckleberries are added during the last minutes of the boil to lend a subtle berry aroma and flavor. Available as a seasonal release in April. 4.0% ABV


TRAIL RIDE AMERICAN PALE ALE
We brew our Pale Ale “Big, Bold and Hoppy” with plenty of Citra hops lending a floral / citrus aroma and flavor complimented with a balanced malt backbone 4.0% ABV 34 IBU

Higher ABV beers will be coming as well. Look for the some of the following beers as well, sometime in the future.

Look for Laughing Dog's beers by the end of June. Barring any hangups they will have draft available at the June 27th WeeBeer Festival in Ogden with packaged beer and full release into Utah by July 13th.  Keep checking back here for updates. 2015 looks to be a great beer year!

Cheers!

Ballast Point Brewery Arrives

Hazzah! The Ballast Point beers are here and will be slowly trickling their way into the specialty beer bars and restaurants in the coming days. As of lunchtime today (5/27/15) Slackwater Pizza in Ogden is the only place selling them. Beer Bar in Salt Lake hopes to have them by this evening and the Beerhive and Bayou are shooting for Thursday or Friday.

Ballast Point does some brilliant pale ales, and that's why five of the six initial beers fall into that category. Ballast Point's Even Keel Session IPA (3.8% ABV) is not part of the initial line-up but should be popping up in grocery stores soon. Also. All of the BP beers are in 12oz. bottles or cans. There's another added bonus. Here a list a what beers you can look forward to trying.

Ballast Point - Pale Ale: German-style Pale Ale, inspired by the Kolsch Ales of Cologne, Germany. This Pale Ale drinks like a Pilsner, only with more body and flavor. 5.2% ABV

Ballast Point - Sculpin IPA: Massive nose of citrus and tropical fruit. Light caramel malts keep the balance towards the hops. Medium bodied. A light, fruity, juicy and bitter IPA. 7.0% ABV

Ballast Point - Grapefruit Sculpin IPA: This version of Sculpin IPA has grapefruit added; the grapefruit flavor really enhances the citrus aroma of the hops. It showcases bright flavors and aromas of apricot, peach, mango & lemon.7.0% ABV

Ballast Point - Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Porter: Whole vanilla beans and Caffe Calabria coffee beans are infused into this robust porter with. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate. 10% ABV

Ballast Point - Dorado DIPA: Has a nose that is primarily citrus. The taste is smooth and crisp with  a little bit of grapefruit and mellow caramel notes. For a 10% DIPA is surprisingly easy to drink

Ballast Point - Big Eye IPA: HAs a nose of pine, citrus hops and tropical fruits Tatses starts off with a nice citrus and piney hops then transitions into bready caramel. Tropical fruits round out the end with hints of pine resin, and grapefruit peel. Similar but different than the others. 7.0% ABV

Cheers and Happy Hunting!

New Beer Friday 5/21/15

Yeah there's a lot of rain. However, did you know beer is the perfect accompaniment for it? Why do you think there are so many breweries in the North West? Here are this week's New Beer Friday options.

Boulder - Single Track Rye Pale Ale: Didn't get a chance to try this one. It's described as a refreshing, medium-bodied ale, Singletrack Rye Pale Ale is brewed with toasted rye and caramel malt for a slight nutty flavor with a brilliant copper color. Reflecting a lifestyle adopted by many at our brewery and in Boulder, Singletrack is an homage to the two-wheeled athletes and weekend warriors pounding the narrow trails of our backyard mountains 4.0% ABV @Harmon's

Boulder - Buffalo Gold Golden Ale: Pours a clear golden yellow with two fingers of tall puffy foam. The nose has some sweet grains and a slight doughiness with some floral hops. The taste is more malty like a pale ale with a bit of unripened apple and pear. Floral and grassy hops round out the end.  4.0% ABV @ Harmon's

Deschutes - Armory XIPA:  Deep copper/orange color with a clumpy three fingers of head. The nose has light caramel and biscuit with an herbal spiciness. The taste starts with toffee like malts and toast. There are also hints of nutmeg and clove Lots of zesty tropical notes come next with a hint of  herbal spices. 6.0% ABV @ Select DABC - I saw it at Bountiful's Store

Hive Winery Black Cherry Brandy: The Hive Brandy Company’s first spirit and Utah’s first brandy. This light amber spirit fronts with vanilla notes finishing with a fresh cherry. Made with 11 pounds of Utah grown black cherries per bottle and aged on oven toasted French oak this spirit will warm you all the way through. For the best brandy drinking experience serve it in a large brandy snifter. This allows the aromas to fill the glass and pass into the lungs each time you take a sip. As a fantastic alternative on the sweeter side add a little real maple syrup to your brandy and swirl it in the snifter. This blends the maple with the cherries and vanilla to make a fantastic combination with a slight sweetness to intensify all the flavors. If you do not have a brandy snifter use the largest wine glass you have at home and you will get the same effects.We only bottled 122 bottles of this magnificent brandy so it will not last long. Each bottle is hand numbered and hand sealed with a double dipped wax cap. Come in and get one of these very limited brandies. This is only available at The Hive Winery/The Hive Brandy Company Location. $68.95 for a 750 ml bottle. 80 proof 40% alcohol by volume.

Cheers!

Firestone Walker Beer Dinner

The Annex by Epic Brewing is hosting Firestone Walker Brewing Company for a very unique beer dinner. Guests will have the chance to sample several Firestone Walker beers not available in Utah, including the extremely limited “Proprietor’s Vintage” §ucaba, Barley Wine, and Parabola, Russian Imperial Stout. “This dinner is a fantastic opportunity for locals to get to know a few of the terrific beers Firestone Walker is producing.” explains Marcel Paramore, General Manager at The Annex.  

Chef Craig Gerome has written a five course menu that begins with light spring flavors which complement the herbal qualities of well hopped beer. He then explores the complex and earthy characteristics of Saison paired with Bouchout Mussels before moving into the robust realm of barely wine and herb basted rib eye. For desert a Black Berry Vol-au-vent contrasts with the well-aged Parabola, a Russian Imperial Stout.

Elizabeth Isenbart, Firestone Walker’s Territory Manager will be attending the dinner to discuss the beers with guests. Seating is very limited. The event will consist of a 5 course beer pairing ($43 for dinner $22 for optional beer pairing) This event will be held on  June 1st  6:00 pm.  Please call The Annex at 801-742-5490 for reservations.

Cheers!

6th Annual Beehive Brew-Off

It's time to start thinking about what beers your going to enter into the 6th Annual Beehive Brew-Off. This year's competition will take a little more thought than previous years due to the fact that the BJCP Style Guidelines have had their first update since 2008.  

Many new styles have been added, and some existing styles have been divided into multiple categories or simply renamed. The groupings of styles into categories has a new philosophy that groups styles with similar judging characteristics rather than a common heritage or family name. Please look over the the new guidelines here. Meads and Ciders have been updated as well.

Entries for the Beehive Brew-off will be accepted July 27 to August 2. Deadline is Sunday, August 2 at 5:00 p.m. Same rules as previous years. To compete, you must submit (3) 12 oz. BROWN, de-labled, unmarked capped bottles with your entry form attached with a RUBBERBAND only. Labels attached with tape may be disqualified. Entries are $5 per/entry. You will only be permitted to enter a subcategory once. Winners will be announced Sunday, August 9 at 5:30 p.m. at The Bayou. All entries will be dropped off at The Beer Nut during normal business hours. Qualified Judges should email Jamie@beernut.com to be placed. This event is not a festival and judging is not open for public view. 

Cheers!

RedRock's Grand Bavaria Weissbier

RedRock Brewing is debuting a new beer today that is part of their Craft Beer Week celebrations. This Bavarian style wheat beer is described as being lively and refreshing.  It has a complex aroma of vanilla, banana and hints of spice from our unique German yeast strain.  It’s made with German malted wheat and premium two row barley.  Brewed in spring to celebrate the coming warm season. It will be available at RedRock's downtown location and to go at RedRock's bottle shop at 443 N 400 W in Salt Lake City.

Here's a list of the rest of today's American Craft Beer Week events.

The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Rye with Gummy Bears

Fluid Art: Presented by the Utah Brewers Guild and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Fluid Art mashes up some of the best micro brews in the beehive state with the most socially relevant art in UMOCA’s current exhibitions. Each brewery is given a piece of art to pair a beer with; the results will entertain and fascinate. Tickets are $30. http://www.arttix.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=14530

RedRock Brewing (downtown): Release of Grand Bavaria (Bavarian Weissbier)

Squatters (SLC): Special Tap Event 4:00pm - One tap will be connected to  Randall - a double chamber filter filled with flavor enhancing ingredients - which will create some truly unique tasting beer.

Squatters (Park City): Beer 101 Class - 6:00pm Learn about the brewing process and try 6 different styles of beer. Class includes a full pour of your favorite beer and a commemorative take-home glass $15/2 hours.

Utah Brewers Cooperative: Brewery Tours 1:00pm and 2:00pm - Includes empty growler $5/45 minutes 

Prost!

2015 Mountain Brerwers Festival

Utah's best beer festival is back!!! Well... actually it's Idaho's, but we Utahans love it just as well. If you've never attended this festival, you've really missed out. It's located in Idaho Falls, a quick three hours from SLC and will host around 80 brewers from the western states and beyond.

This is a one day - outdoor event, scheduled for June 6, 2015 at Sandy Downs (the city's horse track and rodeo grounds) and will run from noon to 6 pm. Last year there were seventy-nine breweries! This year looks to be just as big. If you've never had the opportunity, this would be the perfect year to start. Buy you tickets in advance and save a few quatloos. You can pick them up at Uinta, Bohemian and Roosters locations or you can buy them online here. $25 Get you unlimited 4oz. pours of some of the best craft brews from our region.

Also, more updates posted to the Utah Beer American Craft beer Week Calendar

Cheers!

Uinta Detour Coming in Cans

Uinta's very popular Detour Double IPA is coming soon in cans! Here's a sneak peak at what they'll look like. Just in case you've been hiding under a rock, Detour is full-on citrus rind and juicy citrus fruit with big dose of pine resin. The taste starts with pine resin and citrus rind. Pineapple and tangerine come next transitioning into a "bit o’ honey" caramel maltiness. The hops and pale malt flavors carry through to a moderately bitter ending. The 9.5% alcohol is actually pretty well restrained.

Also, today begins American Craft Beer Week! There are events all along the Wasatch Front (and Back). I've been updating the Utah Craft Beer Week Calendar constantly all weekend. Click on the link above for all of the local events.   

Cheers!

Utah's 2015 American Craft Beer Week Calendar

Upadated 5/13/15 5:00am

Okay, listen up Utah. American Craft Beer Week begins next week and we have the full calendar events... for the most part. This is the only complete list that I know of and it will be constantly updated as new events are scheduled so keep checking back.

Monday - May 11
Epic Brewing: Corn Hole Tournament at the WoodShed presented by Epic Brewing Company. Tournament will start at 7:00, maximum of 16 teams so show up early. Win Epic prizes, enjoy craft beer and show us what you got!

The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Brown with Marshmallow, Cacao Nibs, Cinnamon stick and Ginger

Utah Brewers Guild:  will spend the entire week on the radio. With the help of 90.9 KRCL, 2-3 breweries will be featured each day during A Little Bit Louder Now with Bad Brad Wheeler from 5-7pm. The Utah Brewers Guild will be on the air on Friday with a couple brewers to wrap up the week. Tune in on Monday for a chance to win tickets to Fluid Art on Thursday.

Squatters (SLC): Beer 101 Class - 6:00pm Learn about the brewing process and try 6 different styles of beer. Class includes a full pour of your favorite beer and a commemorative take-home glass $15/2 hours.

Wasatch (Park City): Special Tap Event 4:00pm - One tap will be connected to  Randall - a double chamber filter filled with flavor enhancing ingredients - which will create some truly unique tasting beer.

RedRock Brewing (Fashion Place): Reve Vertical tasting 6pm-7:30pm - We will have food, and taste the Reve from the past years side-by-side! It will be limited to 20 people. Brewmaster Kevin Templin on air KRCL, 4PM.  Listen in…we will have a surprise contest.

Desert Edge Brewing: (All week) $3.50 Pints and $8 pitchers. Beer inspired food and desert specials. Brewery 

Utah Brewers Cooperative: Brewery Tours 1:00pm and 2:00pm - Includes empty growler $5/45 minutes.

Avenues Proper Restaurant & Publick House: Will be serving $10 pitchers of our house brew all week, as well as releasing a couple items from our cellar of vintage local brews.

Buffalo Wild Wings® along with the Brewers Association invite America to celebrate the growing craft beer industry during American Craft Beer Week® May 11-17. In addition, its Beer of the Month program will focus on local and regional craft beer features in each restaurant on tap throughout the U.S. the entire month of May.

Park City Brewery: (all week) 6 pack sale

Tuesday - May 12
The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of milk stout with sweet and bitter orange peel and cacao nibs.

Bohemian Brewery: Brewers Stache Beer Release - Tapping of the Rheinlandische Bitterbier at the brewery

Squatters (SLC)/Wasatch (Park City): Horizontal IPA Tasting 6:00pm - A brewmaster will test your knowledge as you blind sample a range of high gravity IPAs from the Squatters and Wasatch line-up. Includes 6 IPA's and a commemorative take home glass.

Harley and Buck's: Uinta Food Pairing - Four course meal paired with 5 different Uinta beers. 6-9PM - $45 Reservation required

Utah Brewers Cooperative: Brewery Tours 1:00pm and 2:00pm - Includes empty growler $5/45 minutes

Wednesday - May 13
The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Wheat with Dried Tart Cherries.
  
RedRock (fashion place):  Candy Cap Mushroom Brown Ale Firkin, with Andrew Rinaldo.

Bohemian Brewery: Beer 101 - Join us at Twigs Bistro for an introduction to Craft Beer.  We will discuss Ales & Lagers and the beer making process. Call (801) 447-8944 to make a reservation!!

Wasatch (Sugar House): Beer 101 Class - 6:00pm Learn about the brewing process and try 6 different styles of beer. Class includes a full pour of your favorite beer and a commemorative take-home glass $15/2 hours.

Desert Edge Brewing: Brewery Tours 6pm.

Uinta Brewing:  #Hopoutforanosh and Open Mike Night and  at the Blu Pig in Moab, UT 6-8pm 

Uinta Brewing: Hop Out For a Nosh event at Green Pig. Trivia Factory Night at 7pm

Utah Brewers Cooperative: Brewery Tours 1:00pm and 2:00pm - Includes empty growler $5/45 minutes

Thursday - May 14
The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Rye with Gummy Bears

Fluid Art: Presented by the Utah Brewers Guild and the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art, Fluid Art mashes up some of the best micro brews in the beehive state with the most socially relevant art in UMOCA’s current exhibitions. Each brewery is given a piece of art to pair a beer with; the results will entertain and fascinate. Tickets are $30. http://www.arttix.org/tickets/production.aspx?performanceNumber=14530

RedRock Brewing (downtown): Release of Grand Bavaria (Bavarian Weissbier)

Squatters (SLC): Special Tap Event 4:00pm - One tap will be connected to  Randall - a double chamber filter filled with flavor enhancing ingredients - which will create some truly unique tasting beer.

Squatters (Park City): Beer 101 Class - 6:00pm Learn about the brewing process and try 6 different styles of beer. Class includes a full pour of your favorite beer and a commemorative take-home glass $15/2 hours.

Utah Brewers Cooperative: Brewery Tours 1:00pm and 2:00pm - Includes empty growler $5/45 minutes

Friday - May 15
Epic Brewing: Hopulent IPA #122 release - To celebrate our 5th anniversary we brewed a special batch of Hopulent IPA with the original recipe. Hopulent IPA is the first beer we brewed and used to break in the system. This special release is #122 and is packed to brim with Chinook, CTZ, Centennial and Simcoe hops.

The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Rye with Coconut Chai Tea/Toasted Coconut.

RedRock Brewing (Fashion Place): Release of Paardebloem

Wasatch (Sugar House): Special Tap Event 4:00pm - One tap will be connected to  Randall - a double chamber filter filled with flavor enhancing ingredients - which will create some truly unique tasting beer.

Wasatch (Park City): Beer 101 Class - 6:00pm Learn about the brewing process and try 6 different styles of beer. Class includes a full pour of your favorite beer and a commemorative take-home glass $15/2 hours.

Desert Edge Brewing: Brewery Tours 6pm.

Saturday - May 16
The Annex by Epic Brewing is tapping a firkin of Annex Wheat with Lemon and Lime Zest

Sugar House Pub Crawl - To celebrate American Craft Beer Week 9 Sugar House watering holes are teaming up to host the 1st Annual Sugar House Pub Crawl! The crawl begins at 12:00pm and participants can stop by any of the participating locations to grab a “passport” which will need to be stamped by all 9 pubs to be entered into a drawing for great prizes.  No purchase necessary, but definitely encouraged, to receive the location’s stamp. Completed passports need to be delivered to Monument Plaza to qualify for the drawing which will be held promptly at 5:00pm. Prizes will include 2 tickets to the Idaho Brew Fest, Brewmaster dinners, gift cards and other great shwag! Sugar House Monument Plaza will be a great place to hang out in the sun between pub stops and listen to live music by Panthermilk and Holy Water Buffalo between 4:00pm & 6:00pm. http://sugarhousechamber.org/SHPubCrawl>

Avenues Proper Restaurant & Publick House: free brewery tours with our Brewmaster Rio Connelly  from 2-4 pm on Saturday, May 16th (tours starting every half hour).

Bohemian Brewery: Real Salt Lake Watch Party at the Beer Bar 2:00pm

Sunday - May 17
Squatters (SLC) Beer + Cheese 5:00pm - Join Squatters Brewmaster Jason Stock and ACS Certified Cheese Professional Matt Caputo and sample your way through a four-course pairing of Wasatch and Squatters beers, coupled with cheeses from Caputo's. $40/2 hours.

Brewers, don't see your event? Get me your info utahbeer@gmail.com

Cheers!

Uinta's Contrail White and Lagerpalooza Results

Uinta has a new beer on the way soon. Contrail White is a spiced Belgian-style wheat beer that is brewed with orange peel and coriander. If you'll recall, Uinta did a similar beer a few years ago under their Four+ label called Rype. It was an Amber Wheat made with sweet orange peel. I liked Rype, probably gunna like this witbier too. We'll keep you in the loop as to when it get's closer to it's release. This will likely be a 4% ABV beer.

Also, the results are in from last weekend's Lagerpalooza home brew competition. As the name implies this was an all lagered competition (and hybrids). One of the winning entries will be brewed by Bohemian for you to try at the brewery. Congrats to all of the winners and thanks to Bohemian and Salt City Brew Supply for putting this event together.

Category 1 A/B/C American Lagers
1st: Bryan Gordon - Premium American Lager
2nd: Bryan Gordon - Standard American Lager
3rd: Steve Moga - Premium American Lager

Category 1 D/E Munich Helles and Dortmunder
1st: Don Robinson - Munich Helles
2nd: Mike Adams - Munich Helles
3rd: Vince Stuart - Munich Helles

Category 2 Pilsners
1st: Paul Waite - German Pils
2nd: Bradford Cooley - German Pils
3rd: Vince Stuart - Bohemian Pils

Category 3 Euro Amber Lagers (Vienna and Marzen)
1st: Bryan Gordon - Vienna Lager
2nd: Jeffrey Viviano - Oktoberfest/Marzen
3rd: Rose Flato - Oktoberfest/Marzen

Category 4 Dark Lagers (Schwarzbier, Dunkel, Dark Lager)
1st: Mitchell Short - Schwarzbier
2nd: Lennie Mahler/Cody Kirkland - Munich Dunkel
3rd: Cort Sessions - Dark US Lager

Category 5 Bock, Helles/Maibock, Doppelbock
1st: Brent Brady - Traditional Bock
2nd: Cody McKendrick - Traditional Bock
3rd: Brandon Sims - Maibock/Helles Bock

Category 6/7/12 - Hybrid Beers (Kolsch, Steam, Alt, Baltic Porter)
1st: Paul Waite - California Common (Steam)
2nd: Ken Munck - Germanic Baltic Porter
3rd: Tim Nielsen/Jeff Balch - California Common (Steam)

Category 16/23 - Biere de Garde and Specialty Beer
1st: Paul Waite - India Pale Lager
2nd: Byron Lund - Thai Lager w/ Lemongrass and Kaffir Lime
3rd: Terry Seyler - Biere de Garde

Best in Show (1st place to be brewed at the Bohemian Brewery!)
1st: Don Robinson - Munich Helles
2nd: Mitchell Short - Schwarzbier
3rd: Brent Brady - Traditional Bock

Prost!

New Beer Friday 5/1/15

Boulevard Love Child #5 - I haven't had a chance to try this one yet but it's composed of multiple vintages of a Flanders style sour red ale that has been resting in whiskey and wine barrels, stainless vessels and a foeder that held red wine in a former life. This release features soft lactic acidity punctuated with very slight acetic notes and a tart, fruity flavor. 8.2% ABV @ Beer Bar

Avenues Proper Avenues Annual Saison - It's described as having Pilsner malt, oats, raw barley and unrefined brown sugar, all combined with earthy European hops, and the peppery, fruity saison yeast make for a very complex beer. Unfiltered, raw and fresh with a healthy acidity from a sour fermentation and high level of carbonation make this traditional ale both refreshing and perfect for pairing with food. 4.0% ABV @Avenues Proper

Avenues Proper Sam Dogger Lager – (Zwickel) Helles Lager. Helles lagers are famed for their balance and drinkability. They are considered the lager style of Bavaria and Munich especially (If you go there and order “ein bier,” that’s what they’ll give you. The style is less bitter than its cousin the Pilsner, but still light in color. Crisp, with a slight pilsner malt sweetness to the body and just enough German Hallertauer hops to balance, notes of pear, cereal grains, and creamy lager yeast abound. “Zwickel” (which you may or may not use to describe), just means “unfiltered” and can connote some cloudiness. 4.0% ABV @Avenues Proper

Lagunitas Equinox Pale Oat Ale - Described as a creamy, pale oat ale hopped up with a huge charge of Equinox and Simcoe hops for a piney, eucalyptusy, cedary, sprucey, foresty blast. 8.0% ABV @ Slackwater Pizza

Ninkasi Maiden the Shade - It's described as a summer IPA. Big powerful combinations of many different kinds of hops give a big hop profile. We added flaked barley to the beer to make for the smooth body and lighter summer-style IPA. 

For Firkin Friday at the Bayou, Uinta has Wyld Child: Salted Orange IPA. Sea Salt, dry hopped w/ Amarillo + Ahtanum & Seville Orange Zest.

Cheers!

2 Row Brewing is Finally Legit

Tuesday at the Utah Department of Beverage Control meeting, Brian Colman owner of 2 Row Brewing in Midvale received his final licenses, making 2 Row Utah's newest brewery. Along with his manufacturing license Brian also applied for and received a package agency license so that they can sell their suds, cold - direct to the public from the brewery.

The initial line-up from 2 Row will be as follows:

24k - Golden Ale 5.7% ABV
Accelerator - IPA 7.0% ABV
Random Double IPA (various different hop combos) 8.5% ABV
Dangereux - Farmhouse Strong Ale (Americanized Saison) 9.0% ABV

The only thing the brewery is waiting on is approval of the labels shown above, once that's done look for the beer to flow weeks after that. Congrats Brian and Dede!

Cheers!

Utah's Winners in the 2015 Denver International Beer Competition

Three Utah breweries took home medals in the 2015 Denver International Beer Competition. The 2015 competition received more than 300 entries from brewers in more than 22 states and 6 countries. The judging took place on April 18 & 19, 2015, more than 24 professional beer judges and six beer stewards, participated in the 6th annual competition at the Omni Interlocken Resort, Broomfield, Colorado. The judges awarded a total of 217 medals in 41 style categories, plus Best of Show.

Here are what our local breweries came away with.

Dbl Gold - Epic Imperial Stout
Gold- Double Skull Dopple Bock
Silver - Escape to Colorado IPA
Gold - Santa Cruz Brown Ale 
Gold - Epic Imperial Stout
Silver - Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout

Silver - Moab Red Rye IPA
Gold - Squeaky Bike Nut Brown Ale
Silver - Rocket Bike Lager
Gold - Desert Select Export Stout

Bronze - Wasatch Devastator Dopple Bock 
Bronze - Wasatch Ghost Rider White IPA
Silver - Apple-A-Day Apple Ale

Congrats to all! If you wish to revisit some of these beers, all should be available to try around the state at various bars and eateries. Here the complete list of winner including the categories that the beers metaled in. 

Cheers!

Uinta's Plum Sour Abby Ale, Now Available

Uinta's 22nd Birthday Suit is finally out. It looks like it went on sale at the brewery mid Friday afternoon. I haven't seen many tasting notes on it yet, partially due to the the fact that nobody's had a chance to try it yet since the bottle shop at Uinta isn't open on the weekends. Well, it should be open today. The Little Big Beer Store is open for the purchase of beer and retail items. Hours: Monday through Friday 12 pm – 6 pm. Get on it!

It's described as having a playful combination of sour tanginess and subtle dried fruit esters. The sour plum Abby Ale is currently in the fermenter and will likely be released sometime next month. 7.6% ABV - 750ml corked and caged bottle.

Oh, and you may have noticed that after nearly a decade we've finally updated our logo. Any thoughts? Much thanks to my pal, Owen Richardson for the artwork.

Cheers!

Shades of Pale Beer X IPA

There's not much happening for a proper New Beer Friday, but we do have a new limited release IPA from Shades of Pale Brewing. This India Pale Ale is under their Beer X Series, a new rotating label that will change often.

This IPA is mostly piney hops with a hint of floral and citrus. Malts are near toffee-esque in their sweetness. A fairly prominent bitter and yeasty finish. This SOP's first high gravity beer. It comes in at 6.0% ABV and is only available for purchase at the brewery. 154 Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake City.

Cheers!

Rooster's Patio Pilsner

Looks like Roosters' Patio Nights Pilsner is going to be available in some new packaging in the next couple of weeks. Until now if you wanted Roosters' locally made lager, you had to get your growler filled, this new bottled release called simply, Patio Pilsner will be available at both Roosters locations and select grocery/convenience stores. This looks to be Roosters' classic recipe just packaged in their unique 500ml bottles. 4.0% ABV.

Prost!

Uinta's 22nd Birthday Suit

Here's a preview of Uinta's new Birthday Suit label. This year's incarnation of the brewery's anniversary ale is going to be a "sour abbey ale" brewed with plums and an authentic Belgian abbey yeast strain that's full of all of the bold character that have made Abbey Ales famous.

It's described as having a playful combination of sour tanginess and subtle dried fruit esters. The sour plum Abby Ale is currently in the fermenter and will likely be released sometime next month. 7.6% ABV - 750ml corked and caged bottle.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 4/10/15

There's a lot out there this week, including the arrival of the Aztec beers from San Diego. Some popped in under the radar last weekend while I was gone, but here's this week's New Beer Friday descriptions.

Park City Brewery’s Boogie Water Brown Ale is described as an English style brown ale. It has won numerous awards in regional craft beer competitions throughout the country. Boogie Water Brown utilizes a complex grain bill and carefully timed hop additions. It is dark caramel, brown in color with a creamy, manila head and a nutty, roasted malt flavor with a slight chocolaty afterthought. Hop additions provide moderate bitterness, herbal flavor, and delicate spicy aroma. This makes for a complex and balanced beer. 4.0% ABV @Park City Brewery

Park City Brewery’s Last Pitch IPA is described as a sessionable India Pale Ale with a golden orange hue and moderate to low malt backbone, smooth with a slight caramel sweetness. Generous and multiple hop additions provide 60 IBUs of hoppy bitterness and a rich bouquet of hop flavors and aromas that include piney, spicy, floral undertones, dominated by bursts of citrus and grapefruit. We dry hop our IPA to provide additional tropical and citrus hop aroma. This Last Pitch of hops completes the balance of hop character. @Park City Brewery

Avenues Proper Stumble Bee is described as a honey Vienna lager. This traditional Austrian lager style is all about the delicate character of the malt. We decided to add another element by brewing with local Avenues-raised honey from Catchin' A Buzz Honey. Gathered from all over the hillside neighborhood of the Avenues in Salt Lake City, this honey displays the intense character of wildflower honey, but with a refined balance. Pouring a brilliant orange, this lager starts with a hint of honey sweetness but the fermentation leaves it dry. A light German noble hop character combines with hint of wildflower aroma to finish off this hyper-local beer. 4.0% ABV @Avenues Proper

Lagunitas High-Westified Imperial Coffee Stout - Black in color with a tan head. The nose is char, coffee and whiskey. The taste starts with espresso notes, rye and vanilla. Next comes the whiskey barrel, it's full of rye spiciness - it pairs well with the toffee flavors from the malt. In the end you'll pick up some nice tobacco and leather notes. This is a brilliant beer, aged in Utah's own High West Rye Whiskey barrels. Snag some if you can. 13.1% ABV @ Beerhive

Anderson Valley The Kimmie, The Yink & The Holy Gose Ale - Described as a bright, golden color and tight creamy head, the earthy wood undertones develop into a light mineral aroma with a hint of lemon zest and tropical fruit. Before boiling, the wort is kettle soured with lactobacillus, imparting an initial refreshing tartness that gives way to a subtle fullness. Flavors of guava and peach are followed by a slight sea salt dryness and lemon sourness that is enhanced by coriander and post-fermentation additions of salt. The finish is dry, effervescent, and lemon tangy. 4.2% ABV @Bayou and select DABC. If you spot it some leave the info in the comment section please!

Piraat Triple Hop - A nice orange color with a big foamy head. The nose is peach, citrus and some sweet banana. The taste pretty much follows with peach playing the dominant role. Herbal hops and boozy alcohol round out the back end. 10.5% ABV @Bayou

Poperings Hommelbier Dry Hopped - Hazy amber color. Estery Belgian yeast in the nose with some mild floral hops. The taste starts with unripe peaches and sweet apples. Spicy and grassy hops round out the end. Some citrus bittering in the finish end. 7.5% ABV @Bayou

Gulden Draak Quad 9000 - Not the most attractive looking beer, an  opaque, orange-brown color. The nose has rum and pear aromas. The tastes is similar with the addition of brown sugar and bubblegum. The finish is surprisingly dry with hop spices and alcohol heat. 10.5% ABV @Bayou

Troubadour Imperial Stout - Surprisingly clear, dark brown color, really filtered the hell out of this. The nose is malty and chocolaty with some caramel notes. The taste starts a bit fruity with some coffee, toast and chocolate flavors. Smooth. 9.0% ABV @Bayou

Scotch Silly Cognac Barrel - Not had this one yet. It's described as having a lot of dark fruit flavors with wine and liqueur sweetness. Some minor peat smokiness as well. 11.0% ABV @Bayou

Scotch Silly Bordeaux Barrel - The nose has toffee and vinous aromas. The tastes starts with malt and toffee. Dry wine notes come adding a little twang of light fruity flavors. Some pleasant vanilla notes in the end. Nice full bodied beer. 9.0% ABV @Bayou

Aztec Hibiscus Wheat Beer - Described as an unfiltered wheat beer inspired by the Mexican Hibiscus tea “Jamaica.” Brewed with Hibiscus petals, ginger and allspice. This refreshing hefeweizen has a light slightly spicy floral citrus flavor with fruity tones. Pairs well with fish - especially 4.7% ABV @Beer Bar

 

Aztec Noche de los Muertos Imperial Stout - Described as an intense Imperial Stout with a hint of cinnamon spice. Big, rich and black as night. Dark roasted malts add complex character to the flavors, with a balanced bitterness and mouth feel. 10.2% ABV @Beer Bar

Aztec Chipotle India Pale Ale - Smoked jalapeño peppers known as chipotles add a smokey kick without excessive heat, giving this beer a complex, lingering lightly spicy finish. Cascade hops provide a clean, firm bitterness, to balance the sweet malt character. Hoppy but clean citrus/grapefruit nose.
6.6% ABV @Beer Bar

Aztec El Dorado Blonde Ale - A golden ale inspired by the mythical Spanish city of gold. Crisp, clean, easy to drink brew with a touch of wheat malt character and balanced hop bitterness. Light and refreshing.4.1% ABV @Beer Bar

Cheers!

Park City Brewery's Tap Room Opens

The Park City Brewery's new Tap Room is now open to the public. Utah's newest brewery currently offers all four of their debuting 4.0% ABV beers - Last Pitch Session IPA, Boogie Water Brown Ale, Hooker Blonde Ale and Breaking Trail Pale Ale. Food will be offered through a variety of food trucks, check their Facebook page for updates. The brewery is  located at 2720 Rasmussen Rd. Suite A1, just off the Jeremy Ranch exit off I-80.

The hours initially will be Thursday - Sunday 1-9 pm. 21 and over only.

Apparently it's also National Beer Day. Hmm, how should we celebrate it?.....

Cheers!

New Beer Friday: LDS Conference Edition

Need a lil' sumpin to brighten up your "conference" weekend. Look no further!

Sierra Nevada Harvest Single Hop IPA: Idaho 7 - Pours a bright golden amber color two fingers of sturdy head. The nose is a combo of  juicy citrus, floral, and spicy hops. The taste starts off like the aroma. Juicy with big notes of citrus fruit and pine. Orange peel, mango, and melon come next with notes of caramel and biscuit rounding out the back end. Finishes dry and hoppy. 6.5% ABV @DABC

Park City Hooker Blonde - Haven't tried this one yet. It's described as, being clear with a bright, straw yellow hue, the Hooker Blonde Ale makes use of a single, noble hop variety throughout the boil for a zesty spice flavor and bitterness.4.0% ABV @Jupiter Bowl

Avenues Proper Salted Caramel Porter -  Inspired by their next door neighbors at Hatch Family Chocolates, who are famous for, among other things, their salted caramel candies and ice cream, this dark ale is described as being pleasantly surprising with its contrasting flavors. The smooth and dark flavors of the porter base are contrasted by the rich sweetness of house-made caramel and both are accented by the use of local salt in the brew. The result is a balanced beer with a little something extra that would go great with deserts. 4.0% ABV @Avenues Proper

Vernal American Chocolate Stout - Haven't tried this one yet. American Stouts tend to be on the hoppier side combined with the chocolate notes it should make an interesting contrast. 4.0% ABV @Vernal Brewing

Epic Lil' Brainless Raspberry - The raspberry is subtle and tart with some dry and puckering tannin notes. You get some floral bitterness on the back of the tongue. With a finish that is semi tart and dry. It has that rich, estery and spicy, Belgian yeast funk backing up the base beer. 5.2% ABV @DABC, The Annex, ask for it at your favorite watering hole.

Hive Winery Bishop's Daughter Pie Cherry Wine - Described as having a soft and inviting cherry nose. This delightfully balanced cherry wine has a bright clean cherry flavor, the result of an unexpected flavor complexity with rich cherry back notes and a subtly tart finish that will leave you wanting more. Just in time for LDS General Conference, "Bishops Daughter" features beer lover/close friend/Hop Bombshell Misti Cobb on the label. Her classic Pin-up girl looks (I'm sure) adds greater dimensions to the "body" of the wine. 13.6% ABV @Hive Winery.

Cheers!