Helping Out.
In recent years, several Utah breweries have explored crowdsourced funding to provide an extra financial boost.
 The likes of Toasted Barrel Brewery and Ogden River Brewing used Kickstarter campaigns to give their construction coffers an initial surge. Bewilder Brewing enacted the same funding mechanism in the final stages of its buildout a little over a year ago. Grid City Beer Works asked for the community’s help to fund its soon-to-be-open rooftop deck.
And now, Policy Kings Brewery is seeking the public's help as it looks to expand beyond its taproom walls. Here's where you can learn more.
The three-year-old Cedar City nano-brewery brews just enough beer to keep up with demand at its taproom. But owners Sara and Dre Ridgel have loftier aspirations.
“We’re going to get a new system, which will double our capacity and our efficiency,” the Policy Kings owners told me during a video interview. “Our goal is to spread our beer up north, and all over Southern Utah, so people have more opportunities to try it. That’s our goal.”
But when Policy Kings attempted to secure financing in a more traditional way, it faced roadblocks. So the brewery opted to turn to its customers, as well as to the larger Utah craft beer community.
 "We started the Kickstarter after dealing with the local bank here for months and months, trying to get it to work and going back and forth," Policy Kings told me. "Finally, we just ended it and decided, why don’t we reach out to our local beer community and ask them for help?"
Blazing a Trail
Sara and Dre are trailblazers. In 2018, they opened Cedar City’s first brewery. Policy Kings is also Utah’s only Black-owned brewery (and one of relatively few in the nation).
In addition to its 5% ABV draft beer lineup, Policy Kings recently began brewing and canning high-point beer-to-go (I thoroughly enjoyed its 01-01-01 offering, both the beer itself and the meaning behind the beer's name).
Breweries, as you know, are an important part of any community. And when it's the only brewery serving a thirsty community, its role is vital. It's important to remember that Utah Craft Beer extends beyond the Wasatch Front.
While Policy Kings is off to a good start with its Kickstarter, time is running out. The thing with a Kickstarter campaign is it's an all-or-nothing deal. Policy Kings is seeking a $25,000 cash infusion (perks are included at specific donation levels). If Policy Kings doesn't meet its goal by its April 9 deadline, the brewery gets nothing from the campaign.
As we've been reminded in the last year, we should support local businesses whenever and however possible. Please learn more about the Policy Kings story and consider making a contribution.
Additional Opportunities
In addition to the Policy Kings Kickstarter, here are a few other beer-y causes that might interest you:
- Jamie Burnham, a well-known figure in the Utah craft beer industry, organized a homebrew competition. 100% of proceeds benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The deadline to compete was March 31, but you still can donate directly to Jamie’s fundraiser. By the way, she is also nominated as the Utah Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year!
- Last year, Utah got its own BeerdBus that organizes brewery tours. Now, the fledgling company is raising funds to help keep it on the road.
- And finally, Mountain West Cider officially launched an equity crowdfunding campaign. You could own a piece of a local cidery. Check out all the investment details and learn more about the history and future of Mountain West while you’re at it.
Cheers,
Tim
Currently Drinking: As I write, I'm enjoying a Brown Ale from Grid City Beer Works. 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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🏀 🍺 Beer Madness
2021 Beer Bracket Battle
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For the second straight year, we've selected eight local beers to compete in a March Madness-style bracket challenge (click for results of the inaugural event, if you're interested).
Which brew displayed guts and determination, overcame adversity, and outlasted the competitors to taste that oh-so-sweet victory this time around? Take a look.
🎙 BONUS: Listen to the play-by-play as Dave Baker, Ben Raskin, and Tim Haran, using their tastebuds as their playbook, whittle the field from eight to one in the latest episode of the Utah Beer News Podcast.
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Notable: 2 Utah Beers to Try
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This month, our two notable beers—spoiler alert!—are a pair of winners from the 2nd Annual Beer Bracket Battle. Our three tasters each selected a different champion (Desert Edge's 2020 IPA, the third champion, was named a notable beer in the January 2021 Utah Beer News e-newsletter).
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Beer Name/Style: Brown Ale
Brewery: Grid City Beer Works
ABV: 4.6%
Purchased: Grid City Beer Works
Notes: Grid City Beer Works is less than a year old and it already boasts a GABF medal for its Honey Cream Ale. For my money, the Brown Ale is equally medal-worthy. Aromas of weathered wood and a subtle floral hop character. Flavors of caramel, toasted bread, and a touch of honey. It's creamy in a can; I'd love to try it on nitro (oh, I can!)
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Beer Name/Style: The OG Juice, Juicy IPA
Brewery: UTOG Brewing
ABV: 7.3%
Purchased: UTOG Brewing
Notes: The OG Juice pours a rustic orange with a white cap of semi-rocky foam that lingers in the glass. I picked up a surprisingly dank, earthy hop aroma, as well as some melon and mango. Flavors brightened up, with some citrus and moderate bitterness that reminds me of a West-Coast-meets-Juicy-IPA treat.
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About Notable Beers: 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 by April 25 with details about the beer.
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EVEN MORE BEERS: By the way, here are a few new beers—or returning seasonals—that have been brought to our attention since our last dispatch. Check out the individual social posts for details.
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🎙 Podcast: Beer News for Your Ears
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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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🎥 New Video Series: Join the Virtual Taprooms
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I'm trying something new, and I'd love to get your feedback. I'm visiting with brewers, breweries, and everyday imbibers for 15-minute video conversations to be released the same day they're recorded. And I'm calling them Virtual Taproom Visits. They live on our YouTube channel—please subscribe!
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Click to Watch 4 Additional Episodes...
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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.
- Mountain West Cider is hosting an Adult Easter Egg Hunt on April 3. It starts at noon, is free, and is 21+ only.
- As mentioned above, Policy Kings Brewery continues its Kickstarter campaign to help increase its reach beyond its Cedar City taproom. Check out the details and the perks. You have until April 9 to help them reach their goal.
- More tables, more chairs, more patio seating at Bewilder Brewing (and it’s heated for chilly spring evenings).
- And if you feel like riding your bike to Bewilder, there's now a super-cool spot for you to park it. 🚲
- Proper Brewing hosts monthly cellar dinners at its new event space behind Proper Burger. The most-recent event happened on March 31, but keep your eyes on Proper’s social media (and subscribe to its e-newsletter) to get notified about the next Cellar Dinner.
- Happy anniversary to Bonneville Brewing, which celebrated eight years in March. It brewed its 8th AnniversaRye and Big Red Triumph to mark the occasion.
- Congratulations to Level Crossing Brewing, which celebrated its two-year anniversary on March 30. It also re-released its popular Space Oddity Hazy Double IPA.
- And happy anniversary to UTOG Brewing in Ogden. It, too, celebrated two years in late March.
- Squatters/Wasatch received eight new 200-barrel tanks at its West Side Tavern production facility. That’s a lot of beer to you and me.
- RoHa Brewing Project gave us the scoop on a couple of upcoming releases. Steady Edge Imperial Red Ale (7.9% ABV) is more than two years in the making and will feature "big caramel flavors and hop aroma (that) pair well with the towering red rocks of Utah." It's scheduled to hit the market (liquor stores) later in April.
- Also for RoHa, two flavors—White Grapefruit and Black Cherry—of Gemini Seltzer, a new co-brand for RoHa, should be available in a 12-pack, or "twin pack" (hence, Gemini...), at liquor stores later this month.
- The Bayou, which is still offering curbside service, posted an update on March 14 regarding its thoughts on opening to dine-in service.
- The Brewers Association released its list of the Top 50 Craft Brewers for 2020. D. G. Yuengling and Son Inc. once again occupied the top spot. CANarchy (which includes Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery) jumped two spots from 2019 to No. 6. The breweries are ranked by sales volume.
- A couple of reminders: National Beer Day is April 7 and American Craft Beer Week is coming up May 10-16. Plan accordingly.
- And while you're marking calendars and saving dates... the 3rd Annual Southern Utah Beer Fest hosted by Policy Kings Brewery is scheduled to take place on July 31 at the Cedar City brewery.
- Plus: The Utah Beer Festival is planned for Aug. 21-22. Details and format haven't been finalized, according to City Weekly, which organizes the event.
And finally…
- Just when you thought beer couldn’t get any less beer-y. Let me know if you manage to get your hands on one of these creme egg stouts ... and why, via Delish.
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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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