Year
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Best Beer Selection: Brewery/Brew Pub
Templin Family Brewing
While we can all appreciate a good IPA every now and then, can we agree that ultra-hoppy has had its moment? T.F. Brewing gets it. It's a beer-lover's paradise, not just for the number of brews available, but for the sheer variety. Here, they offer a refreshing selection of lagers, pilsners, sours, bocks and stouts with rotating seasonal pours, one-offs and collabs that keep your tastebuds entertained.
tfbrewing.com
2. Fisher Brewing Company
3. Kiitos Brewing
Best Bartender
Thomas Campbell, Ice Haus
When tending bar in popular pubs, you tend to become popular yourself. Such is Thomas Campbell, who started at Piper Down before moving to Piper's sister bar, Ice Haus, just a year ago. At both, he's that great bartender who remembers your name and makes you feel at home while serving up wickedly good drinks. His accepting smile brings comfort, meaning you're in good hands among the other cool cats at Ice Haus.
icehausbar.com
2. Davin Zaleya, Lucky 13
3. Maria Martinez, Why Kiki
Best Beer: Ale
Coffee Cream Ale (Kiitos)
When it comes to beer, the term "drinkable" can sometimes sound like a backhanded compliment. But fans of Kiitos' Coffee Cream Ale know there's nothing boring or basic about this downright delicious brew, which perfectly combines the best of a clean, smooth ale with just the right amount of coffee punch, making for a go-to beer that's the perfect choice for any occasion, any day of the year. kiitosbrewing.com
2. Bewilder ESB (Bewilder Brewing Co.)
3. Brainless Belgian (Epic Brewing Co.)
Best Beer: IPA
Chasing Ghosts IPA (Epic Brewing Company)
At Epic, the master brewers are always concocting new blends and tastes to keep pace with the ever-changing beer industry. Named after Epic's quest to make the best beer in the world, Chasing Ghosts IPA is one step closer after being named Best IPA in Utah. Chasing Ghosts is a double dry-hopped, double hazy, double New England-style IPA and is one of the staples in their beer fridge.
epicbrewing.com
2. Ferda (Templin Family Brewing)
3. Fukiphino (Red Rock Brewing Co. Beer Store)
Best Beer: Lager/Pilsner
Bewilder Big Crispy West Coast Pilsner (Bewilder Brewing Co.)
Cody McKendrick, a home brewer for decades and proprietor at Bewilder Brewing Co., knows a thing or two when it comes to crafting tasty brews for Utahns. He's turned barley into a bounty with Bewilder's Big Crispy West Coast Pilsner, a 6% ABV with notes of lemon citrus fruit and a touch of pine resin and hay. Bewilder is a great locale for German fare while you sip on a brew, too.
bewilderbrewing.com
2. Los Locos (Epic Brewing Company)
3. Grid City Pilsner (Grid City Beer Works)
Best Beer: Sour Beer
Blackberry Sour (Kiitos)
Pucker up, local beer fans, because this sour isn't messing around. From its eye-catching color in the glass to the sweet, natural taste of real blackberry puree, this inventive beer from Kiitos is a treat for the senses with just the right amount of bite to keep you thirsting for another pint, or three.
kiitosbrewing.com
2. Kveik Pina Colada (Shades Brewing)
3. Huckleberry Sour Ale (2 Row Brewing)
Best Beer: Stout
Baba (Uinta Brewing Co.)
Highly-drinkable at 5.0% ABV, Uinta's Baba Black Lager is a beer that can be enjoyed singly, of course, but you can also drink a couple in an afternoon's session. Featuring hints of chocolate and dark roast coffee, this beer's ranged beyond our state borders and receives routinely favorable website reviews on a national basis. The beer's simple logo only adds to the winning quality of this regional mainstay.
uintabrewing.com
2. Lowrider Chocolate Milk Stout (Salt Flats Brewery)
3. Dirty Chai Stout (SaltFire Brewing Co.)
Best Bloody Mary
Lucky 13
For those who swear by the "hair of the dog" to get through a weekend brunch after a night out, Lucky 13 is the place to go. The House Bloody Mary is only $7.50 and pairs great with both the brunch menu or a Great Lamb Burger. It has a great atmosphere in which to watch sports or to get a table out on the patio.
IG: @lucky13slc
2. A Bar Named Sue
3. Ice Haus
Best Brewery Can Art
SLC Pils (Proper Brewery Co.)
In our recent Beer Issue, we noted that several area breweries possess the gift of putting a great can design on their products and—lo!—has Proper Brewing ever upped the ante here. The design, featuring the silhouette of a blue-haired, liberty-spiked fella, is an homage to the film SLC Punk. What's in the can is an extremely-sessionable, 5.0% ABV pilsner, a beer that'd win fans on its own. But that can!
properbrewingco.com
2. Gecko Fingers (Bewilder Brewing Co.)
3. Heavy Metal Parking Lot (SaltFire Brewing)
Best Hard Seltzer
Grid City Beer Works
If you're looking for a high-point seltzer that doesn't taste like someone whispered "fruit punch" beside a flat La Croix, get yourself to Grid City Beer Works. This seltzer selection slaps! While they offer a handful of house-brewed flavors, the 8.2% ABV Rosé is a crowd favorite. Fermented with raspberry, tart cherry, prickly pear and aromatic muscat grape juice, it drinks like a crisp French rosé wine—and feels like one too.
gridcitybeerworks.com
2. RoHa Brewing Project
3. Uinta Brewing Co.
Best Brunch Cocktails
Prohibition
The mixologists at Prohibition are trained in the art of cocktail creation, so you are guaranteed a handcrafted drink to go along with your brunch. If you are feeling particularly fancy for a smooth and slightly sweet cocktail, try out the "Never Killed Nobody," which includes Clase Azul Reposado, Cinnamon Bark Demerara, Coffee, Sweet Vermouth, Mole Bitters, and 95% Dark Cacao with coffee. IG: @prohibitionutah
2. Sunday's Best
3. Eight Settlers Restaurant & Distillery
Best Canned Cocktail
Sugar House Raspberry Lemonade (Sugar House Distillery)
Sugar House Distillery's Raspberry Lemonade is bar-quality. It doesn't pay lip service to a cocktail and it's not an alcopop. Expect the contents to correspond with what's on the tin, the main ingredients are their own vodka and their own grain. Far better than anything we could make—a tart, full-on flavor and very satisfying.
sugarhousedistillery.net
2. Porters Huckleberry Lemonade (Ogden's Own Distillery)
3. Gin Rickey (Desolation Distilling)
Best Craft Cocktails
Water Witch
As the namesake implies, there must be some sort of magic that goes into crafting spirits so delightful. With strange brews on a rotating menu, Water Witch pleases both the refined and novice palate equally. Pairing unlikely ingredients (oatmilk, kumquat, chili oil, corn soda, etc.) with classic liquors, this bar is a trendsetter reinventing age-old classics to a refreshing end.
waterwitchbar.com
2. Bar-X
3. Eight Settlers Restaurant & Distillery
Best Distillery
High West Distillery
Taking home the top nod again in this issue, High West Distillery continues to produce exceptional bourbon, ryes and limited releases like the Bottled in Bond Rye. Well-known for its sipping properties and as a great mixer for cocktails, High West continues to prove to fans that the accolades are richly earned.
highwest.com
2. Dented Brick Distillery
3. Clear Water Distilling Co.
Best Hard Cider
Mountain West Cider
Jennifer and Jeff Carleton and Marcio Buffolo's dedication to sustainability and community engagement adds an extra layer of charm, making every bottle not just a drink, but a celebration of local heritage and craftsmanship. We're all about their no-sugar-added ciders! Let's not forget The Garten—where you can sip on your favorite local hard cider while soaking up some awesome live music.
mountainwestcider.com
2. Second Summit Hard Cider Co.
3. Scion Cider Bar
Best Distillery Tour
Clear Water Distilling Co.
Who hasn't walked into a distillery, taking a moment to peek around for a glance at its inner workings? At Clear Water, you don't have to be clandestine. For $10, you can walk right in and get a tasting session, served with smart commentary. For $20, you can fully tour the facility and taste (book ahead for this option). It's the best way to really understand the mechanics and magic behind their products.
clearwaterdistilling.com
2. Dented Brick Distillery
3. High West Distillery
Best Kombucha
Hans Kombucha
We love their Cheers Queers and White Peach Champagne flavors, but have you tried their newest? Citrus Vanilla Sage (*chef's kiss*)! By using a proprietary brewing method which includes a very low sugar content, they are able to achieve an easy drinking, non-vinegary, beautiful probiotic kombucha. What more can we say? Cheers!
IG: @hkbrewingco
2. Mamachari Kombucha
3. Cru Kombucha
Best Liquor Selection: Club or Restaurant
Whiskey Street Cocktails & Dining
Whiskey Street, situated in the heart of Salt Lake's Main bar crawl, holds enough whiskey choices to get you a new taste for nearly every day of the year. Their elaborate cocktail menu and personable bartenders will quench your thirst with regular specials, creations and off-the-cuff choices. This perfectly placed bar bridges the gap between corporate and casual with a great menu to boot.
whiskeystreet.com
2. Lake Effect
3. Water Witch
Best Liquor Selection: Distillery
Clear Water Distilling Co.
"We won't be confined by standard categories to make incredible new spirits," says founder and CEO Matt Eau Claire. Matt spent more than 20 years traveling the world in search of the most unique tastes and distilling techniques, and it shows in their selection. One of our favorites is the Josephine "Eau-De-Vie," a brandy with fresh apple, pear, mango, peach and other ingredients that defy the norm.
clearwaterdistilling.com
2. Dented Brick Distillery
3. Ogden's Own Distillery
Best Local Gin
Jack Rabbit Gin (Beehive Distilling)
For $5, you can take a tour of this establishment and see where their delicious, smooth gin is made. Infused with locally sourced botanicals, including unique ingredients like lavender and juniper, it captures the essence of the region in every sip. What truly sets it apart is its smoothness, thanks to a meticulous distillation process that highlights natural flavors without overwhelming the palate. We love us some Jack Rabbit Gin!
beehivedistilling.com
2. Dented Brick Craft Gin (Dented Brick Distillery)
3. Madam Pattirini Gin (Ogden's Own Distillery)
Best Local Vodka
Five Wives Vodka (Ogden's Own Distillery)
Five Wives Vodka is truly a local brand known for its cheeky take on Utah's polygamist past. Their vodka is crafted with Utah spring water and 100% corn spirit, which also makes it a great gluten-free option. It pours clear and then has a fruity taste with a citrusy finish.
IG: @fivewivesvodka
2. Clear Water Vodka (Clear Water Distilling Co.)
3. Sugar House Vodka (Sugar House Distillery)
Best Local Beer Selection: Club or Restaurant
The Bayou
Don't let the southern inspired menu and name completely fool you: The Bayou boasts an impressive array of local beers fit for any thirsty customer from North, South, East or West. With literal pages of beer to choose from (many of which are sourced right here from our very own), a gorgeous layout and friendly, knowledgeable staff, The Bayou is a no-brainer night out for all the beer snobs or best friends in your life.
utahbayou.com
2. Slackwater Pizza SLC
3. Beerhive Pub
Best Local Rum
Dented Brick Premium Rum (Dented Brick Distillery)
Dented Brick's Premium Run has a distinctive flavor—after you've tasted it, you'll never go back to boring. It makes great cocktails because of that tang, but it doesn't get buried under other ingredients. With the limestone-filtered water from their on-site well, it's ideal for sipping when the weather is a bit cooler or as the base of a lighter punch-type drink. It gives a delightful jolt taken as a shot.
dentedbrick.com
2. Spiced Rum (Outlaw Distillery)
3. Brigham Rum (Distillery 36)
Best Local Spirit Overall
Five Wives Vodka (Ogden's Own Distillery)
Five Wives Vodka prides itself in making flavors that aren't overly sugary. Both Sinful and Heavenly are two very different flavors that are worth trying! If you feel like listening to the angel on your shoulder, Heavenly has a rich, buttery vanilla flavor, whilst the devil on your shoulder will tell you to try Sinful, which is more like a warm cinnamon roll.
IG: @fivewivesvodka
2. Sugar Free Scandalust Cinnamon Whiskey (Clear Water Distilling Co.)
3. Dented Brick Bottled-in-Bond Rye Whiskey (Dented Brick Distillery)
Best Local Whiskey
Rendezvous Rye (High West Distillery)
All whiskey partakes of myth and the mists of time, so High West Distillery Rendezvous Rye's sensible flavors—peppery and flavorful—are a touchstone for the brand. With a gorgeous, rounded texture, this is Heaven in a glass. Whether one is introduced to this with a flight or served neat, this is a superbly made local whiskey.
highwest.com
2. Porters Whiskey (Ogden's Own Distillery)
3. Mountain Summit Bourbon (Spirits of the Wasatch Distillery)
Best Margarita
El Chihuahua Restaurant
Mexican food and margaritas are an unbeatable combination. If you're feeling wild, El Chichahua's Duckie margarita comes in a fishbowl with a cute rubber duckie floating on top. If you want something a bit smaller, try the Death Star! You're allowed one Duckie drink, or two Death Stars with purchase of food.
elchihuahuaslc.com
2. Blue Iguana
3. Tres Hombres Mexican Grill and Cantina
Best Michelada
Lucky's Iron Door Roadhouse
At Lucky's, the eye-popping menu items featured on their website point to a winning way with proteins, but this West Jordan landmark's beverage lineup is not to be forgotten. And the michelada? It's the star of their bar program's show. This warm weather drink's a solid pick all year 'round.
luckysirondoor.com
2. Blue Iguana
3. El Meño's
Best Mixologist
Harrison Archibald, White Horse Spirits & Kitchen
Harrison Archibald's talents are second to none at this acclaimed American brasserie, featuring a deft touch with both customer service and technical excellence. If the producers of Netflix's Drink Masters happen to be reading this issue: STOP. Go straight to White Horse. Sit. Dine. Drink. Cast.
whitehorseslc.com
2. Amanda Madsen, Hopkins Brewing Company
3. Andrew Burt, Paxton Pub
Best Tiki Drink
Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club
The flamingo, an 80's vibe-ish cocktail pop-up nestled inside of The Flanker Kitchen + Sporting Club brings the neons, the bubblegum pop tunes and the best of the tropical drink genre. There are tons of fun cocktails to explore here—Jamaican 10 Speed, Blue Lagoon and Boogie Nights will get you started on your Tiki journey. Sweet, sour, spice and spirits—you have been warned.
flankerslc.com
2. Why KiKi
3. Water Witch
Best Wine Selection
BTG Wine Bar
Before you are seated, before you've had the first sip, BTG Wine Bar's ambiance evokes feelings of sophistication. Their enormous array of wine offerings can be overwhelming, but the knowledgeable staff and availability of flights allows even the most basic of neophytes to learn something new. For those looking to drink and not learn, they have listed favorites and their profiles to guide you to a gratifying experience.
btgwinebar.com
2. Urban Hill
3. Casot
Best Après-ski Beer
Wasatch Last One Down Lager
Wasatch Brewing launched the local brewpub explosion in 1986 when founder Greg Shirf opened in Park City. Squatters Craft Beers began pouring shortly thereafter in Salt Lake City. Now united as partners under the Utah Beers brand, it's no wonder their dual good senses combine to create Last One Down. First one up, last one down, as they say. And hurry, because as Shirf said, "We drink our share and sell the rest."
utahbeers.com
Best 3.2 Beer Drive
Moab Brewery
Nearly nobody would drive anywhere for a pint of Utah's infamous 3.2 beer. However, the drive from Salt Lake to Moab is coincidentally around 3.2 hours, give or take a pit stop or lead foot. At drive's end, you'll have a difficult time choosing among Moab's notable spirits and multiple beers. Pay no heed to the 3.2—Moab Brewery's beers range from 5% on up. Take 'em slow and easy.
themoabbrewery.com
Best Brewery Flex
Fisher Brewing Company
After being warned about setting up shop in what was the then-unknown Granary District not many years ago, Fisher Brewing did so anyway, and was a hit from the start. With an expansion opportunity right next door, Fisher pounced and added extra brewing facilities, a private dining/meeting room, additional seating and a new rooftop patio, already hailed as one of the best in town. Fisher is for reals.
fisherbeer.com
Best Coffee Liqueur
Salt City Espresso
Salt City's line of spirits is a great local option for building out a cocktail. And for those imbibers who appreciate a java jitter in their boozy beverages, grab a bottle of the downright delicious Espresso liqueur. With a rich and velvety mocha profile—and a just right amount of bite from its 30% ABV—it's perfect for a martini, or keep it simple and sip some on ice with a splash of milk.
facebook.com/SaltCityVodka
Best Local Wine Brokerage that Could
Vin 7000
All hail Maggie Heile, founder of this independent wine brokerage that celebrates small family winemakers. With a carefully curated portfolio of 300 wines, Maggie focuses not only on a flavor profile but also mindful farming and authenticity. Regular shipments of eight select wines are shipped to a Utah DABS store of your choice, where you can pick them up at your leisure and enjoy the convenience of building up your own home inventory.
vin7000.com
Best Orchard-to-Bottle Cider
Etta Place Cider
Etta Place Cider, based in charming Torrey, Utah, delivers a unique cider experience by growing their own apples in their own local orchard. This hands-on approach ensures that each bottle captures the true essence of their locally cultivated fruit. Committed to quality and sustainability, Etta Place Cider offers a refreshing blend of craftsmanship and freshness. Enjoy their crisp, artisanal flavors in their quaint taproom or at home.
ettaplacecider.com
