Wasatch/Squatters Tropically Uncommon and RoHa Above the Clouds
Marking a milestone for one local brewery while saying goodbye to another.
By Mike Riedel @utahbeer
Wasatch/Squatters - Tropically Un-Common: This is a bittersweet review, as this beer is likely the last new offering to come out of the Wasatch and Squatters brewery in Salt Lake City. Monster Beverages—owners of Wasatch Squatters—announced earlier this April that, as of May 23, 2025, all operations in SLC will cease (including the pub), as owners they opted to not renew their lease on the long-standing brewery. You will still find Wasatch and Squatters beers in our market, but they will be made in other cities. So I invite you to stop into the brewery at 1763 S. 300 West, say "hi" to the staff and enjoy a few pints from this historical brewery.
It pours a brilliantly clear straw color with a perfect white head topping it off. A muted nose of tangerine juice, stone fruit, and grain were all present, without anything in particular standing out.
Passionfruit juice, mango, papaya, citrus juice, and grass came in once I took sips of this, but all of these were in perfect balance with everything else. Mild oats, subdued but persistent hops and honeydew all combined for a wonderfully balanced 5.0 percent mouthfeel that had just a bit of grass rounding it out.
Verdict: This seems more reminiscent of something from the left coast; it's balanced without brashness, and called for another round once it was gone. The bitterness was subdued, and there was just enough carbonation to keep this light at the same time, leaving me to wish that I had traded out for more of this. A wonderful and appropriately-named beer from the use of California Common yeast, this left a damn good first impression. Like any good beer, it had me wanting more once I finished it off.
RoHa - Above the Clouds: This India Pale Ale was brewed to celebrate the RoHa Brewing Project's 8th Anniversary. It pours a hazy, golden orange with a one-finger head of white that features good retention and lacing. Aromas of mild caramel and pale malt, citrus and dank hops, orange, grapefruit and cantaloupe emerged.
The flavor is pale malt, citrus hops, grapefruit, green melon, lemon and hints of pine, though the citrus aspect of the hops definitely pushes forward more than the other flavors. The hopping is aggressive, but with few of the tropical notes I'd expect from a NEIPA that looks like this. The malt is spot-on pale ale, but the hops are the stars here.
Fortunately for me, this has a very reasonable hop bitterness—especially in the finish—that kept my interest. The hop blend is pleasant, with plenty of Cryo Citra, but additional mixed fruit and melon from the Mosaic. There was quite a bit of dankness to the aroma, but less so in the taste. The result is a nicely made India Pale Ale that is hop-forward and bitter enough not to taste like stale fruit juice after half a glass, which is the downfall of most hazy ales. A satisfying 7.5 percent ABV finish with resinous citrus rind and pine bitterness, medium-bodied with light creaminess.
Verdict: If this is RoHa's new approach to hoppy beers, I'm all in. Whether it's enormous dry hopping or the use of new hop technology, it helps create a final product that is highly aromatic and flavorful, remarkably juicy and clean, insanely drinkable and contains practically zero bitterness.
Above the Clouds IPA is available at RoHa in 16-oz. cans, and is around until it ain't. May 23rd is Wasatch/Squatters' last day of operations, so there's still plenty of time to stop by and reminisce over a pint or two of Tropically UnCommon (draft only).
As always, cheers!
About The Author
Mike Riedel
Local boy and pilot of City Weekly’s best gig, The Beer Nerd column since 2017. Current photojournalist at KSTU TV (Fox 13) and host of the Utah Beer Blog and Beer Nerd Radio on KUAA 99.9 FM radio.
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