Uinta Brewing Company - Violet Fire

Violet Fire presents a bright straw color, lightly chill hazed, topped by a head of white foam. Uinta calls this a “new style lager” – essentially a classic American-style lager base that’s been “re-imagined” by dry-hopping with the modern hop cultivars Sabro and El Dorado to deliver the juicy and fruity hop aroma (although not the bitterness) of a modern IPA. On the nose, look for an expressive and complex array of subtle impressions including stone fruits, melon, citrus, tropical fruit & flora, and a bit of an herbal-earthy note. Flavorwise, the malt profile is quite clean, as we expect for an American lager, with some crackery and lightly bready notes augmented with a very light touch of sweetness. We felt the hops were as engaging in the flavor as in the aroma, with juicy stone fruit and melon taking center stage, backed up by hints of citrus rind and a wisp of coconut. Bitterness is mild to moderate, easily keeping this brew dry and refreshing without moving into pale ale or IPA territory. Crisp, clean, and tasty, Violet Fire will pair nicely with a wide variety of dishes, from grilled chicken or burgers, to various salads, to seafood, to pizza. Cheers!

When founder Will Hamill established Uinta (“you-in-tah”) in 1993, he succeeded in merging his love of brewing and his passion for the outdoors. Originally from Maine, Will enjoyed a lifestyle very much like many other Utahans when he arrived in the state, including kayaking, skiing, and biking. But, something was missing – the great craft beer that he had enjoyed in his native state. To satisfy his own cravings, Will took to home brewing and quickly became consumed. After years of perfecting recipes, he was producing beers that not only satisfied him, but also impressed his friends. At that point he enrolled at UC Davis to study brewing and develop his knowledge of the industry.

When Will began Uinta, it was at a very modest facility – a small, converted auto mechanic’s garage. From these humble beginnings, Uinta began brewing and distributing beer to local pubs and restaurants, and three years later demand had escalated enough to install a bottling line. By 2001, the brewery had outgrown its original location, so a 26,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility was built with energy efficiency as a prime goal. Not only was the new brewery outfitted with the best in brewing technology, it was built to be completely wind- and solar-powered. Yep, the brewery is 100% powered by Mother Nature herself, becoming the first business in Utah to achieve that milestone. But, their commitment to the environment doesn’t end there; they established a recycling location for brown glass, donate their used grain to local ranchers to use as feed, purchase recycled paper, and use natural lighting in the brewery as well as energy-efficient electric lighting. Great job guys, we’ll raise a glass to that! To learn more about Uinta Brewing Company, visit www.uintabrewing.com.