New Beer Friday 2/28/14

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers!

Bohemian Dampfbier

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

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

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

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

Prost!

New Beer Friday 2/21/14

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

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

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

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

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

- Yeah, well. The Dude abides

Epic Cans Coming this Summer

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers!

Zion Canyon's New Direction

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

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

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

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

Prost!  

Barley's Angels 2014 Beer and Chocolate Pairing

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



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

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

Cheers!

Big Beer Small Bottle

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers!

Live and Let Live Blonde Pale Ale

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheers!

Evolution in a Can!

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

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

Prost!

Payette Brewing Coming to Utah

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

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

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

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 2/7/14

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


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

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

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

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

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

Budem zdorovy!