Ogden is located 35 miles north of Salt Lake. The city, with a population of about 87,000, is an outdoor lover’s paradise. It features more than 11,000 skiable acres in the winter. And in the summer, outdoor enthusiasts are treated to miles upon miles of hiking and biking trails.
But for our purposes, we’ll focus on the Ogden Beer Scene. That, too, is becoming a paradise for beer lovers.
While Ogden might not have the concentration of breweries as does Salt Lake, it still has a lot to offer for those seeking tasty, independent craft beer in Utah.
As you’ll read more about below, Ogden features the following:
- Roosters Brewing Company: One of Utah’s oldest modern-day breweries. And its B Street location is one of the newest.
- Talisman Brewing Company: “Veteran owned, Ogden made.”
- UTOG Brewing: Opened in 2019 by a former pilot and award-winning homebrewer.
- Zólupez Beer Company: A Latino-owned nano-brewery dedicated to brewing Mexican-style cervezas.
- Ogden River Brewing: Opened in late 2020, the spacious Ogden River Brewing brewpub features two patios, a menu with classic pub fare (and vegetarian and vegan options). It boasts 10 tap handles and a full liquor license. Stay tuned for the second part of the Ogden River “craft campus,” scheduled to open in mid-2021.
- Plus: A variety of beer-forward establishments
For homebrewers, Ogden City Brew Supply is your one-stop-shop for everything you need. As the only homebrew shop in Utah north of Salt Lake, it “has something for every level of homebrewer.” 2269 Grant Avenue
Ogden Beer: Craft Breweries
Whether you live in Utah or are simply visiting the Beehive State, take time to explore the Ogden craft beer scene. The northern Utah city is home to a handful of craft breweries and other beer-centric bars and restaurants.
Roosters Brewing Company
Roosters Brewing Co., founded in 1995, now features three locations producing about 5,000 barrels a year. The company recently began canning its beers, which are readily available in liquor stores and grocery stores throughout the state. Bee’s Knees Honey Wheat is the brewery’s top seller.
The original brewery, which is located on Historic 25th Street, helped to revitalize Ogden in the mid-’90s. Since then, Roosters has expanded to three spots, one in Layton and its newest venture on B Avenue in Ogden (that one is 21+ only).
Read More: Roosters Brewing on Utah Beer News
- Founded: 1995
- Addresses: Three locations — 253 Historic 25th Street, Ogden (hours);
- 2325 B Avenue, Ogden (hours, 21+ Only); 748 W. Heritage Park Blvd, Layton (hours)
- Notable: Steve Kirkland’s been Roosters brewmaster since 1995. Owners Kym and Pete Buttschardt opened a Layton location in 2005 and poured the first pints at Roosters B Street Brewery in December 2018. Its 25th Street and Layton locations each house a seven-barrel brewhouse. The B Street Brewery features a custom-built 30-barrel system. That facility includes a Wild Goose canning line that packages 40 cans per minute.
- Website: http://www.roostersbrewingco.com/
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat
Talisman Brewing Company
Talisman Brewing opened in 2016, becoming Ogden’s second brewery. Husband-and-wife Dusty and Joann Williams are its owners. Dusty brews and handles the website, while Joann oversees the business side of things.
Talisman, which is named after a charm believed to bring good luck, operates a seven-barrel brewhouse. The brewery offers a rotating selection on draft beers at its taproom. Visitors are able to purchase bottles of Talisman beer at the on-site package agency or at Utah bars, restaurants, and liquor stores.
“It’s so rewarding to see two people who don’t know each other sit down, have a beer together, and then make a friendship out of it,” Dusty says. “(We’re) kind of part of that connection. It’s extremely rewarding.”
Read More: Talisman Brewing on Utah Beer News
- Opened: 2016
- Address: 1258 Gibson Ave. (21+ Only)
- Hours: The taproom is open 3-8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. It’s closed Sundays.
- Notable: When founded in 2016, it became Ogden’s first production brewery that didn’t also include an attached restaurant.
- Website: https://www.talismanbrewingco.com/
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
UTOG Brewing
UTOG Brewing Co. is located in the historic Thorstensen Building on Grant Ave. It features a 15-barrel brewhouse, which is sunken into the concrete floor. Carson Foss, owner and brewer, envisioned a brewery where visitors could see the entire brewing operation at work.
“I went all over the country to different breweries and I never saw one where you can get this close,” says Foss, a former airline pilot.
The brewery features a full restaurant and is located next to Lindquist Field, home of the Ogden Raptors minor league baseball team.
Read More: UTOG Brewing on Utah Beer News
- Founded: 2019
- Address: 2331 Grant Ave.
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; and 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays.
- Notable: A 50-by-50 “brew pit” houses the 15-barrel brewhouse. It’s sunken to provide guests a full view of all brewery operations. The 110-seat dining area features high-top tables strategically placed. Per Utah law, no one under 21 is allowed to sit within 10 feet of a bar area. So if you’re under 21, you can’t sit at a high-top table.
- Website: https://www.utogbrewing.com/
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram
Zólupez Beer Company
Javier Chávez Jr., founder and brewer, says his Zólupez beers are influenced by Mexican family traditions and his experiences in Mexico.
Born and raised in Utah, Chavez struggled to find a craft beer that paired well with his family’s Mexican food. So he homebrewed his own. He brewed in his apartment for years before launching Zólupez Beer Company in 2017.
Zólupez immediately earned recognition as Utah’s smallest brewery. Regularly brewing batches measured in gallons rather than barrels, demand often outpaced supply.
Two years later, Chavez reportedly entered into an agreement with another Utah brewery to scale up his operation. And now, Zólupez beers are available in grocery stores, bars, and restaurants in Utah.
Read More: Zólupez Beer Company on Utah Beer News
- Founded: 2017
- Address: 205 W. 29th St., #2
- Notable: Zólupez beers were originally brewed in small — or nano — batches. Now, in collaboration with another Utah brewery, Chavez is able to distribute his beers throughout the state. The brewery isn’t generally open to the public.
- Website: https://zolupez.com/
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
Ogden River Brewing
Ogden River Brewing evolved from a humble dream of a bare-bones taproom into a 250-seat, state-of-the-art gastropub. It features a 10-barrel brewhouse, as well as two patios with views of the Ogden River and the Wasatch Mountains.
Originally the brainchild of Pat Winslow, a former railroad conductor and longtime homebrewer, Ogden River Brewing joined forces with Lotus Company in 2019 to turn the dream into reality.
As of its opening in fall 2020, the brewpub, complete with a full liquor license, is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. on weekdays and 10:30 a.m. on weekends. It features lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch menus.
Read More: Ogden River Brewing on Utah Beer News
- Founded: 2020
- Address: 358 Park Blvd., Ogden, UT 84401
- Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays; 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays (weekend brunch served until 3 p.m.)
- Notable: Ogden River Brewing is the first brewing project for Lotus Craft, an offshoot of Lotus Company. The brewpub features two patios, 10 tap handles, and a full food/bar menu. It serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch. Ogden River’s restaurant license allows for all ages to dine.
- Website: https://ogdenriverbrewing.com/
- Social Media: Facebook / Instagram
More Ogden Beer
- The Angry Goat Pub & Kitchen: 200+ beers and from-scratch food. Live music every Friday and weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Voted by CraftBeer.com as “Best Beer Bar” in Utah. (21+ Only) 2570 Washington Blvd.
- Slackwater Pizzeria & Pub: Boasting one of Utah’s largest and most-diverse beer menus (250+). The Ogden location opened in 2011 and in late 2019, Slackwater expanded to open in Sandy. 1895 Washington Blvd.
- Warrens Craft Burger: A perfect spot for a burger and a beer. The Ogden staple’s beer list nears 100 bottles/cans (and a handful of taps). It features local and regional craft beer selections. 258 Historic 25th St.
- Brewvies Cinema Pub: A longtime favorite for Salt Lake moviegoers, Brewvies opened a second location in Ogden in 2018. It features Hollywood blockbusters and a large selection of craft beer. Unlike its Salt Lake counterpart, which is 21+, the Ogden location is now open to ages 3-and-up. 2293 Grant Ave.
- And Distilleries, too: Here’s a roundup of Ogden breweries and distilleries from VisitOgden.com.
And if you’re seeking a beer-drinking event, Ogden has you covered.
- Check out the annual Peculiar Pours Festival to sample beers brewed off the beaten path.
- For something a little more mainstream, belly up to Ogden’s Spring Beer Fest.
- Or even the Wee Beer Festival, which usually takes place each June.
Do you know of other Ogden beer spots that should be included here? Let us know! Featured Image: John R Perry from Pixabay
