New Beer Friday 6/5/20

No matter where you fall in this long overdue societal upheaval; at least here, in this small corner of the interwebs, I think that we can all agree that craft beer is the unifying factor. And if we can all find common ground here, we can find it anywhere. So let's all unify around all of the liquid happiness we have swirling around us this week.

Shades - Pleasantly Pickled: The dill is of course most prominent. The pineapple is fairly subdued, with the chilies taking the rest of the load. This is quite different than many of the other kveiks that you've had from Shades and it's due to the low lactose levels and the intensity of the herbs and spices used. It's good on its own or as a cocktail mixer. Think: cheleda, bloody mary, margarita or as a pickle back. 6.5% - Only at Shades.

Cerveza Zólupez - Lager Mexicano: Before the pandemic Zólupez owner, Javier Chavez Jr. traveled to the city of Monterrey in Northern Mexico to make a collaborative beer with one of that regions premier brewers, Cerveceria Cabrito. Using Chavez's lager recipe they produced a classic Mexican lager. Ironically these lager have their roots in traditional German beers. This lager has a subtle malt profile with Saaz hops providing a slight zest. at 5.0% it's pleasantly dry and very crushable. This beer is just hitting the Ogden area and will so be in wide release.

Toasted Barrel - Pineapple Smoothie: Missed this one. However I understand this to be a barrel aged sour with the characteristics of of a kettle soured smoothie style ale. I'm very curious. Only at Toasted Barrel.

Bewilder - Mexican Lager: Sweet and grainy malts add a soft bread-like maltiness with a touch of toast. The hops are Nobel-like and add some nice grassiness and spice. Very drinkable on a warm June afternoon. 5.0% - Only at Bewilder.

Level Crossing - Berry Hazy: This is an American style pale, with a good amount of citrus qualities from the hops. The berry medley used adds a complimentary fruitiness that works extremely well with the base beer and it never falters until the end of the swig. 5.0% - Only at Level Crossing.

Four Peaks - Gilt Lifter: I don't know if this is the right style of beer (Scottish Ale) to take you into the low cal/carb game. There are some nice sugary notes but, you really want those big toffee flavors in styles like this. This more of a pool or recreating beer. 3.4% - Found at Harmons.

Great Divide Car Camper: Nice grapefruit notes, good aromatics with hint of dank bitterness detected. Dry hopped grapefruit is upfront and forward with some piney elements as well. The malt profile is light which makes the beer finish failed dry. Pretty good, you could kill a few of these no problem. 5.0% - Found at Harmons.

Deschutes - Lil' Squeezy: Citrusy hops with bread hops that creep into cracker territory. The taste starts somewhat herbal with some caramel and tropical fruits. Hints of citrus and melon with a long dry finish. 5.0% - found at Harmons.

New Belgium - VooDoo Ranger American Haze: Some star citrus fruitiness in the nose with some cereal like grains. The flavor follows with low bitterness. 5.0% - Found at Harmons.

Firestone Walker - Fly Jack: Herbal nose with some grapefruit. Upon first sip there's  lot of grapefruit, with some earthy hops as well. The flavor has more citrus hops with some lemongrass as well. Notes of pineapple linger towards the end. finishes with some orange pith. Another entry into the low-cal beer game.

Returning Favorites:

TF - Who's Barry?: In this new iteration look for a slight reduction in lactose sweetness with an increase in overall berry fruitiness. Slightly more tannic which helps it keep that fresh fruitiness. The mouthfeel seems to have a creamier feel as well.

Hopkins Chile Mangose: This beer was originally made as a collaboration with Salt Flats for last year's Utah Brewers Guild Collaboration Festival. This version has been bumped up to 5.0%. The chilies provide more flavor than heat in this sour based beer. Ever tried mango dusted with chiles? it's very much like that; with less intensity. A wonderful beer. Only at Hopkins.

Hopkins also has a huge selection of small batch beers to offer this weekend.  Check these out!


Cheers!

New Beer Friday: Mother's Day Edition

With Mother's Day approaching, I couldn't resist. Cheers to all of you beer loving mothers out there, you don't get enough credit. Happy New Beer Friday!

Fisher - Hazard Pay: A sturdy backbone of pale, bready malts and caramel sweetness soon gives way to some citrusy grapefruit and resiny pine notes. The finish is pithy and bitter, with a lingering, astringent aftertaste. On the light side of medium-bodied, with middling carbonation levels appropriate for the style. Fairly refreshing, with a reasonably hoppy kick to it - definitely session-worthy. 5.0% - Available in Crowlers to go at Fisher.

UTOG - Puckertime: The aroma is lactic with a funky yogurt appeal, lemony with spoiled grain and hints of cream corn. The taste is tart and lemony lactic, slightly vinous and fruity even. Some faint hints of dusty to earthy brett and grain. This isn't a super sour bomb, if you're looking for brutal tart ripper, you'll be disappointed. 5.0% - Available in Crowlers to go at UTOG

Bewilder - Orange Honey Wheat: This one debuts today. I have no notes on it yet. 5.0% For dine-in and to-go at Bewilder Brewing.

Talisman - Spindrift: Not quite new. New to me I guess. Aroma of sticky buns and bread crusts. Very malty aroma here. Some blood orange and apricots. Flavor brings up ripe citrus fruits, cantaloupe, pineapple, caramel with faint herbal hops. Feel is somewhat juicy and creamy. Slight resins, some puckering in the finish. 5.0%  - Available at Talisman.

Returning

2 Row - Divine Lunacy: The barrel aged quad is back! aged in bourbon barrel for nearly a year. The bourbon is nearly overpowering at first, but once you palate adjusts the bubblegum and peach from Quad begin to assert themselves. Very nice! 11.5% - Available at 2 Row Brewing.

Cheers!

New Beer 'Good' Friday

New Beer Friday is the perfect elixir for any weekend gathering. No matter if it's on-line or from across the street. 
 
Shades - Epicenter Mango Chili Sour: Pours like mango juice. Not much head to speak of. Initial aroma is fresh mango with some chili meat; quite fresh smelling. The flavor starts and finishes like tart mango juice, but there is a nice but subtle peppery scratchiness that follows. It's not hot on the through persay just scratchy. A unique and delicious experience. 5.7% Available at Shades

Bewilder Irish Lager: Aromas are faint and hard to find, but share a caramel malt and softly phenolic profile. Flavors mimic the light profile and also give a modest caramel flavor. Light grains and ripe fruit flavor (apples, pears) dances around the periphery. 5.0% Available to go, so growler up!

Roosters - 25th Anniversary Barley Wine: Aged in Porter's Rye Whiskey Barrels for 10 months. This smells like figs, raisins, prunes, booze soaked raisin bread, caramelized sugar, and oak. There's lots of fruitiness, a bit of spicy hops and spicy alcohol and toffee. This is quite fresh and will age nicly so pick up a few extras. 9.8% - Only at Roosters' Layton location.

Saltfire This is Fine: This beer was brewed in collaboration with the Hop Bombshells Home Brew Club to support the Pink Boots Society. This Rye IPA has a nice aroma full of spicy rye, brown sugar and caramel balanced with the hops. Taste is sweet, spicy rye, caramel malt, toffee, with earthy herbal, grapefruit, pine and grass hints. It has a fine bitter/spicy finish. Complex for 5.0%. At Saltfire.

Hopkins Pico Rico: Missed this new Mexican style lager. Brewed with Solstice and Munich malts, along with Hallertau Blanc hops. 5.0% only at Hopkins.

Toasted Barrel - Barrel Aged Golden with Lavender: I missed this wine barrel aged sour. Aged for one year. Available at Toasted Barrel today.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/20/20

They may be down, but Utah's brewers are definitely not out. If you were expecting that there would be no new beer this week you are sadly mistaken. In the words of the immortal Mikey Muad'ib, "the beer must flow". 

Also, in an attempt to keep us all up to date on the happens with Utah's brewers and their respective retail outlets, the brilliant crew at Uinta has put together a website called Utah Beer Store. Here you'll be able to keep tabs on what happening, where and when - all in one place. Now on to New Beer Friday.

2 Row - Blackberry Sour: Lactic sourness with a generous amount of blackberry puree. First gulp greets you with lemon from there it's all blackberry. 2 Row's fruited sours are always wonderful this is no exception. 6.1% - Only at 2 Row.

Bewilder - Irish Red: Missed this one. Look for sweet, fruity malts along with citrus and pine forward malts. Bewilder can fill growlers right now, so hit those guys up. 5.0% - Available only at Bewilder.

Uinta - Birthday Suit (Blackberry Lemon Tart): There's already a lemon tartness from the base beer but there's some fresh lemon peel to drive it forward. Lactose adds a bit of sweetness adding lemon glaze  flavors. Blackberry drives it home with a please freash berry profile. 5.0% Available at Uinta. 12-6pm, Tuesday - Saturday (not vegan friendly).

Epic - Imperial Pink Ale: This is the first beer released as part of Utah's Pink Boots Society beers. This is a Imperial Red Ale brewed with the Pink Boots special hop blend. The malts are sweet and fruity with some berry notes. The hops are fruity as well, push toward citrus and tropical. Pine in the finish. 8.0% - Available only at Epic Brewing starting today. 

Please get out and support these and other local breweries in any way you can. Cash of course is always best.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday the 13th - 3/13/20

No hoarding of the New Beer Friday! There's plenty to go around. If you choose to go out into the scary world on this Friday the 13th you'll be met with shloads of great beer. Not an unlucky day at all!

Red Rock - Don't Murder Me: Aroma is mostly roasted malts, with notes of toast, coffee, and slight hint of smoke. Taste is more roasted malts, creamy milk chocolate, mild coffee, and cocoa. 6.7% Available

Bewilder - Irish Stout: Aromas of mocha and coffee, with coffee bean and some chocolate milk.
Flavor is strong with coffee notes...smoked, dark roast coffee and a nuttiness. The finish is smokey with tastes of roasted coffee. Some lingering char as well. 5.0% - Available at Bewilder.

Shades - Imperial Lager: Quite fragrant for a lager. Strong malt/grain smell. A bit of orange peel, grass and pear. The taste showcases a sharp bitterness from the hops. The pilsner malt is evident in a larger, strong quantity too. It's like a triple czech pils. Lots of flavor. 8.0% - Available at Shades.

RoHa - Zoltar: This pale ale features the Zythos hop blend. It has a big caramel base with citrus, and spicy pine bitterness. Slightly herbal in the finish. 5.0% Available at RoHa. 

T.F. Brewing - Corduroy:  Looks like Sunny Delight! The aroma is extremely pungent, with pineapple, mango, guava, grapefruit. You can catch a whiff from the glass from a few feet away. Taste is very juice forward - grapefruit, orange, pineapple, perhaps others, with the addition of a light grassiness before fading into a sweet juicy mild pith bitterness. Mouthfeel is smooth and fairly full with a light tingling from carbonation. Very Nice. 7.7% - Available Saturday 3/14 only at T.F. Brewing. (not vegan friendly)

Squatters - Rye Of The Tiger: This hazy IPA was made with Mosaic, Simcoe and of course some rye. Light in color, super cloudy and fruity AF. 5.0% - At Squatters Brewpub SLC. 

Heber Valley - Electric Avenue: I missed this new Double IPA. It's hopped with Mosaic, Citra and Centenial. 8.0% - Avaiable at Heber Valley.

Pipe Works - Blood of the Uincorn: Really fresh and aromatic. It opens with a surprisingly prominent malt body. Hints of citrus, grapefruit rind, cane sugar and grass. Big hop bite towards the end accents a brew that's mostly got great balance between citrus and resin. Real drinkable too. 6.5% - Found at Slackwater (Ogden)

Pipe Works - Select Schwartzbier: Missed this one. 6.3% - Found at Slackwater (Ogden)

Pipe Works Donut Soup:  This is an imperial stout. Lactose and vanilla are very evident on the nose, with periodic hits of coconut and coffee as it warms. Taste leans more on the lactose, coconut, vanilla, and coffee, with some supporting cocoa and bready malt, but again really sweet, cloying on some sips.   10.5%  - Found at Slackwater - Ogden (not vegan friendly)

Pipe Works - Infinite Citra: Huge Citra aroma of tropical fruit and citrus. The taste has a burst of tropical fruit with notes of pineapple, passion fruit, orange, and grapefruit. Some biscuity malts as well. 7.3% - Found at Slackwater (Ogden)

HaandBryggeriet - A Dashing Rogue: This is described as a nordic oud bruin sour macerated with raspberries and cherries. 6.8% - Found at the Bayou.

La Sirène Brewing - Paradoxe: This is described as having a classic grape characters and juicy yet tangy green fruits that dominate with the bracing acidity that delivers a dry, creamy and refreshing finish. 5.0% - Found at the Bayou

The following are part of Hopkins Brewing's Small Batch Series 

 #TRENDY: This New England style pale features a fruity blend of late
addition hops. Hearty hop aroma without heavy bitterness, and
topped with Kveik yeast, you could say it's as trendy as it gets.

BRUNCH ALE: Brewed with lactose, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and
maple. This blonde ale is inspired by french toast. (not vegan friendly)

MOSAIC HEFE: The German weiss style features mosaic hops.

GALENA PALE: This SMASH pale showcases both Solstice 2-row grain, as well
as Galena hops.

IRISH SODA BREAD: *may contain traces of nuts* This dry pale ale is brewed with
salt and raisins. Inspired by a St. Patrick's Day staple.

IRISH RED: This Irish Red is exactly that, lots of malt character with a touch
of hop bitterness.

IRISH COFFEE STOUT: Brewed with coffee and Irish whiskey, this robust stout is
inspired by the Irish Coffee cocktail.

CARBOMB STOUT: Brewed with lactose, cacao nibs, coffee, vanilla, and Irish
whiskey. This stout is inspired by the Irish Carbomb shot. (not vegan friendly)

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 3/6/20

If New Beer Friday is my ailment, I don't want to be well. If you need some weekend medicine, we have you covered.

Silver Reef - Fresh and Juicy: I missed this one, I hope to have notes on this later. 4.2% 5.0% found at the Bayou

Avenues Proper - Sir Bain's London Porter: A nice roasted malt aroma with a good dose of roast in the taste as well. It's quite powerful and almost comes across as ash. The is some dark cocoa and espresso as well, with little in the way of malt sweetness. 5.0% - Available at Avenues Proper

Bewilder - English Brown Ale: Caramel and toast in the aroma. Taste-wise it starts with a cola-like sweetness with a vague vegetable flavor. It's sweet but malt flavor is low with very subtle toasted malts. 5.0% Available at Bewilder.

Wasatch - Barrel Aged Belgian Pale Ale: Missed this one. I hope to have tasting notes on this later. This Belgian style pale was aged in Wyoming Whiskey barrels. This is very limited and only available at Wasatch's Sugar House location. 5.0%.

Melvin - Mind Bloom: A hazy peach color with tangerine, mango, pineapple lemon and grapefruit zest. Taste wise you get more of the same with papaya, pineapple, tangerine up front with nice caramel, grapefruit, and berry backing it up. 7.0% found at BeerHive.

Wildflower - Solera (Pull #4): This sour hails from Australia. This foudre sour is a spelt beer with notes of citrus, dark fruits and some balsamic notes. This is very limited and exclusive to the Bayou. 5.0%.

Revision - Smoke And Mirrors: This NEDIPA has a healthy dose of Amarillo, Citra and Mosaic hops. This gives it flavors of orange, tangerine and melon up front. Apricot, pineapple and berries round out the back end. Found at the Bayou - 8.0%

Revision - Planet Lovetron: Starts slightly grassy and herbal, opens to tropical fruit, passion fruit, mango, and a hint of pineapple, citrus, lemon, tangerine, and grapefruit, with an underlying resinous bitterness, biscuity malt, and caramel sweetness. 6.5% - Found at the Bayou.

Odell - Witkist White Ale: Normally witbiers are made with orange peel. This one uses grapefruit peel. It doesn't alter the citrus quality too much, however the yeast is super phenolic (clove, bandaid) and it comes across as a super chewy saison. Just kinda, meh for me. 5.0% Found at Beer Bar.

 Cheers!

New Beer Friday 2/14/20

It's going to be a beer filled Valentine for sure. Buy your sweetie one of the new brews and you'll be pitching woo fer sure. 

Bewilder Citra Pale Ale: Great tangerine aroma. The taste follows with juicy citrus and pith. the malt isn't too sweet and compliments the hops well. Nice and very drinkable. 5.0% Available at Bewilder.

Templin Family - Jesse Delmar: This Barrel Aged Imperial Stout is big on chocolate coffee notes and it hits with a big whiskey wallop. This the full barrel proof, no blending down of the aged beer; dialing in at a solid 12.0%. Very nice stuff. Available at TF.

Avenue Proper - Wolf Mountain: This has an aroma of citrus peel and heavy pine. Creamy malts at first sip then your met with a huge blast of dank pine, with some citrus and herbal hops. This one lights up the sides and bottom of the tongue. Its more of a pale ale with super hoppy bite. 5.0% - Only at Avenues Proper.

Squatters - Blonde Latte: Nice coffee aroma and flavor here. There is some higher than normal sweetness due to the addition of lactose. It all comes across as the latte the name implies. This is not a vegan friendly beer. 5.0% Available at Squatters Downtown.

Squatters - Dragon Slayer: This IPL starts off super dry. The hops are a blend of citrus peel and old world German hops and herbal spices. this is all IPL with little IPA character. Super crushable. 5.0% Available at Squatters downtown.

Desert Edge Cashmere in the Rye: Haven't had this one yet. By the name it appears to be a rye pale ale with Cashmere hops. 5.0% Available at Desert Edge and the Bayou.

Toasted Barrel - Juicy Double IPA: This just hit late yesterday afternoon. I missed it. All I know is that it's described as having five different types of hops. 5.0% Limited batch, available at Toasted Barrel.

Roosters - Winter Blues: This another hazy IPA except this one is made with blueberry purée, butterfly pea flower and Mosaic hops. I haven't had this yet, but its piqued my curiosity. 5.0% on Tap Now at Roosters locations and at Slackwater in Ogden as well. 

Silver Reef - Snowman Golden Bock: A mostly traditional crisp yet malty German Helles Bock finished with Mosaic hops. 6.8% - Only at Silver Reef

Silver Reef - White Dome: This is a Belgian white IPA brewed with wheat and candy sugar. Hopped with Nugget, citra, ekuanot and crystal. 6.75% - Only at Silver Reef

Coniston Brewing - Bluebird Bitter: Caramel malts are noticeable at first. Then spicy hops come in and add a surprisingly sharp punch of bitterness. The bitterness starts to fade quickly though, transitioning to a sweet malt finish. 4.2% - Exclusively on draft at the Bayou.

Libertine - Plumphry’s McGee: I missed this one. This is a tart Dunkle made with plum. 4.5% - Exclusively on draft at the Bayou.

To Øl - Fuck Art - This is Architecture: The taste starts out bready with Belgian yeast and a hearty malt character. Then a strong but not over-powering hops bitterness comes in. The finish is slightly bready and bitter. 5.0% - Exclusively on draft at the Bayou.

Founders - Mountain Brown: Missed this one. 9.0% Found at the Bayou

Founders - Canadian Breakfast Stout: Missed this one. 11.3% Found at the Bayou

Stone - Viking Space Probe: Missed this one. 8.5% Found at Beerhive

Great Basin - Bitch’n Beery: Missed this one. 5.6% Found at Slackwater (Sandy)

The following are limited small batches from Hopkins Brewing.

Hopkins - TROPKVEIK PALE ALE

Grain: Maris Otter, Munich, Wheat, Rye
Hops: Citra, Simcoe, Mosaic, Cascade, Cashmere
Yeast: Imperial Kveiking
Notes: Brewed with a tropical hop blend and kveik yeast

Hopkins - THE WOODSMAN
Grain: Maris Otter, Crystal 35L, Crystal 80L, Crystal 120L, Biscuit
Hops: Simcoe, Chinook
Yeast: Imperial Flagship
Notes: Brewed with vanilla and oak chips for a barrel-aged flavor.

Hopkins - HALLERTAU BLANC HEFE
Grain: Pilsner, Wheat
Hops: Hallertau Blanc
Yeast: Imperial Stefon
Notes: Traditional-style German Weissbier featuring Hallertau Blanc hops. These hops have fruity notes as well as grapes and lemongrass.

Hopkins - ROSEMARY: "LADY IN WHITE"
Grain: Maris Otter, Wheat, Munich, Flaked Corn
Hops: Cashmere, Saaz
Yeast: Imperial Napoleon
Notes: Brewed with coriander, orange peel and rosemary. This Belgian White is inspired by the alleged apparition that haunts our brewery after hours. We've only heard stories so far, mainly being a lady in a white dress.

Hopkins - HOPPED-UP BROWN
Grain: Maris Otter, Biscuit, Crystal 80L, Crystal 120L, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Simcoe, Mosaic, Cascade, Citra
Yeast: Imperial Darkness
Notes: India Brown Ale style featuring a complex chocolate and caramel body with a heavy hand of hops and dry-hopped with Citra.

Hopkins - MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP BLONDE
Grain: Maris Otter, Munich, Wheat
Hops: Cascade
Yeast: Imperial House
Notes: Blonde ale features a pleasant blend of fresh mint leaves and chocolate.

Hopkins - RED VELVET AMBER
Grain: Maris Otter, Munich, Wheat, Crystal 80L, Crystal 120L, Chocolate Malt
Hops: Simcoe, Mosaic
Yeast: Imperial Flagship
Notes: Brewed with lactose, chocolate, vanilla, and beets.  This red-hued amber is inspired by the decadent dessert, Red Velvet Cake.

Hopkins - "SHUCK IT" OYSTER STOUT
Grain: Maris Otter, Chocolate Malt, Crystal 120L, Biscuit, Flaked Oat, Black Barley
Hops: Chinook
Yeast: DCL/Fermentis US-05
Notes: Brewed with oysters, coffee and chocolate. This rich stout is salty up front with roasted dark chocolate notes and a slight hint of coffee at the end.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday 1/31/20

It's the last day of January, Dryuary, Veguary, Mortuary, or whatever. If you decided to forgo something in your life to help you get a jump on 2020, I'm officially giving you permission to dump that shit and get on with your life. This week's New Beer Friday options will defiantly help with the latter. Try not to do it all in one day like me....

TF Brewing - Fluffy Nuts: Yes, I said "Fluffy Nuts". This is a 5.0% pastry stout, and the complimenting ingredients are marshmallow and peanut butter. Fluffy Nuts debuts today; I hope to have tasting notes for you on this, later this afternoon with Mick and Allen on KBER101 at 3:30pm. Fluffy Nuts....

Proper - Peach and Mango Sour Ranger: The newest member of the Sour Rangers squad is quite tart and slightly soapy. The flavor for the most part is lemon with some mango floating around in the background. The mango becomes more pronounced towards the finish. Not much in the way of peach flavor. Enjoyable enough. 5.0% - Available at Proper

Epic - Sour Brainless Lucy: This is a tart, foeder aged, unfruited blonde ale with notes of green stone fruit and mild tannins. The effervescence is on the light side and it finishes quite dry. Lucy is the name of the foeder that had aged this particular sour beer. Sadly Lucy's day are over and she's being dismantled. All that's left is being put into crowlers and they can be found at Epic Brewing. Thanks, for all of you delicious beer, girl. 

Level Crossing - Dallas Alice: This new beer from Level Crossing is a Belgian style blonde ale. There;s some sweet earthy clove and banana in the nose. The taste follows with added candy sugar sweetness that punches up the body and flavor. German hops round out the overall providing balance. Finishes with a hint of sweetness. 6.2% - Available at  Level Crossing - There will a release party today as well.

Bewilder - Oatmeal Stout: This is not an overly roasty stout, but it does have nice cocoa notes to carry it through. The oatmeal adds smoothness to the overall feels of the beer. The nitro gas adds a perceived sweetness that is pleasant and authentic. 5.0% - Available at Bewilder

Talisman - Adventures in IPA No.5: I'm really pissed that I missed this one. Talisman went a different direction in this IPA; pursuing German hop varietal instead of American/New Zealand blends. The use of  Mandarina Bavaria and Hallertaur Blanc Hops, will likely make this a different and delicious IPA. 5.0% - Available at Talisman

Hopkins - Cranberry Farmhouse:  Brewed with cranberry and a touch of cinnamon, this beer has a
slight cranberry tartness, balanced with complex notes from the Kveik yeast. 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Apple Pie Amber:  Heavily malted with just enough hop bitterness. Brewed with apple,
cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and vanilla. It's the American classic in a glass! 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins -  Citra Hefe:  Traditional-style German Weissbier featuring Citra hops which are
very popular among IPAs for its tropical citrus aroma and flavor. 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Dankster Saison:  This "dank" saison is heavily hopped with a citrus blend and finishes
with complex spiced notes of the Belgian style yeast. 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins -  Kitchen Sink Session IPA: This beer has a heavy body for a traditional IPA, but sits nicely at 80 IBUs. 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Mango-Lime Ale:  Brewed with mangos and lime; featuring a simple grain bill with a citrus blend of hops, perfectly complimented by mango and lime. 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins - The Dude Ale: Inspired by the drink of choice of the hero in Big Lebowski, this beer is
White Russian themed. Cream ale base, lactose, vanilla, rum extract, coffee.
It really ties these small batches together, and we abide by that! 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Hopkins - Early Morning Stout:  Brewed with maple syrup, vanilla, coffee, toasted oak chips. This beer will have you feeling like you're spending time away in a cabin in the woods! 5.0% - This very small Batch beer will be available starting Saturday at Hopkins.

Roadhouse - The Walrus: I missed this Double IPA. Look for flavors of tangerine, pineapple and  melon with big tropical fruits and bitterness. 8.3% - I found it at the Bayou.

Roadhouse - Outcasty Sweet Potato Porter: Made with hand-peeled, quartered and roasted sweet potatoes, this porter has all of the classic flavors - caramel, cocoa and coffee with added earthy/nuttiness from the sweet potato. 8.0% - Also found at the Bayou.

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!