I just got back from a family trip to Utah. No, this blog is not going Mormon nor is it going
to knock on your door in a black suit on a ten speed bicycle. It’s the exact opposite. For years, I have been a proud member of the X-Communicated Mormon Drinking Team. I just wanted to bring up the fact that Utah has become a great place to find good craft beer. Say what? Hell froze over? No, nothing like that. The seagulls did not finally knock over the Temple. I’ll say it again: Utah has great beer.
Back 20 years ago, when I was about to fly the coop and leave the nest, I remember distinctly getting my first growler from this new place called Squatters Brewing. It was Capitan Bastards Oatmeal Stout and I was hooked on great craft beer. Then Wasatch Brewing opened and offered a Premium lager and, well, that was it. Two places in the early 80’s, and as the years have gone by more and more breweries have opened up. Squatters and Wasatch have teamed up with a brewery co-op to off-set the costs of a huge production brewery. Uinta joined the Utah scene, then there was Moab Brewing, and slowly but surely Red Rock, Desert Edge, Bohemian and Hoppers all opened in the Beehive State. This gave BrewDad more reasons to visit his hometown.
As time has passed, so have the laws to increase the alcohol by volume. Sure we have all
heard about the 3.2% beers. Yes, it’s true that’s all you can get at the grocery or convenience store. But with a little looking and know how you can find great beer in Utah. I am here to tell you there is high ABV beer in Utah. Either go to the brewery or you can find it at most of the State Liquor stores. I realize that’s odd for most people, but hey, you do what you have to within the crazy confines of Utah.
Here is what I found in a short day trip in the Salt Lake Valley:
- Squatters Hop Rising Double IPA sits at a cool 8% and has some killer hops flavors.
- Wasatch Devastator Double Bock at 8% has tasty malt with a great finish.
- Epic Brewing – ALL their beers are above the 3.2%, and most are 6-9%. I grabbed 8 different brews from Jack Mormon Coffee Stout to a tasty treat called Hopulant IPA with a 9% ABV.
- Uinta Brewing Dubhe Black IPA at 9.2%
- Red Rock Elephino Double IPA at 8%
- Moab Brewing Desert Select Series Black Imperial IPA at 9%
So the next time people say the beer is still weak in Utah, tell them BrewDad says BS!
The Best Beer Blog in Utah – http://utahbeer.blogspot.com/
