For centuries, farmers would celebrate the harvest with a festive meal and a malt-flavored beer.
Today, most of those farms are gone. But the fall beer brewing tradition continues.
Several Utah brew pubs have filled their tanks with rich, dark beers for winter. Here's what's brewing:
Shot in the Dark Coffee Stout » Desert Edge Brewery at the Pub, Trolley Square, 602 S. 500 East, Salt Lake City; 801-521-8917
Brewer's notes » "We brew a slightly sweeter stout and add 15 gallons of freshly brewed coffee to it," said head brewer Chris Haas. "It gives it a real coffee aroma and flavor." The fresh-roasted beans come from Utah's Millcreek Coffee. It's served on a nitrogen tap (not the
Cost » $4.25 for a pint glass.
Pumpkin Ale » Wasatch Brew Pub, 205 S. Main St., Park City; 435-649-0900
Brewer's notes » " We are using real pumpkin in the mash along with all those fall spices everyone loves, like cinnamon, vanilla and nutmeg," said head brewer Matt Beamer. The ale is unfiltered with an orange hue. "It's super drinkable, like liquid pumpkin pie." He plans to put it on the "nitro tap" soon.
Cost » $3.50 for 12 ounce glass; $4.50 20 ounces.
Face Plant
Brewer's notes » "As German-styled wheat beers go, this one is on the milder side with soft banana aromas and flavors and mild spices like clove and nutmeg," said head brewer Donovan Steele. "Some people might notice a bubble gum flavor as it warms." Of course, these ingredients are not put in the beer, but are the by-products of the traditional German Wheat yeast strain used to ferment the beer. Face Plant, a tie-in to the upcoming ski season, is an "easy drinking beer" and one that goes with all types of foods, Steele said.
Cost » $4 for a pint glass.
Indian Summer Nut Brown Ale » Roosters Brewing Co., 253 Historic 25th Street, Ogden; 801-627-6171, or 748 Heritage Park Blvd., Layton; 801-774-9330
Brewer's notes » This medium-bodied ale, an amber-colored beer, has a somewhat nutty flavor that comes from a "healthy dose of Victory malt," said head brewer Steve Kirkland. "It's been an annual favorite at the brewery for years."
Cost » $2 for pint glass during November; $4 afterward.
Scottish Style Ale or "Wee Heavy" » The Moab Brewery, 686 S. Main, Moab; 435-259-6333
Brewer's notes » This rich, full ale is the third beer in the brewery's high-alcohol Desert Select Series, and it's made with smoked malt and English hops, said head brewer Jeff Van Horn. The ale is aged in French oak barrels, and bottle conditioned for four months. At 8.6 percent alcohol by volume, it's similar to a barley wine. "It's a great winter beer with rich and caramel and dark fruit flavors," said Van Horn, who made only 800 of the 1-liter bottles.
Cost » A 1-liter bottle is $12.99.
Black Forest Schwarzbeir » Squatters Brew Pub, 147 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City; 801-363-2739, or Squatters Roadhouse Grill, 1900 Park Ave., Park City; 435-649-9868
Brewer's notes » This German dark lager has a medium body and a roast malt flavor. While it's a dark beer, it's not heavy and is easily drinkable, said brew master Jen Talley. The beer, a perennial customer favorite, is one of Squatters' most decorated beers. It has won gold, silver and bronze medals several times at the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival.
Cost » $4.79 for an 18 ounce glass
Autumn Amber » Ruby River Steakhouse and Brewery, 4286 Riverdale Road, Ogden; 801-622-2320
Brewers notes » Head brewer Robert Bunn uses special hops and yeast from Germany for this Marzen-style beer. It has a reddish hue and is malty with caramel undertones. "It's real basic, but it's one of my favorite styles," he said.
Cost » $3 a pint.
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