Utah Beer News | August 2019

Beer Fest.

We're days away from "Utah's largest beer event." The two-day Utah Beer Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2019.

Pete Saltas, director of operations at Salt Lake City Weekly, which puts on the event, joined us on our podcast earlier this month to talk about the festival's rich and storied history.

I don't remember attending the inaugural fest at Washington Square in 2010. But it sounded like a boozy doozy. Twenty-five bucks got you open-bar-style samples from the 10 or so breweries operating in Utah at the time.

You can listen to Pete tell the story (he's joined by City Weekly's Samantha Smith and Red Rock's Shantel Stoff). An event that organizers thought might be a flop (pre-sales that first year weren't great) turned out to be the start of something special.

Still, that inaugural fest didn't go exactly as planned.
 

Check out this interesting "Then & Now" graphic.

Fast-forward to 2019. The flat-fee format is long gone but in its place are 60 or so breweries pouring 200+ samples throughout the sprawling Utah State Fairpark. About half the breweries are local, which speaks volumes to the rapid rise of craft beer in Utah.

But the Utah Beer Festival (Aug. 17-18) is so much more than simply a beer (and cider and hard seltzer) festival. It's food trucks, it's live music, it's an outdoors expo, it's a tech-gadget showcase. And, perhaps most important longterm, it helps to support local journalism.

Get the inside scoop on everything this two-day community festival has to offer. And I hope to see you at the Utah State Fairpark this weekend. 🍻

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Currently Drinking: As I write, I'm sipping a Summer Ale from Red Rock Brewery. How about you?

Cheers,
Tim

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Brewery Folks & Fans: As always, please feel free to send notes our way if you'd like us to help spread the word about your news and events.

Utah Beer Festival: Get the Inside Scoop

The Utah Beer Festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary. Raise a (five-ounce sample) glass to “Utah’s largest beer event.” It’s set for Aug. 17-18 at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City.

This year’s festival will feature 60 or so breweries — including eight first-timers — pouring 200+ beers (and ciders and hard seltzers).

Talisman Brewing: Veteran Owned, Ogden Made

Ogden is becoming quite the hot spot for craft beer. One brewery that’s contributing to that growth is Talisman Brewing. The husband-and-wife-operated brewery opened in 2016. We sat down with co-owners Dusty and Joann Williams to learn their story — starting with how they landed on the name Talisman.

Ogden Beer: An Inside Look (& Listen) at Roosters & UTOG

Coming Soon: New Breweries on the Horizon

Beer Showcase: Sugar House Pilsner • Hopkins Brewing Co.

Beer News & Notes

• Strap Tank Brewing opened its Lehi location on Aug. 5. Here are some great pics from our friends at Crafty Beer Girls.
• Registration is open now through Sept. 1 for the 11th Anniversary Beehive Brewoff. 
• Snowbird's Oktoberfest kicks off this weekend and runs every Saturday and Sunday through Oct. 20.
• Join Proper Brewing Co. for its 3rd Annual Proper Luau on Aug. 24.
• RoHa Brewing Project is hosting a pair of Pints for Purpose events Sept. 1 and Sept. 5.
• Squatters Craft Beers turns the big 3-0 in 2019. It's throwing a beer fest bash Sept. 8 to help celebrate.
• Kiitos Brewing is celebrating its second birthday with a party on Sept. 28.
• Congrats to 2 Row Brewing. Its Feelin' Hazy Double IPA landed on this list of The 34 Hottest IPAs in America Right Now.
• Congratulations to Toasted Barrel Brewery on being named "Best New Brewery" at Salt Lake's 3rd Annual Food Truck and Brewery Battle. Bohemian Brewery picked up "People's Choice" honors, via The Salt Lake Tribune.
• Roadhouse Brewing Co. and Alaskan Brewing Co. announced they'll start distributing in Utah.
• Word on the street is Surly Brewing Co.'s highly regarded Todd the Axe Man IPA will make a limited appearance in Utah toward the end of August. We'll have more details on the site in the coming days.

• Summer is winding down, but there's still a chance to check out Hops on the Hill, Blues, Brews & BBQ, and Fleet Nights Beer Garden, among other beer-y events around the state.