Uinta Brewing Company - King's Peak Porter

King’s Peak, located in the Uinta Mountains, is the single highest point in the state of Utah at 13,528 feet. King's Peak Porter, by contrast, is the deepest colored brew made by the Uinta Brewing Company. The medium-bodied, malty flavor and dry, roasted body bridge the gap between traditional porter flavors and German Schwarzbier (or black beer). Expect a healthy dose of chocolate malts throughout. Topped with a thick tan creamy head, our beer panel concurred that this expertly balanced beer has a more defined hop character than what is common for this style, but we just loved it that much more for that (lots of hop heads on our panel)! Tasting this beer, it’s no wonder that King’s Peak swept the 2000 Gold Medals at both the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup in the German style Schwarzbier category—and the 1999 Silver medal at the World Beer Cup in the German porter category. This beer is great with grilled salmon, Madeira steak tips or smothered pork chops.

Uinta (pronounced “you-in-tah”) is named after a major east-west mountain range located in the Rocky Mountains. The word “Uinta” comes from the Ute Indians, and in fact, this tribe also gave Utah its name. But, just as an FYI, it is unclear where the pronunciation came from, as the word Ute is sometimes pronounced "Oot", "Yoot" or “Yutah”. The Uinta Brewing Company was established in 1993 with the intent of crafting full-flavored, fresh and unique domestic ales in an environmentally friendly, sustainable manner. The names of Uinta’s product line have been inspired largely by Utah's rich heritage and inspirational landscapes. In choosing to establish the Uinta B.C. in Utah, founder Will Hamill managed to fuse his passion for brewing with his love of the outdoors. Drawn to the rich and diverse landscapes of Utah, Will settled into a lifestyle similar to that of many Utahans that included skiing, kayaking and biking. However, Will, originally from Maine, longed for the tastes of fresh, craft-brewed beer. To satisfy his own thirst, Will became consumed with home brewing. After years of refining recipes, he created beers that kept him and his friends smiling, and was soon convinced that he had found his calling. He formally studied brewing at the University of California at Davis to further his knowledge of the industry. In getting started, endless days and nights were spent converting an auto-mechanic’s workshop into a brewery, and initially just one employee worked for free to help get Uinta off the ground. The foremost goal was—and still is—to brew beer that satisfies the most discriminating tastes, including those of the brewery staff. At the turn of the century, Uinta Brewing Company outgrew its original facility. A 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art brewery was built with energy efficiency and conservation in mind. The brewery’s new nesting grounds are fully equipped with the latest in brewing technology—including systems that ensure that the facility is 100% wind powered. That’s correct folks—one-hundred percent powered by nature herself! Pretty sweet, huh? Looking at it this way, by enjoying Uinta beers, you’re playing a part in preventing the release of 357,120 pounds of carbon dioxide per year—the equivalent of planting 71 acres of trees, or not driving 348,400 miles per year. The new building reflects Uinta Brewing Company's efforts to be a leader in the brewing industry while remaining committed to conservation. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (801) 467-0909 or check out their web site at www.uintabrewing.com.