I can appreciate a good beer pretty much any time of the year, but in much the same way a barrel-aged stout is the ideal accompaniment for a cold winter's night by a fireplace, there are some beers that taste just that much better during summer's searing afternoons and warm evenings. Here are a few local brews that I've enjoyed over the last couple few weeks that have tasted mighty good on toasty days.
Fisher Brewing Galactic Juice IPA
I picked up this hazy little number when I was biking home from work on a sunny day in May. It just so happens that Fisher Brewing is on my route home and, feeling fairly parched at that point, it's not like I was gonna NOT stop and pick up a thirst quencher. Upon getting home and pouring it, I assumed it was going to be similar in flavor to a New England-style IPA based on its ridiculously hazy appearance—you know, low bitterness and exploding with tropical fruit—but that wasn't exactly the case. That's not to say it wasn't delicious, because it was; orange peel and citrus notes, very dry and hop-forward, with just a bit of melon on the finish. If you're into the idea of the hazy trend, but still like some bitterness in your IPAs, you won't be disappointed by this gem.
Saltfire Fury Kolsch
Saltfire is the newest kid on the block, and judging by the four offerings I grabbed from them the other day, they are on track to make a name for themselves very quickly. I had two different single-hop IPAs from them as well as a Double IPA, and they were all awesome, but for summer drinking purposes I want to highlight their Fury Kolsch. Like a good Kolsch should be, it's crisp and clean, perfect for a hot summer day. What sets this one apart from a classic German Kolsch is a proprietary blend of hops that gives it some super-refreshing tropical flavors—I got tons of papaya—with a light bitterness and a refreshing finish that leaves you wanting more with each sip. Bonus: this beer was brewed in collaboration with the home-brewing club Hop Bombshells SLC on International Women's Day, with a portion of the proceeds going towards the Pink Boots Society, which works to raise the profile of women in the brewing industry.
Uinta Lime Pilsner
When the mercury is shooting up and the sun is beating down, you could do worse than to cool down with this ultra-refreshing brew from Uinta Brewing. A crisp, refreshing pilsner with a whole lot of lime, this isn't exactly a nuanced beer, but it's exactly what the doctor ordered when you need to cool off. This is an incredibly easy-to-drink beer on a sweltering day, perfect for throwing back several during a day on the water, hitting the links, or BBQing in the yard. The ideal way to drink this beer is in the not-quite-tallboy version shown here, which reduces the trips you need to make to the cooler.
Epic Brewing RiNo APA
I think this one may technically be brewed in Colorado, but whatever, Epic started in Utah so I'm claiming this one. The first word that came to mind when tasting this: delicious. It's not a hop bomb or some genre-shattering new flavor, it's just a damn good beer. It pours slightly hazy, with a nice dark gold flavor that hints at its well-balanced nature. Balanced is definitely the key word here, with noticeable hop flavor that holds its own against the malt without overpowering. Apricot flavors come to mind, with bitterness on the tongue that quickly dissipates and finishes smooth, almost slightly sweet. All in all, a beer that I definitely will be drinking again as summer drags on.
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