Utah Beer News

How would it be to open a brewery a mile from your childhood home? The dream became reality for Chad Hopkins and Hopkins Brewing Company in Sugar House.

Chad is an accomplished homebrewer who opened his own spot on New Year's Eve 2018 in what once housed a furniture store and even another brewery. Barely six months old, the pub on 2100 South is already earning fans by delivering tasty craft beers and offering a homegrown lunch, dinner — and most recently, brunch — menu.

We visited with Chad and bar manager Alicia Border at the brewery on a Tuesday afternoon. We sipped pints of Hopkins' Patchwork Pale Ale — a rotating series that features unique malts and hops in each iteration.

In the episode you'll learn:

• How Chad's palate for beer has evolved over the years
• What it means to manage a brewpub in your hometown
• Where he finds inspiration for his lineup of craft beers
• And what the future holds for the Sugar House brewery

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

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 23 | July 18, 2019

The inaugural Utah Brewers Guild Fest is set for June 29 in downtown Salt Lake City. We chatted with Nicole Dicou, the executive director of the Utah Brewers Guild, to learn what makes this event unique.

As you'll hear in the episode:

• The Fest features beers from only Utah-based breweries. No non-native brews allowed.
• In what could be a first-of-its-kind event in Utah, more than 20 participating breweries paired off to concoct a dozen or so creative collaborations.

We were fortunate to speak with two brewers who shared their collaboration beer with Utah Beer News.

Scott Parker of Salt Flats Brewing and Chad Hopkins of Hopkins Brewing Co. talk about a Chile Mango Gose they brewed for the Utah Brewers Guild Fest.

The Utah Brewers Guild Fest is a 21-and-over event that will feature food trucks and music to enjoy while sipping beers. The Guild is going for a street festival vibe in the urban downtown setting of McCarthy Plaza between Main and Regent streets.

Visit the Utah Brewers Guild website to learn more about the event and to purchase tickets.

For an accompanying article about the Utah Brewers Guild Fest, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 22 | June 13, 2019

We continue the Proper Brewing Co. conversation we started in Episode 18. This time we sit down with Marketing Director Eleanor Lewis. We talk a bit more about the company's newest venture — Craft by Proper — that opened in April. But we also delve into the larger Proper Brewing Co. footprint and the Utah craft beer scene in general.

Ellie originally hails from Chicago and arrived in Utah about five years ago. She began her beer career in the Beehive State as a server at Avenues Proper. She now directs the ever-growing company's marketing and social media efforts.

In this episode, Ellie, who's also a certified cicerone, shares with Utah Beer News the story of how the Proper name — and Proper Beer — came to be. We also talk about the borderline insanity that accompanies opening two properties in a matter of months. Stratford Proper Café & Bistro opened in Salt Lake in December 2018. And Craft by Proper — Utah's Only Utah-Only Beer Bar — opened its doors in April 2019.

We touch on the growing Utah craft beer scene and Ellie gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives production. The popular Food Network series featured Proper Burger Co. in January.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 21 | May 20, 2019

When it comes to homebrewing, Ross Metzger and Cody McKendrick are familiar names in Utah. The longtime friends opened Salt City Brew Supply in 2011 and later expanded to open Ogden City Brew Supply.

The homebrew shop owners also help organize the annual Lagerpalooza beer competition and festival at Bohemian Brewery. The 5th Annual Lagerpalooza is scheduled to take place on May 5, 2019. This is an opportunity for homebrewers to challenge themselves by brewing a lager. It's also a chance for craft beer lovers to enjoy an array of local lagers from Bohemian and other Utah breweries.

We sat down to talk with Ross and Cody about Lagerpalooza but we couldn't help but explore a few other things the pair has going on right now:

• We discuss the success of Salt City Brew Supply and get some insight into how it's helped support an ever-expanding homebrewing community.
• And we also talk about the duo's newest venture — Bewilder Brewing. It's a downtown Salt Lake City craft brewery eyeing a July 2019 opening. You can help support the endeavor by checking out their Kickstarter campaign. We'll include a link in the show notes and in the accompanying article on UtahBeerNews.com.

Approximate Time Stamps:

• Introduction 0:00 - 3:10
• Lagerpalooza 3:10 - 12:50
• Salt City Brew Supply 12:50 - 33:40
• Bewilder Brewing 33:40 - 48:25

For accompanying articles about Lagerpalooza, Salt City Brew Supply and Bewilder Brewing, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 20 | May 2, 2019

The 10th Annual Tour de Brewtah is a bike-meets-brewery event in Salt Lake and Ogden. It's scheduled for blast off May 4. May the Fourth be with you!

We spoke with Brandon Smith, a distiller at Dented Brick Distillery in Salt Lake City, who's part of the organizing committee. In our telephone conversation, he shares details about the event that brings together cyclists and craft beer enthusiasts to tour our ever-expanding "brewiverse."

Twenty-six breweries are participating this year, as well as Mountain West Cider House & Bar and Dented Brick. Participants choose from one of 10 space-themed routes — such as Close Encounters of the Thirst Kind, IBUFO, and Mission to Bars. Each route includes stops at three places where you can refuel with a delicious craft beer.

Not into cycling but still want to have a good time? The Tour de Brewtah includes a full-on beer festival at The Gateway where you can bring the family, relax, and enjoy pints from many of the breweries on the Tour.

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 19 | April 29, 2019

We take you behind the scenes into what should be a popular destination for craft beer lovers. Craft by Proper is billed as Utah's Only Utah-Only Beer Bar. It's located in the heart of Sugar House and is scheduled to open on April 19, 2019. It will feature 36 tap handles and 80+ different cans and bottles from breweries all around the Beehive State.

This episode is actually split into two parts. The part you're about to hear features Proper Brewing Brewer and Co-Owner Rio Connelly.

The second part, which will be released in the coming weeks, features Proper Brewing's Marketing Director Eleanor Lewis. In that one we talk a bit more about Craft by Proper. But we also delve into the larger Proper Brewing Co. footprint and the Utah craft beer scene in general. Look for that one soon.

For now, settle in and listen as Rio runs through the particulars of Craft by Proper and how it's in some ways built upon the concept of his original establishment — Avenues by Proper — which opened in 2013. That spot, by the way, will be celebrating its sixth anniversary on April 28, 2019 with a delicious-sounding dinner pairing Proper beers and food.

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 18 | April 15, 2019

On this episode of the podcast we return to Ogden, Utah. We speak with Carson Foss, co-owner and brewer of soon-to-be-opened UTOG Brewing Company.

Utah Beer News sat down to talk to the proprietor of what will be Ogden's newest brewery and restaurant. Final inspections were taking place during our visit and UTOG hopes to be pouring its first pints in April 2019.

Carson, who is a former airline pilot and an award-winning homebrewer, put his heart and soul — and two years of his life — into building a truly unique brewery. In this episode:

• Carson takes us through the ins-and-outs of his 15-barrel brewhouse. For starters, construction included hauling away 90,000 pounds of concrete to build a spectacular "brew pit" that allows guests a front-row view to the brewing process.
• We discuss the incredible feats of engineering required to turn a building with a fascinating history into a state-of-the-art brewery and restaurant.
• And we walk through the lineup of beers that you can expect to enjoy once UTOG Brewing opens to the public in the coming weeks.

Oh, and baseball fans — like me — will love the planned patio that practically butts up against the outfield of Lindquist Field, home to the Ogden Raptors minor-league baseball team. Beer, baseball, and summertime. That sounds pretty good right about now.

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 17 | March 18, 2019

Founded in 1995 on Ogden's Historic 25th Street, Roosters Brewing is one of the oldest breweries in the state. Our visit, however, took us to the newest jewel in the Roosters crown — the B Street Brewery. It's a beautiful 30-barrel production brewery and taproom that opened in December 2018.

We open the show talking briefly with Colton Layton, Roosters Brewery Engineer. But he only had a few minutes before he needed to head downstairs to oversee the latest canning run of Patio Pilsner.

From there, we dive into the past, the present, and the future with Roosters Head Brewer (Ogden) Jacquie King.

• We talk about the legacy of Roosters Brewing in Ogden and how it helped to revitalize Historic 25th Street
• We discuss Jacquie's role as head brewer and how she is a well-respected advocate for the Utah craft beer community
• And we chat about a few events Roosters has planned to celebrate Women's History Month

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 16 | March 8, 2019

Hoppers Grill & Brewing Co. opened in 1996 in Midvale, Utah. The brewpub's made a name for itself by brewing award-winning lagers and offering tasty pub food.

Utah Beer News sits down with Natalie Rogers, marketing manager, and Brock Blonquist, general manager. We discuss:

• How a hole-in-one altered the brewpub's trajectory
• The strikingly different craft beer landscape today compared to 20+ years ago
• Hoppers' refocused efforts on marketing in the age of social media

For an accompanying article, which includes more details about Hoppers' beer and thoughts from brewmaster Donovan Steele, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 15 | March 4, 2019

A "level crossing" is an intersection where a railway line crosses a road or path. That's instead of the railway line using an overpass or tunnel to cross a road.

For Level Crossing Brewing Owner Mark Medura, the term signifies much more.

"The deeper meaning for me," he says, "is a crossroads kind of thing where the three of us have met and have taken this leap of faith with each other. Katie and Chris both left what I would consider their promising careers to join a start-up. It's a true leap of faith they took in me."

Katie is Katie Flanagan, the brewery's sales and marketing manager. And Chris is Chris Detrick, Level Crossing's head brewer.

You'll hear from Katie, Chris, and Mark in this episode of the Utah Beer News podcast.

• They sit down with me to discuss the joys and challenges of starting a brewery from scratch.
• They share their thoughts on the booming craft beer scene in Utah.
• They ruminate on their favorite local beers of the moment.
• And we even touch on some political stuff.
• Plus, we talk about the beers that will be available when Level Crossing Brewing opens to the public in March 2019.

We also talk a bit about licensing during the podcast. We are happy to report that soon after we recorded the podcast, Level Crossing Brewing received its bar license.

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 14 | February 4, 2019