New From Four+ Brewing: Hive

Utah has a new beer to start-off spring. Hive is the sixth label to come out of Four+ Brewing in SLC. Hive is made with local honey and is similar in color. I wasn't able to get my hands on a bottle before writing this, but Local Beer proponent Douglas Byrd did and here's his trustworthy review.

2 oz. bottle from Smiths Marketplace. Pours a crystal clear golden color with a medium white head. The aroma is a heavy dose of honey, some sweet toasted malts also. The taste is similar; crisp and easygoing malts, some light citrus, and a nice honey flavor. Very quaffable and a nice beer for a hot Summer day. Too bad it was snowing today. Not bad. Simple and easygoing. A thin and fizzy mouthfeel.
I labeled it as a golden ale. Beer Advocate labeled it as a light lager, but it says honey ale right on the label.

Since this beer is just debuting it won't be everywhere immediately (as I found out).

Also, this is no secret but Four+ has changed the name of it's nationally successful Wildfire Organic Pale Ale to Wyld Organic Extra Pale Ale. Nothing has changed but the label. If you haven't tried this one yet, get out and grab one. They're quite yummy!

Also, in the coming months Uinta/Four+ will be debuting a new, yet to be named organic summer ale. This should be another good year for new beer labels in Utah. And thanks to Doug for helping to get the word out. Cheers!

[Posted with iBlogger from my iPhone]

How Swede it is!

If you follow the dribble I spew, even somewhat infrequently you know I'm a big fan a Four+'s Wildfire Pale Ale. It's really is a great session beer and if your not drinking it, your bad!... Bad beer geeks!

Uinta/Four+ has as of late been expanding in to and experimenting in markets Utah's brewers have rarely tapped. Over the last couple of months I've been getting alot of feedback from people all over North America that say it's a nice surprise to find quaffable beers coming from all places Utah. Though it's no surprise to us, good beer is good beer no matter where it hails from. It's good to hear that our local brews do well in national competitions. The craft beer market in the U.S. is thick with fantastic beers of all styles and with so much great stuff out there, it's quite a complement to get high praise from your peers.

Overseas it can be a different story. While some enjoy the cutting-edge styles emerging from the U.S. others don't. One of the big criticisms about many "American" craft beers is that they're too "leafy", massively over-hopped, alcohol monsters. That's a fair critique, not entirely accurate but fair. So it's nice when the Utah stuff gets a nod.
This latest nod comes from one of the most unlikely places, Sweden. Where in an unusual move Uinta/Four+ entered four of it's labels in The Stockholm Beer and Whiskey Festival . Anglers Pale Ale, Anniversary Barley Wine, Wildfire Extra Pale Ale and the never before released Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine, 11.1%.

Of the four, one beer managed to get a nod from the judges. Wildfire. I think the boys and girls have really found a good balance of hop essence and astringents with this one, and it looks like it's starting to find international appeal. This was one of Wildfire's first times in competition it's next big challenge comes this week and The Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Co. Where a large informal Utah delegation will be cheering it and every other Utah entry on.

Two other quick notes on Uinta/Four+. Wildfire Pale Ale will be undergoing a name change soon. So, in the coming months start looking for "Wyld" Organic Pale Ale. New name, same beer. Also, when I was listing Uinta's entries above you may have noticed I mentioned "Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine". Yep that's right They took their award winning barley wine and aged it two years in Bourbon and Sherry barrels. If your wondering how it turned out your going to have to stay tuned. This 11.3% monster will never be released for purchase and will never again be entered into competition. Why? I'm not sure. It may just be an experimental brew. All I know is that if your lucky enough to get your grubby lil' paws on a bottle. You've scored big. Cheers!