Utah Beer News

Salt Flats Brewing isn't a stranger to moving fast and jockeying for position. Its tradition is steeped in high-powered, high-performance racecars.

And that's where the name Salt Flats Brewing comes in — an homage to the legendary Bonneville Salt Flats located 125 miles west of the brewery.

Utah Beer News visited the brewery to talk about the history of Salt Flats as well as its current projects and its ambitious plans for the future.

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 13 | January 21, 2019

Solstice Malt is Utah's first malting operation in more than a half-century. Its founder, James Weed, in many ways is a throwback to a time when maltsters manually turned grain into the so-called "soul of beer."

For an accompanying article, please visit UtahBeerNews.com.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 12 | December 17, 2018

Dave Baker and Tim Haran savor the last days of warm weather while discussing — and tasting — seven Utah craft beers perfect for the colder days ahead.

• Brut Style India Pale Ale (Kiitos Brewing)
• Griswald's Holiday Ale (Red Rock Brewing)
• Young Bruin Sour Brown Ale (Toasted Barrel Brewing)
• Sweet Dreams Imperial Porter (Shades Brewing)
• It's Not Just For Breakfast Stout (2 Row Brewing)
• Big Bad Baptist Imperial Stout (Epic Brewing)
• Barrel Aged Barley Wine Ale (Kiitos Brewing)

We also highlight a few beer-themed events happening in Utah between now and the end of the year.

• Green Urban Lunchbox Hard Cider Release — Nov. 17
• SLUG Mag's Brewstillery — Nov. 17
• Utah Brewfest – Dec. 1

Read the accompanying article.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 11 | November 5, 2018

Ryan Van Liere — known to many as The Flying Bassoonist — is a Utah-based homebrewer who also happens to play the not-so-common bassoon and pilot/build aircraft.

Utah Beer News sat down with Van Liere to learn how he got started in homebrewing, where he found his love for craft beer, and what he thinks of the Utah craft beer scene.

One quick clarification from the audio interview: Epic's Big Bad Baptist (not Son of a Baptist) is one of Van Liere's beers of the moment.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 10 | October 29, 2018

In some ways, it's always been simply Shades Brewing. It's rare for someone to refer to the South Salt Lake brewery by its formal name — Shades of Pale Brewing Company.

So Shades is going all-in to better leverage what it believes to be strong name recognition and brand equity.

Utah Beer News talks with Shades CMO Dave Murray about the shift, which goes deeper than merely a name change and label reboot. Instead, it's positioning Shades as an identity, a personality.

We also chat with Trent Fargher, Shades founder, about what's next for the line of kveik golden sour ales. The brewery is fresh off a gold-medal win at the Great American Beer Festival for its Kveik 1.

Read the accompanying article.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 9 | October 15, 2018

Eric Meyer manages Purgatory bar in Salt Lake City. Even though it's known for fun, unique cocktails, Purgatory's laid back atmosphere, upscale food, and attention to its beer menu draws a beer-drinking crowd. Its selection includes 60+ varieties of bottled/canned beers and 20 tap handles.

Utah Beer News sits down to chat with Meyer about beer and taste a few local brews. Included in the episode:

• Meyer is studying to become a Certified Cicerone®. What does that mean?
• We taste — and evaluate — three local beers. Hop Nosh IPA (Uinta Brewing), Double Trub'l IIPA (Shades Brewing), and Bobcat Nutbrown Ale (Red Rock Brewing)
• Meyer talks about a new beer bar — Boiler Room — that's in the works

And much more. Enjoy the episode!

Read the accompanying article.

Episode 8 | October 8, 2018

Dave Baker and Tim Haran discuss the origins of Oktoberfest while sipping and evaluating five fall beers.

• Fest Helles (Uinta Brewing)
• Oktoberfest (Bohemian Brewing)
• Oktoberfest (Ninkasi Brewing)
• Oktoberfest (Sierra Nevada Brewing)
• Imperial Pumpkin Porter (Epic Brewing)

Don't shed a tear for summer's end. When the calendar — and eventually the weather — flips to fall, you have plenty of reasons for autumnal adoration. And it's not just those who enjoy sweater weather after a sweltering summer. Beer drinkers can rake in piles of deliciously different fall beers.

Fall drinking means letting the leaves be your guide. You can switch to suds with a little more color — ambers, copper, and more. And luckily, there's also a festival tailor-made for celebrating these fantastic fall creations.

Read the accompanying article.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 7 | September 17, 2018

2 Row Brewing, which opened in 2015 in Midvale, Utah, helped to usher in a new wave of breweries in the Beehive State. Brian Coleman, founder and president, sat down with Utah Beer News to talk about his love for brewing. Our wide-ranging interview touches on several beer-related topics:

• 2 Row Brewing's wild ride to opening up shop
• The value of developing your palate for beer
• The brewery's approach to its social media
• How 2 Row's super-cool bottle labels came about

And much more! Be sure to check out the accompanying website article as well: 2 Row Brewing: A Breath of Fresh Beer

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 6 | August 27, 2018

It's not a question of which beer event to attend. But rather how many can I squeeze into my day? This episode of the podcast takes listeners on a Hops Hunters Hike and to downtown Salt Lake City for the annual Pie & Beer Day festivities. It also crosses state lines to visit the Evanston Brewfest. The episode accompanies an article that discusses even more beer-related events. Check it out.

Read the accompanying article.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 5 | August 6, 2018

Utah Beer News discusses a handful of craft beers perfect for your next summer BBQ or other gathering. David Baker and Tim Haran talk about six beers, each of which is readily available at your local Utah grocery store. David writes about four additional beers in an article on UtahBeerNews.com. Don't go to your next get-together unprepared! Listen to what beers you should be taking with you to be the hit of your BYOB BBQ.

Read the accompanying article.

Enjoy the episode!

Episode 4 | July 27, 2018