Becker Beer To Be Resurected?

If you thought the A. Fisher Brewing Company was the only pre/post-prohibition brewery to be resurrected in the state, you may want to keep reading. At this morning's DABC meeting, representative from Ogden River Brewing, petitioned the DABC for a brewery manufacturing license under the name of Beckers Premium Lager Co., Ogden. An application for a Type 5 Package Agency (retail store) was also sought. The manufacturing license and package agency was approved.

The Becker Brewing and Malting Company was founded in 1890 in Ogden, Utah, by the Becker family and was located on the southwest corner of 19th Street and Lincoln Avenue. Gustav L. Becker was president and treasurer. The company was one of the largest breweries in the region and manufactured/sold various kinds of beer, over time expanding its manufactures to include near beer, soft drinks due to prohibition. Becker sold throughout Utah as well as Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Colorado, Arizona, and California.The brewery stopped operations in 1954.

This would be a wonderful addition to Utah's craft beer scene and I'm anxious to what comes of it. Stay close for more news on Becker Brewing Company's resurrection. 

In other beer news from today's DABC meeting.

Another Lotus venture, Fife Brewing Company set to open in SLC in February 2023 is already applying for their bar license.   

Logan's Prodigy Brewing also applied or a brewery manufacturing license and it was approved this morning.

The Garage Grill (Salt Flats Brewing) applied for a bar license for their new Herriman location and was denied the license, due to "not being ready yet". Expected to open late 2021 - early 2022.  

Ogden's Own Distillery applied for a bar license, for their in house bar called Side Bar. They week awarded one of the three licenses available this month along with Aspen Cove Resort (Panguitch) and Brick and Mortar in SLC.

What do you think of this early brew news?

Cheers!

Above image found at shipcomplient.com

New Beer Friday 9/24/21

Shades - Piney IPA: Not super pine forward. The hops take you to more of a citrusy place. The pine shows up slightly in the end. Overall a nice session IPA. 5.0% - Available at Shades

Shades - Hoppy Pils: This could probably use a new name because it's not a pilsner. It is a lager, and a tasty one at that; full of Amarillo and Mosaic hops. But if your expecting a "pils" you'll be disappointed. 5.0% - Available at Shades

Shades - Milk Stout: This is a roasty stout with lots of char. Caramel sweetness is on the low side with subtle lactose keeping the roasted qualities from becoming too ashy.  5.0% - Available at Shades.

Shades - Winter Warmer: This probably your first taste of the holidays this season. This is basically an amber ale at its base. There's melange of spices including nutmeg and cinnamon. The base beer is toasty with low caramel sweetness. Probably more of a holiday ale. "Winter Warmer" suggests a high alcohol beer. 5.0% - Available at Shades.

Desert Edge - Oktoberfest:  The aromas are malt forward with lots of toast. Some crackers, breads and grains. Some caramel. The flavors follow the nose. More toast leading the way. More caramel along with some toffee. There's a nice little bitterness to this one. Mild sweetness. Malts do their thing. Alcohol basically goes unnoticed. Mouthfeel is on the lighter side of medium-bodied with moderate carbonation. It's fluffy, soft, smooth and easy to drink. 6.0% - Only at Desert Edge. 

Talisman - Oktoberfest: Haven't had this one yet as it debuts on draft and in bottles at Talismania. Talisman's Oktoberfest celebration that happens this Saturday, Sept. 25th. Available only at Talisman.

Fisher - OSO Fresco: Wet hopped with a shload of Amarillo. 5.0% 

Offshoot - Unwind: Missed this hoppy pilsner. 5.7% - Found at Slackwater

Modern Times - Cosmic Rays: Missed this NEIPA 6.5% - Found at Slackwater

Returning favorites

TF - Strata Wet Hop: 400 lbs of fresh Strata Hops. 5.0%

Proper - Cowards Fist: Gin barrel aged DIPA 10.1% 

2 Row - Breakfast in a Barrel: This is aged in Maker's Mark Barrels for A Bar Named Sue. There are a limited supply of bottles available at the brewery, but the majority of beer can only beer found at both A Bar Named Sue locations. 10.% 

Here are this week's small batch beer from Hopkins Brewing.

Cheers!

New Beer/Brewery Friday 9/17/21

You can tell autumn is rolling in because of the slow march of German style lagers that are rolling in. I'd also like to formally welcome Offset Bier to the Utah Beer family. The small batch brewery is located in Park City and is helmed by Patrick Bourque in the brewhouse. Happy New Beer/Brewery Friday!

Offset Bier - Weiss Kölsch: nice and toasty with nice fruitiness from the yeast. Great first beer!

Offset Bier - NZ Pale: Love Nelson Savin hops. Citrus peel with great berry notes. This is delish.

Offset Bier - Fruited Sour: Feijoa, kiwi & tangerine is a brilliant fruit combo for a sour ale.

Offset Bier - Blonde: Nice citrus & floral hop profile.

Offset Bier - ROTO IPA: Chewy & nearly dank. Think: old school hops.

Offset Bier - DIVI IPA: Light & fruity. Some herbal qualities. Slightly bitter finish.

Saltfire - This is Barry: No, this isn't a misprint and this is not a TF beer, though the clan at TF were consulted on this tongue in cheek play on their theme. There's a ton of local berries in this milkshake IPA. It's defiantly a smoothie. Lactose is is medium/light with a good dose of bittering hops to remind you this is an IPA. 8.0% Available at Saltfire. 

Hopkins - Munich Helles: At first whiff and swig I could tell that this was a textbook Helles. There's a touch of sweetness that balances an assertive addition of spicy German hop flavor and light bitterness. 5.0% Only at Hopkins.

Shades - Kiwi Sour Ale: No lactose is this one. It just relies on the kiwi and the base beer's tartness. The fruit it bright and it works well with Kveik sourness. A great fruited sour. 6.5% - Available at Shades and better beer pubs.

Bewilder - Oktoberfest: Beautiful golden appearance with a delicious creamy white head. Decent carbonation. Aroma of grain and floral. Slight noble hops. Taste clean and well balanced a slight hoppy brightness is balanced by a bready maltiness. Refreshing and easy drinking. This debuts this Saturday for Bewilders Oktoberfest celebration. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Uinta - Westside Special Helles: This small batch beer debuts today. No tasting notes on this one. 5.0% - Only at Uinta.

Strap Tank - Smoke Stack: A medium to light amount of smoke with a sweet caramel base. This is a great, subtle smoke beer. If you're looking to get familiar with the style, this would be a good place to start. 5.0% - Available at Strap Tank.

Jolly Pumpkin - Yikes!: This is a sour saison. Not much of the saison comes through. Mostly a pleasant barrel sourness that is solid, but one dimensional. 5.8% - Found at Beer Bar.

Jolly Pumpkin - Lo-Fi-Mai Tai: Missed this one. Found at Beer Bar.

Revision - The Bruff: Missed this Double NEIPA. 8.0% - Found at the Bayou

Bombastic - Stubbornness: Missed this English-style Barleywine. 12.9% - Found at the Bayou.

Bombastic - Shiver Coffee Stout: Missed this Imperial Coffee Stout 10.5% - Found at the Bayou

Prost!

Your 2021 Northern Utah Oktoberfest Calendar

We've compiled a list of Oktoberfest events that begin this week and go until the end of October. There are links attached to each event for more info. If you’re a fan of Oktoberfest activities this will be a brilliant 30 days. Prost!

Snowbird Oktoberfest

Noon - 6 pm, Sat - Sun

Aug. 14 - Oct. 17

No ticket 

Kid Friendly

SnowWiesn at Snowbasin

Sundays 12-5pm

Sept 19 - Oct 3

No ticket 

Kid Friendly

Ice Haus - Oktoberfest

Friday - Saturday

Thru October 16th

The Westerner - Oktoberfest Weekend

September 17th - 18th

6pm - 2am

Bewilder Brewing

September 19th - 27th

11am - 8pm

Angry Goat Oktoberfest

September 24th - 28th

5pm - 11pm

Templin Family Brewery Oktoberfest

September 25th

12pm - 11:59pm

Ticket Required

Kiitos 4th Anniversary

September 25th

12pm - 11pm

4th West Oktoberfest

September 25th, 11am - 10pm 

September 26th, 11am - 8pm

Talismania Oktoberfest Celebration

Saturday 25th 

12pm - 6pm

Kid friendly

Tracy Aviary- Oktobirdfest 

September 30th

6pm - 10pm 

Ticket Required

Craftoberfest

Saturday October 9th

1pm - 5pm

Beer And Fear Fest

Saturdays and Sundays 

October 2nd - 24th

4pm - 10pm

Kid Friendly

New Beer Friday 9/10/21

 

Saltfire - Mobius Trip (Utah Plums): Funky and tart. Hard to tell where the chardonnay starts and the plums take over, but it's nice and fruity. Minimal burnt rubber in the finish. A tasty barrel aged sour. 8.0% - Available at Saltfire.

Level Crossing - Rock On Lager: Level Crossing will be donating $1 per pint sold to the Salt Lake Academy of Music. LC collaborated with Crosby Hops and the Sweet Relief Musicians Funds to make this happen. This lager is hopped with Amarillo and Idaho 7. Flaked corn and Solstice malts add a little sweetness and toasted character. Medium bitter finish. 5.0% - Only at Level Crossing as of today.  

Bewilder - Fallin' For Amber: Cinnamon aroma with allspice. This is a spiced beer for sure, but the malts are sweet enough to make it pleasing. If you're hunting for a straight-up pumpkin beer, check this one out. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Revision - Hazy Leafy Green: Found at Beehive and Slackwater.

Revision - Sucka Fish: Missed this Triple IPA. 11.5% Found at Bayou

Revision - Hana Vision: Missed this IPA. 6.5% - Found at the Bayou.

Prairie - Sneaking Suspicion: Missed this fruited sour ale. 5.5% - Found at the Bayou.

Prairie - Pumpkin Kerfuffle: 8.2% - Found at Bayou

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 9/3/21

Shades - Raspberry Pretzel: As the name implies there's a good amount of raspberry, Shades early skimps on the fruit. lightly sweet the base beer has medium tartness the pretzel is mostly deep toast with a hint of sodium. 6.5%  

Fisher - Hazy Train: The aroma is complex with hops, citrus and yeast. The taste is heavy with malt and has a grapefruit peel finish. Overall, a really good session IPA. 5.0% - Available at Fisher.

Fisher - Very Important Pale: The hop profile in this pale ale generates big flavor with assertive bitterness, adding significant citrus zest and cantaloupe fruit character. Lemongrass and herbal tea. Bitterness round it out. Nice pale ale. 5.0% - Available at Fisher.

Fisher - Denal and Oats:  Hoppy with a lot of pine. Some grapefruit and floral notes in the nose as well. Grapefruit is stronger than in the nose. Pine notes as well as vague citrus. Good stuff. 5.0% - Available at Fisher.

Level Crossing - Strawberry Fields Forever: Medium tartness with a good dose of strawberry. The beer's sour base uses that new Philly sour yeast. It's slightly puckering and can overwhelm the strawberry at times, but it all works out tin the end. 5.0% - Only at Level Crossing.

Cascade - Tropical Grasslands: Missed this one. Look for lemony lactic sourness and coriander with a tropical, woody and briny finish. 5.5% - Found at The Bayou.

Here are this week's Small Batch beers from Hopkins Brewing.

Cheers!

A Brave Noise For The Craft Beer Industry

Depending on how immersed you're in the whole craft beer experience, you may or may not be aware of a movement of mostly women that are publicly detailing experiences of harassment, toxic masculinity, and even allegations of assault at some of the most reputable breweries across the entire beer industry. 

The flashpoint for all of this comes from an Instagram post from Brienne Allan, a 10 plus year  veteran in the craft beer industry. Allen has worn many hats in her time, including brewer and production manager. Even after working he way up the ladder, she couldn't shake the the sexist and misogynistic jabs that came from her mostly straight, white male coworkers and management.   

After turning to her Instagram account out of frustration, Allen asked whether other women receive sexist comments on the job. The response was massive, with women from all over the world sharing their frustrations, experiences and even allegations of assault at some of the most reputable breweries across the world.

To help aid in the advancement of the #MeToo movement within the craft beer industry a locally based website was create by local women and men working in Utah's craft beer industry. Brave Noise is a collaboration with a big goal: A safe and discrimination free beer industry.  

Brave Noise is advocating for safe spaces and inclusive environments by requesting breweries be transparent with their policies and commit to long-term work. To keep Brienne Allan's momentum going; to honor those who have spoken out about their gender discrimination, racism, sexual assault, and harassment; and to bring further awareness to the issues that women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals face in craft beer. 

Brave Noise isn't a resource just for brewery employees, it's also a source of information for home-brewers and beer lovers.

To check out the website, here is the link again.

Cheers!