Santa Fe Brewing Coming to Utah

Welcome to Monday! Be fore we get started... Does anyone have an an App that slows down time Between Friday afternoon and Sunday evening? I could really use that. #turboweekends.

Now that we've got that out of the way, I have new brew news for you this morning! Sante Fe Brewing Company, New Mexico's oldest brewery is due to enter the Salt Lake City market sometime mid-October.

Primarily known for their incredible Santa Fe Imperial Java Stout, the brewery currently has about 18 beers in their portfolio including a brand new Kriek Lambic that debuted this year. Salt Lake (and possibly all of Utah) will start off by seeing Santa Fe's State Pen Porter, Imperial Java Stout and Happy Camper IPA.

I'm not sure exactly where they're going to end up, but the Beerhive confirmed that they will be receiving some. Not bad for a Monday, eh?

Cheers!

Photo: James Gordon Patterson Photography

New Beer Friday 9/26/14

A New Beer Friday quote: Whiskey's to tough, Champagne costs too much, Vodka puts my mouth in gear. I hope this refrain, Will help me explain, As a matter of fact, I like beer. -Tom T. Hall

Squatters Harvest Heffeweizen: This one is darker than your typical wheat beer. It leans more towards the American style of wheat beers with yeasty/doughy/toasty wheat. Very little banana clove character. It is highly drinkable. 4.0% ABV @ Squatters

Squatters English Golden Ale: Light in color with subtle floral anf pine notes. Malt character is light as well. This is better if you can get it on cask vs. draft. ask the bartender. 4.0% ABV @ Squatters

Sierra Nevada Ovila Tripel: Starts with candied sugar and light apples flavors. Next comes banana and clove followed by the malts which impart a a sweet bready taste. Finishes with a bit of citrus rind bitterness ans alcohol heat. 8.8% ABV @ Beer Bar and DABC

Cheers!

The Utah Brewers Guild's Harvest Festival

Yesterday, we briefly got into the topic of "wet hopped" beers when discussing Uinta's seasonal Wet-n-Wyld Pale Ale. Basically brewers have taken on a trend to using the freshly harvested green - wet hops straight off the bine. These wet hops are literally dripping with the sticky delicoius yellow resins (lupulin), which carries with it all of the essential aromatic and bittering oils from the hop plant.

This technique can make for very unique/fresh tasting beers. Since the hop harvest only comes around once a year, it's the perfect time to showcase what brewers can do with the fresh hops they've purchased. Taking advantage of this situation the Utah Brewers Guild is going to hold their first annual Harvest Festival: a unique opportunity to showcase some freshest hoppy beers around.

The Harvest Festival will take place on October 11th from 2pm - 6pm at the The Avenues Proper Restaurant and Publick House. $5 gets you in the door - $2 for a 4 oz sample or $5 for a full glass. Participating Breweries include: Avenues Proper, Bohemian Brewing, Bonneville Brewing, Desert Edge Brewing, Epic Brewing, Hoppers Brewing, RedRock Brewing, Shades of Pale Brewing, Squatters Beers, Uinta Brewing, Vernal Brewing and Wasatch Beers. It goes without saying (but i'll say it anyway) this is a 21 year old + event.

Proceeds go to the Utah Brewers Guild so that they can continue to fund great community events like this. Hope to see you there!

Cheers!

Wet-n-Wyld is Back

Uinta's Fresh-hopped, Simcoe bomb, Wet-n-Wyld is finally back! These "wet hop" beers only happen once a year when you can get the hops from the vine and into the beer in less than 30 hours. This beer is brilliant when fresh. The first week's sip will taste much different than the 3rd weeks sip so get on it fast!

Wet-n-Wyld will be on tap at Uinta's brewery pub of course and everywhere there's a seasonal Uinta tap.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/19/14

It's a slightly bleak, New Beer Friday. There are a couple of options but they may be tough to find. However one of North America's most coveted coffee beers returns today. So, at least we've got that!  

Rogue - Pumpkin Patch Ale: Me no try yet. @ DABC

Beck's Oktoberfest: Me no try either @ DABC

Returning Favorites

Epic's Big Bad Baptist returns today, this time it's made with Salt Lake City's Charming Beard Coffee. In the coming weeks you'll get to try it with the original Caffe Ibis Coffee as well. BBB will go on sale this morning at Epic's Bottleshop as well as the Annex's cold case. You can also enjoy Baptist by the taster or 10 oz glass. The Annex will also be tapping a Firkin of Brett Pale with Citra Hops at 4:30, $3 pints.

Avenues Proper - Hopspital IPA: English pale malt, German Vienna malt and Chilean crystal malt provide a solid backbone for three kinds of the aromatic cones. Chinook and Glacier hops from the Pacific Northwest add a piney, fruity body with hints of citrus while a huge dose of Nelson Sauvin hops from New Zealand at the end of the boil and in dry-hopping add a tangy, subtly tropical flavor. Look for notes of kiwi, gooseberry and peach! 

RedRock's India Dark Ale: A bit of roast with a healthy dose of citrus and pine bitterness. Damn yummy.

Desert Edge's Radius: Yup it's finally back! It disappears fast, so don't wait.  

Cheers!

New Holland Brewing Coming

Who'd a thunk it? Lil' ol' Utah get's a burgeoning beer scene? Apparently people are noticing that Utahans like their craft suds and are hungry for more. That means there's money to be made and when the quatloos come into play the beer market is due to expand.

The newest player (soon) to enter the market is New Holland Brewing out of Holland, MI. New Holland Brewing Company’s deep roots in the craft industry go back to 1997. They have a portfolio of 14 beers, 4 of which are year round offerings. Utah for now will receive three labels: Mad Hatter IPA, Sundog Amber Ale and Michigan Awesome American Pale Ale.

Not sure when or where yet, but as soon  as they rear their head we'll give you the heads-up. 

Wasatch's Apple-A-Day Ale

Well, the Utah Brewers Cooperative keeps cranking out the new releases. Today's newest offering was just packaged yesterday. Wasatch Apple-A-Day Ale is an beer-cider hybrid that is just in time to take advantage of the huge popularity in ciders right now. At 5.0% ABV it's still sessionable but it won't put the hurt on you either.

It's described as having apple tartness up front with malt sweetness in the end. It likely has a golden ale for the base beer.

There are a few apple flavored malt beverages floating around out there. If your keen on these type of beers try and drink local. InBev and Miller/Cooers are doing just fine without you. For sale right now at the UBC's Beer Store and Squatters/Wasatch Locations. Soon to most DABC Stores.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/12/14

It's not easy getting your butt out of bed before the ass-crack of dawn. Especially when I have so much "research" to do on Thursday evenings. I do it for you, to see your smiling and often grimacing faces each Friday evening. Here's this week's New Beer Friday offerings.

Bonneville - Ton Up Nut Brown Ale. This is a Northern English Brown Ale. It is made with carmelized brown malt and a small amount of chocolate malt for a lovely reddish-brown color and touch of roast in the finish. Hints of toasted malt, graham cracker and nuttiness define the flavor profile, which is accented by a slight hint of earthy English hops.

Bonneville - Peach Wheat: A creamy, crisp wheat beer with the flavor of fresh peaches. Carawheat and honey malts plus milk sugar lends this beer a sweet complexity and delightful mouthfeel.

Moab - Red Rye IPA: Cittrus and florals dominate the nose. The flavor starts with Honey and caramel malts. Big rye spiciness comes next with a nice citrus and herbal hoppiness rounding out the end. 7.0% ABV. Now there are two versions of this beer. the other is a 4% that is on draft and should be popping up in grocery stores. This one is only availble in Moab for now you can buy it in Idaho and California. If you want to change this, start beating down their door. My inquiries have gone unanswered.

New Belgium - Tour de Fall: Dark ruby in color. The nose is citrusy and herbal. The taste starts with caramel malts and a bit of roastiness as well. The end is quite bitter with some citrus and pine resin. It's a nice solid pale ale a little high in ABV for the style (6%) but it's highly drinkable. @ Beer Bar

Payette - Mutton Buster - As with the Red Rye IPA above there are tow versions of this beer in the market right now. You can find the other version on Payette tap handles labeled Ales of No Return. This is a rotating handle so it may change. The original Mutton Buster is a nice American Brown Ale that has a nice roasty and piney nose. The taste is nutty and toasty with some earthy hoppiness. Cocoa notes are also present toward the end. A solid brown ale. @ Beer Bar, Beerhive

The Annex - Ella IPL: The nose has lemon, pine and wheat crackers. The taste is very similar with citrus, pine and spicy grass. It has a lighter body than most, but it's highly drinkable. 4.0% ABV @ Beerhive, The Annex

Epic is also releasing a new version of their Hopulent IPA today. This latest version is made with Lemon Drop Hops. I haven't tried it yet.

Are you into single hop beers? Then today is your lucky day. Epic has four versions of Hopulent out right now. Hopulent Lemon Drop - Hopulent Centenial - Hopulent Amarillo and the standard Hopulent. These are at Epic's Brewery in SLC and The Annex. Speaking of the Annex they'll be tapping a mystery firkin this afternoon around 4:30pm. Adventurous? Then get your ass over there!

Cheers!

Squatters Black Forest and Vienna Lagers

Squatters has released two new takes on two old brews. If you've spent any time at Squatters you'd be familiar with their Black Forest Schwartbier. It's been a staple at the downtown pub for what seems like decades. The original 4.0% has a long list of accolades making it one of the breweries most acclaimed beers, now it's getting a 6.0% upgrade and will soon be  finding it's way into liquor stores around the state.

It pours a near black color with a dense tan colored head. The nose is of roasted malt, ash, and semi-sweet chocolate. The taste follows the aroma with nice roasted malt, followed by coffee and chocolate flavors with a slight metallic dryness. The finish has a light malt bitterness. At the UBC's Beer Store now and will likely be at Squatters Bottleshop later today or tomorrow. DABC in a week or two.

The other Beer going from the pub to the bottle is Squatters Vienna Lager. This beer has won Gold at the World Beer Cup and was the first beer concocted by former Squatters Brewer Jennifer Talley.

This lager pours a clear light bronze color with a sturdy foam cap. The nose has a nice hop spiciness with hints of sweet Munich grain. The taste starts biscuity with lots of vanilla-esque malt flavors. Spicey and floral hops come next balancing out the malt sweetness. The finishes is bready a bit of lingering earthy hops. Light in body, but smooth on the tongue.This one should be popping up on grocery store shelves in the next week or two and is current available at the UBC's Beer Store and likely at squatters locations later today or tomorrow.

Also, if you looking to participate in the Grace Lutheran Bier Brauen the registration deadline has been extended to today - Tuesday, the 9th at 5:00 p.m. The Bier Brauen home brew contest is part of Grace Lutheran Church and School’s annual Oktoberfest. Bier Brauen, is one of only two officially sanctioned home brewing contests in the state of Utah. Register at www.gracesandy.org. Once registered, contestants can drop off their beers at Grace Lutheran Church located at 1815 East 9800 South in Sandy. Contestants can also drop off at Salt City Brew Supply, 750 E. Fort Union Boulevard, in Midvale and The Beer Nut at 1200 S State Street in Salt Lake City.

Prost!

Squatters 25th Anniversay Barley Wine

Last Friday, Squatters Pub Brewery celebrated 25 years of making world class craft brews in Salt lake City. Since then Squatters has churning out some of the best examples of what craft beer can be from classic standards like the Vienna Lager to their highly sought after Fifth Element Wild Saison.

To celebrate Squatters' Head Brewer, Jason Stock has developed a special beer - a style that Squatters has never brewed before. An English-Style Barley Wine. Made with traditional English Maris Otter malted barley and English Golding hops, accompanied by a variety of caramel malts to give depth. The result is a 9.0% ABV ale that has a deep ruby color with a sweet malty nose. The big malt backbone forms a rich toffee and tobacco richness that's complex and satisfying. Barley Wines are great beers that can be enjoyed young or laid down to age. Over time you'll find this beer develops more character the longer it ages.

This ale is a small batch series that will only be for sale at Squatters/Wasatch bottle shops. No DABC.

The label on the 25th of Richard Landvatter, noted muralist, illustrator and designer. To commemorate Squatters  anniversary, Landvatter employed his unique portrait style to depict a colorful rendering of
25th Squatters brewmaster Jason Stock with a cleverly incorporated hop beard. This Jason's second appearance on a Squatters beer label his mugshot already adorns the Hop Rising Double IPA bottles and cans.

A quarter of a century in the brewing business is no small feat. Salt Lake is lucky to have had such a  place to quench our thirsts and keep our tongues happy. Happy Birthday!

Cheers!

New Beer Friday: Choose the Beer (CtB) Edition

Had this nice young man that "hates me" chosen the beer instead of the right he may not be in the cocaína fueled pickle he's in now. Max, try craft beer. It's legal, it's tasty and there's a whole new bunch of it today in New beer Friday!

The Annex - Single Hop Golden Ale with Galaxy Hops: The nose has pineapple, orange, and pine. The taste starts with a subtle malt sweetness. Pineapple notes and dank pine bitterness round-out the back end. The finish has a slight yeast breadlines. Damn tasty and drinkable. A nice single hop ale. 4.0% ABV @ The Annex and Beer Bar.

Deschutes - Foray Belgian IPA: The nose is malty with apple, pear and citrus. Hints of Belgian yeast spiciness as well. The taste starts with citrus zest, apple and pear flavors. Mild hop bitterenss and spicy yeast notes follow. The finish is nice and crisp. The fruity and mild Belgian yeast qualities make this a tasty and easy to drink Belgo-IPA. Worth your time! 6.5% ABV @ Beerhive

Firestone Walker - Oaktoberfest: The nose has biscuit malt and a touch of grassy hops. The flavor starts with caramel and biscuit malt. A nice touch of vanilla follows with light grassy hops rounding out the back. This is a tasty beer but not the best representation of a traditional marzen. 4.6% ABV @Beerhive

Kujukuri - Ocean Weizen: Big banana and spices in the nose. The taste starts fruity with banana and a touch of oranges. Spicy hops come next drying the beer out a little. The end has a nice sour edge with a touch more bitterness. A rich, Japanese Berliner weisse that is surprisingly refreshing. 5.5% ABV @ Takashi Sushi

Iwate Kura Japanese Herb Ale Sansho: The nose has strong notes of parsley, oregano and thyme. The taste starts with spicy thyme and parsley. Pleasant honey, caramel and ginger come nest with a nice herbal bitterness rounding out the end. For an herbal beer it's pretty drinkable. 5.5% ABV @ Takashi Sushi

Echigo Stout: The nose has roasted malts and some earthy chocolate. The flavor starts with nutty/roasty malts. Fig and currant sweetness come next. The end has more earthy chocolate with some nice espresso flavors. It finishes with some lingering smokey notes. 7.0% ABV @ Takashi Sushi

Returing Champions

Uinta Oak Jacked Imperial Pumpkin Ale: Pours a dark copper orange. The nose is of sweet malt, pumpkin pie spices, vanilla, and some wood notes. The taste is of sweet malt and pumpkin puree up front while nutmeg, allspice vanilla and Bourbon round out the finish. The spices add a sight earthy bitterness that lingers on the palate after each sip. This beer has a lower level of carbonation with a smooth and medium bodied mouthfeel. Overall, this is an incredibly delicious pumpkin ale with a nice balance of all the flavors. One of the best pumpkin beers, in the Universe.

Bohemian Octoberfest: The nose contains caramelized malts, fruit, some grassy hops and spices. The taste starts out sweet with flavors of fruit and caramel. Then some breadiness comes in from a hearty malt character and lager yeast. The hops presence is mild but brings some balance. Another excellent lager from Bohemian!

Kampai!

Beer and Ballet

Ballet West is hosting their Second Annual Beer and Ballet fundraiser this Saturday at 6 p.m. at the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center. Guests can mingle with choreographers and dancers while enjoying a beer and food  pairing from Epic Brewing Co. and The Annex. A special ballet performance follows featuring new choreography from Ballet West artists .

Ticket are available at www.balletwest.org/events/beer-ballet or by contacting Marissa Hodges at 801-869-6964 or mhodges@balletwest.org. The evening also includes prizes from local area businesses. Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. All proceeds benefit Ballet West’s educational and artistic programs.

I know that many of you could use a little "cultur'n" and a night at the ballet could do us all some good.

Cheers!