Moving Forward.
 In times of crisis, the brewing community rallies. As I talk with brewers and visit curbsides to get my beer to-go, it's clear that the phrase "We're In This Together"—bandied about so often these days—isn't simply a trite expression. It actually carries some weight.
For example:
- A brewery running low on crowler cans receives temporary relief from a competitor down the street.
- A longtime pub struggling to maintain its footing gets help from former employees and customers, who happen to run their own brewery now.
- A brewery across the country organizes a worldwide collaboration effort, with at least one Utah brewery donating all proceeds from its "All Together" beer directly to its employees.
- A Utah brewer schedules twice-weekly Instagram Live videos to help promote other brewers and breweries around the state.
And it's not just brewery-on-brewery love that's taking place. Beer drinkers throughout Utah are doing what they can to help ensure their favorite craft beer spots survive to pour another pint.
In fact, an overwhelming public response to a few recent beer releases had me torn as to whether now is an appropriate time for breweries to promote ultra-limited releases with so-called FOMO (fear of missing out) advertising.
On one hand, it's exciting to see such a demand for craft beer. Lines wrapping around the block and sought-after specialty beers selling out in a matter of hours seem to signify a thriving—and thirsty—industry.
I recognize that many, if not all, breweries right now are fighting for survival (some have lost more than 70% of their business), and that craft beer culture—heck, human nature—gravitates toward words like "exclusive" and "limited." If demand outpaces supply, that's a good thing for breweries trying to make ends meet, right?
Yet, the idea that breweries would encourage mass gatherings at a time when we're collectively trying to beat a deadly, highly contagious virus just didn't seem right—even if recommended social-distancing practices were being followed.
Asking the People
So, on April 17, I asked the Utah Beer News Facebook community how it felt about these limited-release beers that sell out quickly. To be fair, I didn't specifically reference beer releases in The Age of Coronavirus.
The one-question informal poll garnered 111 responses, with 57% giving the practice a thumbs down and 43% saying they were fine with it. A nice discussion ensued there and on a separate Facebook thread that has since been deleted. Proponents on both sides weighed in.
Since then, I've begun noticing breweries that were offering special releases have (for the most part) toned down the hype. They're encouraging beer seekers to show up throughout the day, for instance, instead of all at once as soon as the beer became available. They're using language like "there will be plenty of beer to go around" rather than "this beer will sell out."
Of course, perhaps in these instances, there was more beer to be had, or the brewery didn't possess the same type of following as others.
Whatever the differences might be, I'd like to be clear: I'm not against limited-release beers. And in normal times, I'm not opposed to creating an "event" around a release that inevitably draws a crowd. I've stood in line for a beer or two in my day, and the annual releases many of us patiently wait a year for are part of what makes craft beer special.
But when an entire beer community is counting on an eventual return to normalcy, and the vast majority of the community is taking steps to ensure that happens, I don't think now's the time for brewers to market a beer by emphasizing its scarcity or by making so little (or not enforcing reasonable limits) that it sells out in a matter of hours.
Cheers,
Tim
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Virtual Tastings: High on the Hop | RoHa Brewing Project
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Chill vibes and lazy summer days sound pretty good right about now. High on the Hop, a new IPA from RoHa Brewing Project, is a beer designed to sip as you soak in the sun.
🎙 BONUS: Join Utah Beer News as we embark on our inaugural episode of Video Virtual Tastings. Rob Phillips, co-founder of RoHa Brewing Project, joins Tim Haran to talk about the brewery and its latest release.
If you'd like to participate in one of these virtual tastings, please feel free to reach out and we'll see if we can get something scheduled. Next Week: Chad Hopkins, owner/brewer Hopkins Brewing.
Subscribe to the Utah Beer News YouTube Channel to see additional episodes with brewers, breweries, and everyday imbibers.
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COVID-19: Utah Breweries Get Go-Ahead to Reopen
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I've done my best to provide comprehensive weekly updates as to how individual breweries are handling the COVID-19 restrictions set forth by state and local governments.
Here are recent links to Utah Beer News coverage of this ever-developing story:
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On the Site Next Week: Grid City Beer Works
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New Article & Podcast Episode: Visit UtahBeerNews.com next week to learn more about Utah's newest brewery—Grid City Beer Works. We chatted with the founders in late February, weeks before its planned grand opening...and weeks before Utah's bars, restaurants, and breweries temporarily closed to dine-in service.
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🎙 Utah Beer News Podcast
The Utah Beer News podcast provides another avenue for us to tell stories about the Utah beer community. We'd love for you to subscribe, take a listen, and let us know what you think!
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 Each month, I gather beer-related news and notes to share with Utah Beer News email subscribers. Much of what's mentioned in this space is obtained from social sites, taproom visits, email newsletters, etc. (and a few are sent directly to me—hint, hint).
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Reminder: It's always best to confirm event dates, times and locations with the individual organizers.
- Did you know Utah's Wasatch Resource Recovery transforms "off-spec" beer and other brewery waste (spent grain, hops, and yeast) into renewable energy and nutrient-rich fertilizer?
- American Craft Beer Week is coming up (May 11-17). It obviously will look much different this year, but at least one brewery has already announced a special event.
- Talisman Brewing is holding its next Virtual Happy Hour on May 8 at 6 p.m. Join the Ogden brewery in tasting and learning more about Spindrift, Talisman's new hazy IPA.
- Divine Lunacy, a barrel-aged quad from 2 Row Brewing, is once again available.
- Mountain West Hard Cider released Stillwater, a barrel-aged hard cider. Aged over nine months in Wyoming Whiskey barrels, Stillwater "offers smooth caramel, vanilla flavors, and oak notes." The non-carbonated cider clocks in at 9% ABV and can be yours for $19.99/bottle. "We have plenty of cases, so there is no need to stand in line or compromise your health," the cidery wrote.
- This is cool—the folks at Fisher Brewing are helping out their friends at Desert Edge Pub & Brewery (read the history). It sounds like Desert Edge is in the process of getting a canning line up-and-running. But until it does, Fisher is offering a rotating crowler from the Trolley Square brewery. First up: the classic Utah Pale Ale. "Crowlers will be $6 each, with all proceeds benefiting the staff at the Pub restaurants (Martine Cafe, Stella Grill, and Red Butte Cafe)," Fisher wrote. "We're looking forward to partnering on this program with our friends."
- Toasted Barrel Brewery got a coolship. "This tank will be used to inoculate beer by cooling overnight in the open air, in the Belgian tradition," Toasted Barrel wrote on Facebook. "We will take it around our beautiful state to our most iconic landmarks for our 'TO BE' series of spontaneously fermented beer."
- A new video from Shades Brewing introduces Livli, its new line of hard seltzers. It's also still selling its "Quarantine Kits" of beer.
- T.F. Brewing released its All Together beer. All Together is a worldwide collaboration project spearheaded by Other Half Brewing in New York. Hundreds of breweries around the world are brewing a New England-style IPA to benefit service industry workers. Sales of the T.F. version directly benefited the brewery’s staff.
- Check out Rio Connelly, Proper Brewing co-founder, on the Good Beer Matters podcast.
- Congratulations to Avenues Proper, which celebrated its seven-year anniversary in April, as well to RoHa Brewing Project, which commemorated its three-year anniversary with a social-distance party.
- Came across this Instagram account. Looks like a new brewery in the Ogden Valley—Monks Brewing Company—may be in the works.
- Speaking of Northern Utah breweries, it looks like Ogden River Brewing is coming along nicely.
- Received a note recently that Kawaba Beer, produced in the tiny village of Kawaba, Japan (pop. 3,400), is now available in Utah as a DABC special order. Snow Weizen, Sunrise Ale, Pearl Pilsner, and Twilight Ale are said to be available.
- City Weekly and KRCL 90.9 FM radio continue daily segments on the station’s RadioACTive program (listen live). The 6 p.m. segments are dubbed #quarantinecocktails. Each day during the #staysafestayhome order, the segment will feature "local brewers, distillers, bars, and restaurants to let you know what the makers are making."
- According to the Brewers Association, craft beer grew by 4% in 2019 and is now a $29 billion industry, via PorchDrinking.com.
- Speaking of the Brewers Association, it recently partnered with Bottleshare to create the "Believe in Beer Fund," a relief fund for brewers impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Donations and applications for breweries in need are being accepted through May 17.
- Coronavirus is a brewing threat for Germany's beer makers, via the Los Angeles Times.
- Busch Beer is promising a year of beer to 250 couples who change their wedding plans, via MarketingDive. The deadline to enter was May 1, unfortunately. For those curious, however, here's Busch Guy with the details.
And finally...
- Utah Beer News is about to celebrate its two-year anniversary. The site officially launched on May 17, 2018 — coinciding with the start of that year's American Craft Beer Week. Thank you to everyone who continues to support our efforts.
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Hello Again & Welcome
If this is your first time receiving this monthly dispatch, welcome! If you're a longtime subscriber, thank you for sticking with it. As always, feel free to drop a line to let me know what you think.
Currently Drinking: As I write, I'm sipping a High on the Hop from RoHa Brewing Project. How about you?
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