Utah Beer News

Determined and Resilient. Those are two words that definitely describe the folks responsible for bringing Grid City Beer Works to life. The idea for Utah's newest brewery began six years ago. Construction got underway in mid-2019. And just weeks before Grid City had planned to open its doors to the public, many businesses were ordered to shut down to help slow the spread of coronavirus.

Utah Beer News visited with Grid City Beer Works in its 6,600-square-foot space in late February — days before it held a pre-opening tap takeover party-slash-concert at The Commonwealth Room. The festive atmosphere that night preceded weeks of uncertainty and downright fear.

With its doors still closed to the public, Grid City on April 23 began getting its beer into the hands of eager drinkers by way of crowlers to-go.

I sat down with Drew, Justin, Jeremy, and Ian on February 24. Our conversation touched on a variety of topics, not the least of which was what you can expect to experience when the spacious taproom (and rooftop patio) opens to the public. We also talked about:

• The beers that Jeremy brewed for the opening — five of which were made available to-go
• The innovative menu that Chef Ian is preparing — with several items also available for carryout
• How Grid City went from four walls and not much else to becoming a state-of-the-art brewery
• And we also discuss how the founders met and what their goals and aspirations are going forward

Thanks to the folks at Grid City Beer Works for taking the time to talk with Utah Beer News. And thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the episode.

For an accompanying article about Grid City Beer Works, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 33 | May 11, 2020

The NCAA may have canceled its men's and women's basketball tournaments, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy our own March Madness — Utah Beer News style.

On this episode of the podcast, which we recorded on March 6, 2020, Dave Baker and Tim Haran selected eight beers from eight different breweries to vie for the title in a beer bracket challenge.

For the sake of time (and the health of our livers) we opted to forego a field of 68 or even 64. Rather, we selected our very own Elite Eight. Eight beers from eight different Utah breweries vying for the title of 2020 Utah Beer News Beer Bracket Challenge champ.

It's not really a contest, of course, and there are no prizes awarded. Taste is subjective. With that in mind, here are a few notes:

• Again, this isn't scientific. It's for entertainment purposes only.
• In other words, we didn't create spreadsheets evaluating IPA rankings. We didn't track sales data to learn which lager is Utah's best-seller. I selected eight beers that are anecdotally (and sometimes empirically) well-regarded. Or that I simply enjoy. I also tried to pick four head-to-head matchups that compared similar styles and ABV amounts.
• The beers are also relatively easy to find around Salt Lake (yes, that's another limitation — we didn't venture outside the valley to procure the contestants). I purchased all but one at the source (I picked up one beer at my local Harmons after learning it wasn't available at the brewery's package agency).

All that said: I hope you enjoy this episode. I really like these tasting podcasts with Dave because he's so knowledgeable about craft beer. If you're new to the podcast, Dave is a longtime craft beer connoisseur and an award-winning homebrewer. He also is a professional writer and editor and a contributor to utahbeernews.com.

Thank you for listening. Please sit back and enjoy the episode.

For an accompanying article about the 2020 Utah Beer News Beer Bracket Challenge, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 32 | March 16, 2020

Episode 31 of the Utah Beer News Podcast strays from its typical format. As listeners of the podcast know, generally, I like to sit down with brewers and let them share their stories. But for this episode, it's just me. I don't have a guest, but I hope you'll give it a listen.

Here's what you can expect in the podcast episode, with approximate timestamps:

• Introduction 0:00 - 1:55
• Survey Analysis 1:58 - 14:30
• Recent/Upcoming Features 14:40 - 17:00
• Most-Read Articles of 2019 17:10 - 21:35
• Events/Conclusion 21:45 - 27:34

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 31 | March 9, 2020

RoHa Brewing Project celebrates its three-year anniversary in April 2020. RoHa may be part of the new-brewery boom in Utah. But its brewer is no stranger to the state's beer scene. Chris Haas — the Ha in RoHa — arrived in Utah 24 years ago to work for Squatters. Then he spent several years at Desert Edge Pub & Brewery in Trolley Square.

That's where he met Rob Phillips — the Ro in RoHa. Rob, an engineer by trade, attended a beer school event taught by Haas and asked the brewer if he needed any volunteers to help around the brewery.

Haas said sure. Phillips showed up the next day — that was about 15 years ago now. And the rest, as they say, is history. A third partner — Josh Stern, affectionately known as "The Project" — is a real estate agent who sold Phillips his house when he moved to Utah. The two quickly became drinking buddies.

Utah Beer News visited with Rob Phillips and Chris Haas to learn more about how the RoHa Brewing Project came to be and what the future holds for the Salt Lake-based brewery.

During our conversation:

• We discuss the early days — the years of planning and plotting and why Haas describes Opening Day as "living inside a tornado."
• We talk about certain decisions RoHa made initially that are paying off for the three-year-old brewery.
• They share thoughts on the beers available year-round and hint at a few that are in the works (including more in their seasonal lineup).
• And they each talk about their ultimate goal when it comes to RoHa Brewing Project long-term.

Thanks to Rob Phillips and Chris Haas for taking the time to talk with Utah Beer News about RoHa Brewing Project. And thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the episode.

For an accompanying article about RoHa Brewing Project, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 30 | Feb. 5, 2020

You don't need to live in Salt Lake County to quench your thirst for Utah craft beer. Bonneville Brewery is located 35 miles to the west of the capital city. It's well worth the drive—not only for the beer but also for the brewpub fare and the stunning scenery.

The two-story pub is spacious. And in warmer months you're able to enjoy a pint on the patio while taking in views of the Great Salt Lake, Stansbury and Antelope islands, and the Oquirrh Mountains. For non-Utahns, the Great Salt Lake is the remnants of the massive prehistoric Lake Bonneville, the brewery's namesake.

We sat down with Bonneville Head Brewer Dave Watson to learn more about this somewhat hidden gem. Watson is a former photojournalist who then worked at The Beer Nut Homebrew Shop and Desert Edge Pub in Salt Lake City before helping to open Bonneville Brewery in 2012.

During our conversation:

• We chat about Watson's interesting path to Bonneville Brewery
• We discuss his philosophy when it comes to brewing award-winning beers
• He shares his thoughts on the Utah craft beer scene and the growth it's experienced in recent years
• And he explains the origin story for one of Bonneville's most-recognizable brews — Free Roller Session IPA

For an accompanying article about Bonneville Brewery, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 29 | Jan. 22, 2020

Dave Baker and Tim Haran discuss — and taste — a variety of Utah craft beers perfect for the colder days ahead. It's the Second Annual Utah Beer News Holiday Beers Podcast Episode.

• Green Urban Lunch Box (Mountain West Hard Cider)
• Albion Belgian Tripel (T.F. Brewing)
• Griswald's Holiday Ale (Red Rock Brewing)
• Holiday Ale (Kiitos Brewing)
• Barrel-Aged Kilted Harley Scottish Ale (Salt Flats Brewing)
• Pastry Style Stout (Kiitos Brewing)

We also highlight a few beer-themed events happening in Utah between now and the end of the year, discuss what makes a good bottle share, and ruminate on the overall Utah craft beer landscape.

Approximate Time Stamps:

• Introduction 0:00 - 6:34
• First Tastings 6:35 - 13:09
• Bottle Share/Advent Calendar Notes 13:10 - 17:54
• Second Tastings 17:55 - 23:25
• Upcoming Events 23:26 - 28:38
• Third Tastings 28:39 - 46:29
• Utah Craft Beer Landscape 46:30 - 56:30

For an accompanying article about Utah Holiday Beers, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 28 | December 12, 2019

A markedly different craft beer landscape greeted Slackwater Pizzeria & Pub when it opened in Ogden in 2011. The most recent craft beer boom was in its infancy. Utah was still a few years away from embarking on its torrent of brewery openings.

But Slackwater had a vision: A menu driven by innovative pizzas and an extensive beer list that prioritized local offerings. A place for everyday adventurers to enjoy a victory beer celebrating a memorable hike, bike ride, or other outdoor experience.

The cozy pizzeria and pub expanded from a 30-seat spot on the Ogden River to a 200-seat destination for craft beer lovers in Weber County and beyond.

And now Slackwater is expanding to open a restaurant in the south end of the Salt Lake Valley.

We sat down with Blake Hirschi to talk about Slackwater Sandy, which is scheduled to open in early November 2019 at 10290 South State Street. The general manager and point person on the expansion gave us the lowdown on what's sure to be a popular spot for craft beer enthusiasts.

• We discussed the history of Slackwater and how the new Sandy location will be an extension of the company's overall vision
• Blake dishes key stats on the gorgeous 7,000-square-foot space
• And we talk about challenges and rewards associated with making a former steakhouse into a South Valley craft beer destination

Thanks to Blake for taking the time to share the Slackwater story. And thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the episode.

For an accompanying article about Slackwater, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 27 | Oct. 24, 2019

This is a slightly abbreviated episode of the podcast. But I think the Utah craft beer community will find it interesting. Regular listeners will remember that Red Rock Brewery hosted our recent episode about the 2019 Utah Beer Festival.

As part of that conversation, Shantel Stoff, the brewery's sales and marketing director, gave Utah Beer News listeners an update on a variety of Red Rock-related topics, including:

• Two new beers that should be hitting the market in the very near future. One is an American Imperial Pilsner and the other is a New England Style IPA.
• Updates on a few of Red Rock's special releases.
• The latest on the construction of a new production facility and the Tap Haus at the Red Rock brewpub in Park City.
• How Red Rock is approaching the impending law implementation that will allow for beers up to 5% ABV to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
• And we also talked briefly about the Utah Consumer Coalition, a nonprofit designed to advocate on behalf of consumers for better beer laws.

For an accompanying article about Red Rock Brewery, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 26 | Aug. 16, 2019

The Utah Beer Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019. It will feature more than 60 breweries pouring 200+ beers over two days. The event takes place Aug. 17-18 at the Utah State Fairpark.

Salt Lake City Weekly organizes the annual event. We visited with City Weekly's Samantha Smith and Pete Saltas to learn more about the festival's history and what attendees can expect this year.

Red Rock Brewing hosted this episode of the podcast. The brewery, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2019, has participated in the Utah Beer Festival each of the last 10 years. Shantel Stoff, the sales and distribution director for Red Rock, talked a little about the festival's history and the important role it plays in the community.

Side Note: We spoke with Shantel about some Red Rock-specific items — including new beers in the works. Look for that conversation in our next podcast episode.

For now, thank you to Samantha, Pete, and Shantel for talking about the 2019 Utah Beer Festival. And thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy the episode.

For an accompanying article about the Utah Beer Festival, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 25 | Aug. 9, 2019

Ogden is becoming quite the hot spot for craft beer. One brewery that's contributing to that growth is Talisman Brewing Company. The husband-and-wife-operated brewery opened in 2016. It has served as a trailblazer of sorts for would-be production breweries in the northern part of the state.

We sat down with co-owners Dusty and Joann Williams to learn their story — starting with how they landed on the name Talisman.

A talisman is an emblem of good luck. And, as Joann says: If we're crazy enough to open a brewery in Utah with no prior professional industry experience, we probably needed a little full-time luck.

It takes more than luck to survive and thrive in an increasingly competitive market. And Joann and Dusty share with us what they are doing to ensure continued success.

In the episode you'll learn:

• What brought Dusty and Joann to Utah and into the brewing business
• The biggest challenges the pair encountered on this journey
• How the two lean on their unique skillsets to run a successful business
• And how the community response is helping to guide future plans

For an accompanying article about Talisman Brewing Company, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 24 | Aug. 1, 2019