Uinta Brewing Company - Yard Sale

This multiple gold-medal winning (including from the 2015 North American Brewers Association) winter seasonal from Uinta pours a gorgeous deep and clear reddish-amber hue with a head of light beige foam. On the nose this is quite a malty brew; look for prominent bread crust and toasty notes, medium caramelization, and some touches of earth, spice, and woodiness from the hop contribution. In the flavor, that maltiness comes through in a big way too, offering plenty of toasted bread character that forms a generous, satisfying core. Herbal and woody hops add considerable brightness while mild hop bitterness easily balances a hint of residual sweetness. For food pairings, there are a lot of potential options here. We'd go with grilled and roasted meats – especially fowl, along with fried chicken, bratwurst, soft pretzels with mustard, or even a caramel-centric dessert like flan. 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-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, installed solar panels, 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 and scheduled tours, call 801-467-0909 or visit www.uintabrewing.com.