Utah?

Utah is not the first place that pops into your head when thinking of beer destinations. It has arcane and anachronistic beer laws that hinder brewers and beer drinkers. I am not sure of all the intricacies of Utah beer laws, but I am pretty sure that the beers you get in a restaurant cannot exceed 4% alcohol. (I did see an 8% alcohol beer at a conference cocktail party a few years back, but it was in a bottle at a hotel convention.) Utah brewers can make beers with an ABV greater than 4%, these beer just can't be consumed at a bar or restaurant. You have to give the Utah craft brewers credit and admire their skill in creating most of their beers within the 4% alcohol limitation.

We had some friends over on Sunday for Lakers, beer and barbecue. They brought a huge beer (literally and figuratively) that they had bought while in Utah on a recent hiking trip. It was a Moab Brewing Desert Select Ale, black imperial IPA. It poured a dark brown, with thick cream-colored foam. By the time we got to this beer we had tasted four or so other IPA-type beers so my taste buds and memory are not perfectly clear, but I remember it was a serious beer. It was rich and hoppy, and I think the alcohol was over 8%, but it was balanced and drinkable. The beer came in a paper wrapper and bottle that must have been over 30 ozs, which are shown in the picture to the right. I would try this beer again. Props to the guys at Moab Brewing for embracing the West Coast hop revolution and crafting a black imperial IPA.