Shaking Things Up.
The news earlier this year that three venerable—and large and longtime—Utah craft beer brands would change ownership created a bit of buzz.
 First, United States Beverage, a company that provides a national distribution network for a variety of alcohol brands, announced that it had formed a joint venture (with Colorado-based private investment firm FC Crestone) to acquire Uinta Brewing. The Salt Lake-based brewery, generally cited as Utah's largest, is nearing its 30th anniversary.
Then, not a week later, Monster Beverage Corporation, the makers of Monster Energy® drinks, sent a jolt through the craft beer industry by announcing a $330-million acquisition of CANarchy Craft Brewery Collective. Formed in 2015, the collective is the nation's sixth-largest craft brewing enterprise, according to the Brewers Association, and it includes Utah's two oldest brewing operations—Wasatch Brewery (founded in 1986) and Squatters Craft Beers (1989).
While Uinta, Squatters, and Wasatch are all synonymous with Utah, and each helped to lay the foundation for what has developed into a thriving craft beer scene, none of the three breweries has been fully locally owned in several years.
Mike Riedel, who's seen it all when it comes to Utah craft beer, penned an article for Salt Lake City Weekly that breaks down what these acquisitions could mean for the average (or above average) beer drinker. I encourage you to give it a read.
As he points out, the Squatters/Wasatch deal might create a bigger impact locally. Monster acquired CANarchy's seven manufacturing facilities, though it didn't bring the collective's restaurants and brewpubs into the fold.
It's unclear what that could mean for the Wasatch Brewpub at the top of Main Street in Park City and the Squatters Pub in downtown Salt Lake City (and the other outposts at the airport, in Sugar House, etc.). Could a local suitor be sought for the restaurant entities, or might they ultimately be shuttered? The latter would be tragic.
In addition, in a call with investors soon after the announcement, Monster executives reportedly named several of the bigger CANarchy brands—Cigar City, Oskar Blues, Deep Ellum—in highlighting various attributes of the company's new purchase. They didn't specifically "name-check its smaller regional players: Wasatch, Squatters, and Perrin," according to Brewbound, a craft beer industry publication.
The Monster deal, which is expected to close sometime before the end of March, could potentially shake up the Squatters and Wasatch brands, depending on how much interest the new owners take in the Utah-based businesses. For now, according to a news release, CANarchy will function independently and be led by current CEO Tony Short.
Of note, at least for people who care about such things: the CANarchy brands will remain "craft beer" under the Brewers Association's definition.
In the Uinta acquisition, terms weren't disclosed, though U.S. Beverage confirmed that "Uinta leadership, operations, and staff will remain in place." Jeremy Ragonese, the Uinta Brewing president, said in a statement that he's "thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with U.S. Beverage to expand opportunities for our brewery, advance our current initiatives, and invest in our future."
It will be interesting to see how these acquisitions impact the breweries' overall beer offerings, the brands' visibility on store shelves, and if any local flavor gets stripped from three of Utah's most-recognizable beer brands.
An Update on Utah Beer News
As mentioned in last month's e-newsletter, I'm continuing to evaluate how the Utah Beer News brand might evolve in 2022 and beyond. Thank you for your patience and for sticking with me as I work to position the site as a sustainable, relevant resource for the craft beer community.
I've chatted with folks in the community and gathered data via surveys, but if you'd like to share specific thoughts on what you'd like to see from a local craft beer website, please feel free to drop a line.
As always, thank you for your support.
Cheers,
Tim
Currently Drinking: As I write, I'm enjoying a Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter from SaltFire Brewing. 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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🍻 Quick Sips: 2 Utah Craft Beers to Consider
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Beer Name/Style: 147 West Broadway Cold Hazy IPA, Hazy IPA
Brewery: Squatters Craft Beers
ABV: 5%
Found at: West Side Tavern & Cold Beer Store
Notes: The second in Squatters' rotating series of IPAs, this cold hazy offering (at session strength) is an easy-drinking, fruit-forward quencher. Aromas of citrus (orange and tangerine) and flavors that skew more tropical fruits for me. A slight tang on the tongue and light finishing bitterness to balance the fruit-hops notes. It's brewed with an alt yeast and is fermented colder than a typical ale. I'm enjoying this series and am looking forward to future releases.
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Beer Name/Style: Anniversary Ale 2021, Barrel-Aged Imperial ESB
Brewery: Bewilder Brewing
ABV: 11.1%
Found at: Bewilder Brewing
Notes: Brewed to celebrate Bewilder's two-year anniversary, the Imperial ESB is an amped-up version of its flagship. At Bewilder's anniversary party in January, I sipped 16 ounces of the "Barrel Select" version (chosen from a single ruby port barrel that High West Distillery used for its Double Rye). Pours a deep amber in the light. Aromas of raisins and dark fruits. Flavors are robust and complex, with layers upon layers of sweet malt, wine-like notes, some whiskey, and more.
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About Quick Sips: From time to time I'll use the above space to share two beers that I believe are worth seeking out. If you're a brewer or craft beer enthusiast who would like a specific beer to be considered for this feature, please send me an email with details about the beer.
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🍻 RoHa Brewing Project: False Prophet Appears
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Rob Phillips, a co-founder of RoHa Brewing Project, gave me a heads-up about a new beer that the Salt Lake brewery expects to release in the next week or so (keep an eye on RoHa's social media for details on availability).
False Prophet, a 7% ABV Hazy IPA, is a departure from traditional RoHa branding. It will feature copious amounts of dry hops, with the recipe calling for Comet, Idaho 7, Simcoe, and Mandarina Bavaria hops.
"Floral and citrus notes prevail," Phillips says. "Expect smooth, soft hop notes with no bitterness. An IPA without bitterness; that has to be a false prophecy."
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🍻 Epic Brewing: A Trio of New Beers on Deck
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Thanks to Gus Erickson, marketing specialist at Epic Brewing, for sending through details about a trio of new beers that will be available in March. Keep an eye on Epic's social sites for availability details. Here's a sneak peek of what's coming up:
- Yelling At Clouds Cold IPA: With this 6.5% offering, Epic sought to produce an IPA that isn't hazy (crazy, right?). It utilizes an American lager yeast and is fermented cold, "making the beer crispier and cleaner than a typical IPA." It features Sabro, Simcoe, and Idaho 7 hops. Available in 16-ounce cans in March.
- Flower Power Sour: The 6.5% oak-aged sour features two popular tea additives. Epic started with a sour ale that had aged for months in an oak foeder and added passion fruit puree before blending Belgian Golden Strong Ale into the mix. Hibiscus is added before packaging to give the beer a pink hue. Available in 16-ounce cans in March.
- Space Debris IPA: A new addition to Epic's year-round lineup, Space Debris (6.2%) is a classic West Coast IPA that features Amarillo, Centennial, Citra, and Nugget hops. Described as having "mild pineyness and tropical fruit notes." Available in 12-ounce cans in March.
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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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Many thanks to Mike the Janitor, a good friend of Utah Beer News, for helping to properly brand the World Headquarters.
His latest project—in conjunction with two additional friends of Utah Beer News—is the "So, This Guy I Used to Work With..." podcast. Check it out.
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