Wish List.
With Halloween in the rearview and Thanksgiving (and its relative lack of commercial buzz) just around the corner, many eyes—and wallets—are focused on December.
 You needn't listen any further than a neighborhood diner whose piped-in Christmas music on Nov. 1 paired well with a build-your-own Grand Slam breakfast.
Or your local Costco that for weeks now has stocked its warehouse shelves not with Thanksgiving decor but with Santa Claus-emblazoned wrapping paper, Christmas decorations, and the gift that last year sent certain craft beer folks into a full-on froth: 12 Biers of Christmas.
For those who may have missed out in 2020, not to worry. The German-style beer showcase piece is back.
At Costco stores elsewhere, it appears an advent calendar (24 canned biers—because, German) is available. I spotted only the 12-pack variety here, but let me know if you see the twice-as-nice pack available for purchase in our humble state.
Advent-urous
While I'm a big fan of drinking local, I'll admit I thoroughly enjoyed cracking open a nightly imported bier—perhaps the novelty had something to do with it (a bier briefcase!). And listeners to the Utah Beer News Podcast have heard us explain how to build your own craft beer advent calendar (at about the 42-minute mark) to really get in that holiday spirit.
With only so many shopping days left until Christmas, now seems like a good time to start preparing for the season. I've been thinking about wish lists and what I'd include in my ultimate, loosely holiday-themed, local mix-and-match craft beer six-pack.
Here's where I landed (in no particular order):
This isn't the only correct answer, obviously (full disclosure: I didn't spend a ton of time mulling it over). The list will likely change from year to year, and even month to month. Plus, I challenge you to limit your wish list to six beers. It's harder than it might sound.
Nevertheless, for today, I wouldn't be mad to see the above six-pack under the tree on Christmas morning.
And you? What's in your ultimate, loosely holiday-themed local craft beer six-pack? Let me know.
Cheers,
Tim
Currently Drinking: As I write, I got an early start on Christmas and am sipping a Red Sea Rift Imperial Coffee Stout from Level Crossing Brewing Co. How about you?
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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. Connect with me personally on Untappd.
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🎥 Virtual Taproom Episodes: Wasatch, Talisman
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I invite you to watch the latest in our Virtual Taproom episodes. These brief, newsy videos feature brewers, brewers, and everyday imbibers who contribute to the Utah craft beer scene.
Oh, and please subscribe to the Utah Beer News YouTube Channel.
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📸 Utah Ale Trail: Fall Crawl 2021
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I got out on the Utah Ale Trail on Oct. 21 to celebrate a handful of local breweries as part of the annual Fall Crawl. My stops included:
- RoHa Brewing Project—Project Porter
- Proper Brewing Co.—City of Gold Pale Ale
- Bewilder Brewing—Wit Chamberlain
- Kiitos Brewing—Pumpkin Latte
All told, 22 breweries from around the state participated in the 2021 Utah Ale Trail Fall Crawl (presented by Third Sun Productions). In my opinion, the Fall Crawl is one of the best low-key beer events in Utah that helps to showcase the state's craft beer scene.
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🍻 Beer Showcase: 147 West IPA | Squatters
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Occasionally, I'll write about select Utah craft beers for PorchDrinking.com. The latest write-up features the 147 West Broadway Hop IPA from Squatters Craft Beers.
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Brewery Folks: Got news, notes, or events to share? Don't count on me to find it on social media. Please send the info to Utah Beer News directly if you'd like me to help spread the word.
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🎙Utah Beer News Podcast:
Beer News for Your Ears 🎙
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The Utah Beer News podcast provides another avenue to tell stories about the Utah beer community. I'd love for you to subscribe, take a listen, and let me know what you think!
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🍺 Utah Beer News East: Looks Like We Made It
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Thanks to good friends of Utah Beer News—Holly, Danny, & Daphne—we're now well-represented at Yellow Dog Eats in Florida.
As they point out, right under the cat giving the finger. 😎
If you've stuck a Utah Beer News sticker somewhere cool, I'd love to see a pic!
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🤔 A Chance to Win: Where Am I?
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The feature I started over here at Utah Beer News—exclusively for e-newsletter subscribers (like you!)—is really taking the craft beer world by storm. Here's the deal:
- Email me with your best guess as to where the above photo was taken (i.e. in this instance, the name of the brewery). One guess per email address each month, please.
- I'll select two names from correct, eligible entries to each win a $25 gift card
That's it! The deadline to enter is Nov. 12, 2021. I'll announce the winners here next month. Good luck!
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🏆 October's Winners: Congrats!
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Congratulations to Laura H. and Thomas C., who correctly identified that the photos below 👇 👇 👇 were taken at none other than Bewilder Brewing in Salt Lake. Each will receive a $25 gift card to Bewilder.
Thanks to everyone who submitted a guess in October (there were quite a few correct answers). Be sure to try again this month. |
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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).
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- Wasatch Brewery is partnering with the Healthy Environment Alliance of Utah to host a screening of the film AWAiRE: What’s Beneath the Clouds. It’s set for Nov. 5 at 5:30 p.m. at Wasatch Brewpub in Park City.
- Learn to Homebrew Day is Nov. 6. The American Homebrewers Association organized the annual event for the first time in 1999 “to promote the most rewarding and delicious activity of all time—homebrewing.”
- Policy Kings Brewery in Cedar City is celebrating its three-year anniversary on Nov. 6 with live music and the release of a collaboration sour ale. The beer is aged on merlot grapes from I/G Winery.
- The Brewery Comedy Tour makes its way to SaltFire Brewing on Nov. 10 and Dec. 8. Tickets are $17 and can be purchased here.
- Utah Brew Fest is hosting its 3rd Annual BJCP-Sanctioned Homebrew Competition. Entries will be accepted until Nov. 14 at Salt City Brew Supply. The awards ceremony will be held on Nov. 21 at Bewilder Brewing.
- Bewilder Brewing is offering 10% off appetizers and shareables starting two hours before each Utah Jazz home game. And next time you’re at Bewilder, be sure to check out the new historical photos added to the walls—see what the building looked like 100 years ago.
- Attention all would-be artists: Get in on the Hopkins Brewing coaster contest for November.
- Salt Flats Brewing is teasing us with some “very special aged beers” coming our way for the holidays. Keep an eye out.
- Shades Brewing is now distributing its beers in San Diego.
- Here’s an article with details on Scion Cider Bar, which expects to open in Salt Lake City in November. Scion plans to offer "over 20 varieties of cider on tap with an additional selection of 80-100 cans or bottles of craft cider," according to the article.
- Speaking of craft cider, Mountain West Hard Cider’s 7 Mile is back for a limited time. And it released Ghosted, a ghost pepper hard cider. Whoa.
- Utah’s newest brewery—Offset Bier in Park City—released its first high-point offering.
- Congratulations to a pair of Utah breweries that celebrated anniversaries late last month. T.F. Brewing in Salt Lake celebrated three years and Ogden River Brewing in Ogden commemorated its one-year anniversary.
- Wasatch Brewery and Squatters Craft Beers raised money in September through a “guilt-free” brownie promotion. In late October, the breweries presented checks to six local charitable organizations.
- Epic Brewing announced its 2021 Big Bad Baptist lineup.
- Small Brewery Sunday returns Nov. 28. Make plans now to support your local, independent craft breweries.
- Fort Collins, Colo.-based New Belgium reportedly created Torched Earth—a statement beer that tastes like climate change, via CBS News
And finally…
- A true friend: A Dutch football fan carries 48 pints of beer—at once—back to his mates, via Daily Mail.
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Brewery Folks: Got news, notes, or events to share? Don't count on me to find it on social media. Please send the info to Utah Beer News directly if you'd like me to help spread the word.
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