Beer Zombies SLC Opens Today

A Las Vegas staple in craft beer has it's cloudy eyes locked on SLC - starting today you get to experience Beer Zombies SLC. Starting at 5pm today (12/31/19), this new concept in craft beer will offer a wide variety of mostly local craft beers on draft, in cans and in bottles.

Located at 153 s. Rio Grande Street, Beer Zombies will be part of the new HallPass food hall. Joining its sister company SkinnyFATS, the 11,000-square-foot 'gastropub' will anchor the southern end of the Gateway Complex.

You'll find beers from 5.0% to 'whatever' from breweries from all over the area. Beer Zombies is currently in soft opening mode, so keep that in consideration upon making you visit.

Cheers!

Photos Courtesy: Beer Zombies SLC

New Berer Friday 12/27/19

I hope the holidays treated you well. It's not like you were suffering from lack of beer this week, but just in case you're jonesing for something new, I did manage to find a few new things to keep the end of the decade fresh.

RoHa - Project Porter: Roasty malt is strong on the nose. There's a lot of chocolate in the taste, and there's a rich creaminess, too. A touch of hop bitterness to balance (or is it char?). Its body is rich and substantial, a lot like a stout. 5.0% - Available at RoHa.

Kiitos - West Coast IPA: The aroma started with citrus peel somewhat bitter with an underlying sweet to bitter pine to blend. The taste was moderately bitter with an underscore of bitter piney-ness. There’s a lingering bitter piney aftertaste leading into a slight dry sweet citrus finish. 5.0% - only on draft at Kiitos.

Pipeworks - Close Encounters: This Black IPA has a bright citrusy nose with subtle cocoa and roasty malts. The taste is bitter up front with citrus rind and earthy notes. The roasted malt followed closely behind with coffee, char , and a hint of licorice. I've kinda fallen off of the BIPA bandwagon, due to a lack of well executed recipes. This one is pretty solid. If you're a fan of the style, check this one out. 6.0% - Found at Slackwater. 

Pipeworks - Normcore: This brown ale has a good amount of roasty and toasted malts for a nutty caramel flavor that feels just right for this time of the year; not to sweet, just enough to compliment the toast. It's balanced by a restrained dose of Bramling Cross hops - an obscure U.K. variety that adds fruity notes of lemon, blackcurrant and pear. A solid English style brown ale. 6.0% - Found at Slackwater.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 12/20/19

You can "use me" for all of your holiday beer research, and as a conduit for hours of classic holiday music and beer pairings (sorry Meista). The New Beer Friday Singers will be singing classics such as "All I want for Xmas is Brew", "The Little Drammer Boy" and that classic, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Haze Bro".  Be safe out there, kids!

Fisher - Holiday IPA: This hits Saturday morning and it will be one of their high point crowler releases. This is full of grapefruit peel & dehydrated orange with herbal and floral hops backing it up. West Coast IPA for sure. Nice beer. 7.0%

T.F. Holahaze:  This one drops Saturday Morning as well. Big citrus peel and herbal nose, that creeps into dank territory. Medium malt sweetness nourishes a good dose of chewy grapefruit peel that creeps into that gange territory. Not a classic ‘haze’ beer but it’s got broad appeal. 7.4% at TF starting Saturday morning.

Kiitos - Lime Salt Pilsner: there’s a fair amount of lime tartness backing sweet and toasted malts. 5.0% - Available at Kiitos.

Proper - Yacht Rock Juice Box: This has more of that herbal/citrus combo with light caramel malts.  5.0%. - Available at Proper

Proper - Bonestorm: This hopped-up amber ale hits taps today. Much more toasty than malty. Feels more like an ESB - 5.0% Available at Proper.

Bewilder - Coffee Bock: Missed this collaboration with Wasatch Beers. 5.0% - Available at Bewilder.

Bewilder - Citra Wheat Lager: Clean wheat crackers with a nice hoppy zip. Mostly tangerine & orange. Super drinkable. 5.0% - Available at Bewilder.

Heber Valley - Snake Creek BA Imperial Stout: Missed this one. 10.0% - Available at Heber Valley.

Level Crossing - Oat Slayer: 4.6% 4.7% - Released on 12/21

Level Crossing - West Coast IPA:  5.0% 4.7% - Released on 12/21

Level Crossing - Santa Slayer: Stout brewed with cinnamon, ginger, allspice, vanilla and nutmeg. 4.6% 4.7% - Released on 12/21

Level Crossing - Peppermint Slayer: Aged on Brazilian and Mongolian oak. Infused with York Peppermint Patties. 4.7% - Released on 12/21

Shades - Grape Kviek: One of my favorites in their Kveik Series. Mostly tart berries that come across as Smarties candy. 5.6% - available at Shades.

Destihl - Wild Sour Cranberry Criek: This sour evolved by merging tart cranberries with sweet cherries, normally associated with a traditional kriek, but in a kettle sour beer that is wonderfully intricate, balanced, fruity and tart. It was then dry-hopped adding a touch of citrus aroma and flavor, adding another layer of complexity with a tart finish. 5.0%. Found at DABC

Destihl - Weissenheimer Hefeweizen: This classic German-style Hefeweizen has fruity aromas and flavors of banana, clove and vanilla with a full mouthfeel and an appropriate amount of yeast haze. 5.2%. Found at DABC


Elevation - Señorita: This Imperial Porter has aromatic notes of vanilla, cinnamon and sweet milk. The beer hits the palate with vanilla, sweet chocolate malts, and a hint of cinnamon; all with a medium body and a balancing pine hop bitterness. 8.2%. Found at DABC.

The Following (for the most part) are largely exclusive to the Bayou this week. If you're a fan of sour beers the Bayou is defiantly a must stop for you this year.

Dogfish Head - Super 8: This Gose style sour ale was brewed with Hawaiian red sea salt, prickly pear, mango, boysenberry, blackberry, raspberry, elderberry, and kiwi juices & toasted quinoa. It's bacically a fruit salad. 5.3%

Dogfish Head - Wood Aged Bitches Brew: This a fusion of a Russian Imperial Stout aged in American oak and an Ethiopian Tej Honey. This beer was also aged in Paraguayan, Palo Santo Wood. 9.0%.

Boulevard 30th Anniversary: This beer is a blend of nine Boulevard beers. 34% Imperial Stout in rye whiskey finished port casks –  26% Belgian Dark Strong Ale in ruby and tawny port casks – 16% Double Mashed Imperial Stout in bourbon barrels – 9% Belgian Dark Strong Ale in California sherry casks – 5% Imperial Stout in bourbon barrels – 5% Imperial Stout in Spanish sherry puncheons – 3% Imperial Stout aged in bourbon barrels followed by ruby/tawny port casks and 2% Belgian Dark Strong Ale in bourbon barrels. Yeah, this screams the holidays. 12.5%

Firestone Walker - Mole Merkin: This version of Velvet Merkin has dried Puya chili, cinnamon and cocoa nibs from the Dominican Republic to a brandy barrel-aged version of Velvet Merkin. The chili adds a spicy. yet approachable heat, with rich dark berry fruit flavor. The addition of cocoa nibs helps balance the heat from the peppers, adding to the mouthfeel. The result is a complex, yet delicate beer, with flavors of earthy chili pepper, cinnamon and cocoa. 7.8%

Stone Jägermeister & Arrogant Bastard Ale: Flavor-wise there's a bit of pine and black licorice up front. An oaky character brings notes of cinnamon. It finishes with dark fruits and an herbal bite - similar to strong mint tea with lemon. The flavors in this beer are extremely strong. Not for the timid. 8.5%.

Stone - Enjoy by 01/01/20: These IPAs rarely disappoint. Havn't had this one; it's more of a double at 9.4%.  

Jester King - Super Ultrameg Hyperforce: This saison has a orange, golden color with a nose of funk, tartness, melon, yeast spiciness and wheat. Taste follows, but it finishes with melon, and a nice crisp tartness. Very nice. 4.5%.

Jester King - Vague Recollection: Funky yeast with wine barrel notes. Grape must, apricot and lemon as well. Apricot and peach notes with lemon acid round it out. The mouthfeel is tart, dry and crisp. 6.0%.

Jester King -  B.A. Bier de Miel: Missed out on this 6.9% Bier de Garde.

Jester King - Das Wunderkind: This saison was refermented in oak barrels with wild yeast and souring bacteria. It was then blended with fresh, dry-hopped beer prior to bottle-conditioning. Dry and lightly tart, with notes of citrus, barnyard, and tropical fruit. 4.5%

Jester King -  Hibernal Dichotomous: This wild saison is brewed with cardamom pods and refermented with roasted beets and carrots. Notes of earthy carrots, pears, apricot, dark fruits, plum, lemongrass and beets. Finishes slight tart. 5.8%.

Jester King - Le petite Prince: Throughout Northern Europe, light-bodied, well-hopped, low alcohol table beers were often the beverage of choice with all meals at times and in places where the water wasn’t always safe to drink. This is a clear and simple expression of the delicate interplay between noble hops and farmhouse yeast. Low point beer haters need not apply. 2.9%.

Jester King -  No Whalez Here: This witbier has notes of sweet wheat crackers, plantains and coriander. Subtle floral hops play well of the white pepper from the yeast and lemony twang. 6.8%.

Jester King -Nobel King: Missed this one. This is a highly attenuated, unspiced farmhouse ale brewed with an abundance of organic noble hops, and fermented with wild yeasts from the Texas Hill Country. 5.9%.  

Prairie Artisan Ales/Evil Twin - Bible Belt: This huge Imperial Stout is based on Evil Twin Brewing's "Even More Jesus" Imperial stout, but spiced like Prairie Artisan Ales' "Bomb!" made with coffee, vanilla, chilies and cacao nibs. This one may make you clutch your pearls at 13.0%.

Prairie Artisan Ales -  Birthday Bomb: Caramel Sauce and a healthy dose of coffee and spices make this one unique from the standard Bomb! 13.0%.

Prairie Artisan Ales - Oh Fudge: This a chocolate brownie stout. The flavor is roasted malts, dark chocolate brownie and raisins. It's a bit sweet and quite tasty.11.5%.

Prairie Artisan Ales -  Bomb!: This imperial stout is aged on coffee, cacao nibs, vanilla beans and ancho chili peppers. 13.0%.

Cascade Cuvée Du Jongleur: A blending of select barrels of Cascade's Flanders Reds and soured Belgian Triples aged in oak for up to 18 months. Then blended with fresh 25° Plato, Blonde Quadruppel - then aged, allowing lactic fermentation. 8.4%.

Cascade - Rose City Sour: This is a blend of wheat and blond ales aged in oak wine barrels for up to 14 months with rose petals, rose hips and hibiscus tea. Look for fresh roses matched with notes of dried cranberries, pomegranates and a hint of white pepper. 6.8%.

Cascade - Brunch Line: This sour was made with chardonnay grapes and orange zest and aged in white wine barrels. A mature, puckery, and clean sour ale. 9.6%.

Cascade - Coastal Gose: Missed this beer. 7.3%

Cascade - Coral Horizon:  This is a blend of sour blond ales aged in oak wine barrels for up to 16 months with late infusions of grapefruit zest, hibiscus tea and freshly chopped ginger root. Pouring a brilliant coral-red hue reminiscent of a summer sunset, this small batch blend offers a soft, approachable acidity level with aromas of ruby red grapefruit and a refreshing ginger spice. 8.0%.

Cascade - Pistil Whipped: A blend of sour strong blond ales infused with saffron, annatto and chamomile flowers. Pouring a rich golden-yellow from the saffron’s distinct color infusion, this Sour Flower Fest creation captures saffron’s earthy, hay-like spice character with a gentle chamomile tea background. 7.6%.

Cascade - Tropical Embers: Missed this one. 7.3%.

Cascade - Vlad the Impaler: Dark Fruit with big sour and heat from the 12.5% alcohol. Notes of bourbon and a lactic bite as well. This sour quad is hugely complex.

Revision -  IPA: Simcoe hops lay the hop foundation for this extremely delicious, flavorful and quaffable American IPA. Tropical citrus, orange and pine accents meld seamlessly. Low impact bitterness, high impact aroma and flavor. Very nice IPA. 6.5%. Also at Slackwater

Revision -  Double-Up IPA: Simcoe and Mosaic hops battle for domination in your mouth. 8.0%. Also at Slackwater

Revision - Citra Slam: This West Coast IPA is of course hopped with Citra and is tropically sweet with ripe tangerine, with an edge of mango and passion fruit. 6.5%. Also at Slackwater

Petrus Cherry Chocolate Nitro Quad: This is a perfect blend of Quadrupel, using 6 different types of roasted malts and cherries. The nitrogen adds nice body to the quad, giving it more body and creaminess and making it extremely drinkable. The only Belgian Quad on nitro! 8.5%.

Have I given you enough! If not, please share, damn it!

Cheers!

New Beer/Brewery Friday - Bewilder Brewing Co.

This has been a pretty big year for beer in the state of Utah. We of course had the the big switch fro 4.0% to 5.0% along with four new breweries opening around the state. Four breweries is a big number for a state with our low alcohol consumption, and in any other that would be a record breaker. Not this year however. as of today we now have five new brewery to end 2019, as we welcome Bewilder Brewing Company into Utah's craft beer fold.

Cody Mckendrick and Ross Metzger have sent the better part of the last two years turning their dream into reality and as of today, their dream has finally been realized. It's a good day for all of us and an even better day for them. If you get a  chance stop by sometime this weekend and help them celebrate the opening of Utah's 40th brew house.

 Bewilder Brewing- Munich Festbier: This beer was made with cooperation from Bohemian Brewing. Crystal clear with a nice aroma grainy malts and crackers. The flavor is similar with toasted bread, more crackers and herbal hops. There's a hint of malt sweetness in the end but it's most hop driven in the finish. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Bewilder Brewing- Amarillo Mosaic Oat Pale Ale: This pale is was made in cooperation with 2 Row Brewing. It's got a huge citrucy and fruity nose. The taste follows with nice tropical fruits and massive grapefruit and mango. It's simple, yet straight to the point. Very nice. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Bewilder Brewing - Apple wood Smoked Porter: This beer was made with cooperation from Toasted Barrel Brewing. There's a good amount of smoked cocoa in the aroma. There's less smoke on the tongue as you get nice roasted malt character with chocolate and grainy malts. Nice medium body, highly drinkable. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Roosters - Nordic Porter: Big chocolate and espresso up front with sweet caramel and roasted grains. Soon after the barrel kicks in with nice spicy bourbon notes that hike the body and add complexity to an already beaming palate. This is a barrel strength porter, not blended which gives it raw untamed character. Thisis Roosters first barrel aged beer. Nicely done. Git sum! 9.3% - Only at Roosters.

2 Row - Cherry Chocolate Stout: Nice chocolate aroma with roasted malts up front on the palate. Smooth black coffee follows; mixed with bittersweet cocoa. It finishes with a mild dark cherry twang. As the beer warms the sweet tart cherry part of the beer becomes more pronounced. 11.0% Available at 2 Row, also found at Beerhive.

Policy Kings - O.P.P. IPA: Missed this one. 5.0% only at Policy Kings.

Toasted Barrel - Chardonnay Farmhouse: Missed this one too. 5.0% - Only at Toasted Barrel.

Funkwerks - Tropic King: Super hopped saison with big citrus peel bitterness and essence. The taste is dominated by equally huge wheat and yeast phenolic spices. Found at Beer Bar.

Funkwerks -Saison: Missed this one. 5.0% - also found at Beer Bar.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 12/6/19

The cuteness factor for this New Beer Friday is off the freak'n charts! All of these beers are adorably delicious AF, and ready for your favorite glass or trough.

Saltfire - Apollo 18: This IPA has a mellow aroma of grapefruit peel and 'herbs'. The taste is somewhat similar but more intense with  orange, pine, resin, and cannabis rounding out the flavor profile. The malts are medium sweet. Nice use of Apollo hops. NEIPA 'purists' may find its bitter finish and lack of suspended matter off-putting. 7.1% - Available at Saltfire

Hopkins - Strawberry Sorghum: For a gluten free beer, you'd never notice the lack of barley. The strawberry is subtle and it works well with the sorghum as it some sometimes add a hint of tartness. Nice GF (gluten free, not girlfriend) beer. 5.0% - Available at Hopkins. 

Fisher - Lotus pale ale: Missed this new pale ale. 5.0% - Available at Fisher.

Fisher - Polar bear pale ale: Missed this new pale ale. 5.0% - Available at Fisher.

Proper - Thunder Mountain Black Out: This new Schwarzbier ia a pretty traditional German version of the style, with all German ingredients and special techniques to extract the color and some characteristics of the dark malt while still making it something super crushable. 5.0% - Available at Proper.

Heber Valley - East Ridge Tripel: Missed this new Belgian style Tripel. 8.0% - Available at Heber Valley Brewing.

Shades - Egg Nogg: You may be saying, whaaa? Yup, the minds at Shades that brought beers like Peach Cobbler and Mojito are still blurring the line between beer and well.... everything else. This beer is a Wheatwine at its base with all of the traditional nog spices (no eggs). It was also dosed with bourbon oak chips and a shload of lactose for that big egg nog sweetness. It's a bit sweet for me but it definitely captures the whole holiday feel. There is a hint of tartness though from the Kviek yeast. 9.0% - Available at Shades. 

Funkwerks - Provincial Raspberry: The raspberry aroma is strong, along with tart almost lemon quality. The flavor is tart berry with subtle briny notes, and a touch of yeast. The drinkability is excellent. Dry but not puckery, crisp but not overdone. Because the berry flavor is mild. 4.2% found at Angry Goat.

Funkwerks - Provincial Pineapple: Aroma is splattered with random notes of peppercorn, pineapple, bread, and yeast. Flavor profile is pineapple with a slight tangy, sour twist. 4.2% - found at Angry Goat.

Roadhouse - Loose Boots: This ahs a hazy, pale yellow color with a big pine and citrus aroma. Excellent light citrus smack to the flavor; lemon; light bread with well-rounded hop bitterness. Crisp, dry. 4.7% - Found at Harmons.

Roadhouse - Family Vacation: This cream ale has flavors of nutty biscuit and bread dough with citrus rind and lemony hops. Aroma is very light with hints of grains. 4.9% - Found at Harmons

Odell - Good Behavior: This session IPA has an aroma of juicy citrus and dank piney hops. The flavor is citrus, tropical fruit some sugary malts. Semi-dry finish. 4.0% - found at Harmons.

Oskar Blues - One-y: This session IPA has an orange citrus character with a modest bitterness. malts are thin with a slight herbal bite in the finish. Good balance for a light IPA. 4.0% - Found at Harmons.

Rogue - Just a Pinch: This gose has a fruity aroma with hints of lemon peel, berry, and grass. Flavors of  boysenberry, lemongrass, biscuit and sodium round it out. Lighter body with a tart and salty finish. 4.5% - Found at Harmons.

Rogue - Dreamland: I wasn't able to get to this new lager. 4.8% - Found at Harmons,

New Planet - Seclusion (gluten free) IPA:  I wasn't able to get to this new session IPA. 4.9% - Found at Harmons.

Carakale - Dead Sea-rious Gose: This Gose comes from the country of Jordan. Aromas of grapefruit, wheat, lemon and salt. The taste follows with a more subtle interpretation. Very smooth and appealing. If your not into goses, this may not change your mind, but if you dig 'em you'll be quite happy. 5.0% - Found on draft; only at the Bayou.

Saint Somewhere - Saison: Missed out on this saison. 5.0% - Found on draft; only at the Bayou.

Breckenridge - Colorado Core: Missed out on this apple blonde ale. 4.9% - Found at Harmons.

Breckenridge  - Strawberry Sky: Missed out on this strawberry kolsch. 4.9% - Found at Harmons.

Also Happening tomorrow is the BAD Fest (Brewers Vintners and Distillers). This is an educational  opportunity to help inform locals about the brewing arts. Participants will experience tastings from wineries, breweries, distilleries, and enjoy artisans locally-made products at this ultimate craft beer, whiskey and spirits and wine experience.

Whether you are a full-fledged homebrewing expert or just trying to understand the difference between a rye whiskey and bourbon, you will find more than one workshop to expand your palate at the Brewers, Vintners and Distillers Festival.

There is something for everyone – from mead and wine tastings, seminars and burlesque performances, to conversations with craft beer and homebrewing influencers, there are tastes and enticements at every turn.

Your entry includes a commemorative glass, access to workshops, tastings and live entertainment. Tickets and more info about BAD Fest can be found here.

Cheers!