Coronavirus, or COVID-19, continues to wreak havoc on everyday life in Utah and around the world. Utah breweries, bars, and restaurants statewide remain closed to in-house dining and drinking. The government-mandated shutdown’s forced many businesses to get creative in how they provide products to customers.
Brewery employees are now doubling as delivery drivers. Head brewers are serving as in-home daycare providers. Virtual happy hours are becoming the norm.
Most breweries are selling beer to-go, whether it’s packaged in cans and bottles or delivered via growlers and crowlers. Brewpubs are managing curbside food-pickup businesses. Incidentally, here’s a nice resource on curbside best practices from Hopalytics — 15 Tips for Selling Curbside.
It’s incredible to see the craft beer community — on both sides of the bar — stepping up. Breweries are responding (and pivoting) quickly to ensure their beer is available. And the beer-drinking public appears to be doing its part to support the breweries during a monumentally difficult time for small businesses.
How You Can Help
It’s a tough time for part-and full-time employees at Utah breweries. Brewery owners are being forced to make difficult decisions in order to keep the brewery viable until the mandatory shutdown order is lifted.
Therefore, anything you can do at this time to help hospitality industry professionals, many of which have been laid off indefinitely, is appreciated.
Here are a few ideas:
- Continue to support local businesses by purchasing to-go orders and gift cards (and even hand sanitizer, where available).
- Tip generously.
- Like, comment, and share social media posts from your favorite breweries.
- Drink beer — and share what you’re drinking on social media. Tag the brewery. If you’d like to tag Utah Beer News, we’ll re-share it.
- Support a larger-scale relief program. The “Tip Your Server” campaign in Salt Lake is one of a few out there.
- Donate directly to your favorite bar, brewery, or restaurant.
- Purchase a “Salt Lake Strong” t-shirt. When you order, you can select to support one of several participating businesses.
I’m sure there are many additional ways in which you can show support. Please let others know how you’ve helped by leaving a comment below. In fact, SLC Economic Development shared a “Business Bingo” card.
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More Coverage: For an initial Utah Beer Community roundup that covers March 15-20, please visit: Coronavirus Outbreak: Utah Breweries React & Respond.
Utah Breweries: The Latest
Utah isn’t known as an easy place to navigate liquor laws. So it’s no surprise the path becomes even trickier in times of crisis.
Other states, such as Colorado, are allowing beer to be delivered straight to the consumer. Beer delivery in Utah remains illegal. The state, however, eased certain regulations. The Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (DABC) issued a memo (PDF) last week outlining what businesses are allowed (and not allowed) to do when it comes to alcohol sales.
I’ve been keeping in touch with Utah breweries and compiled a rundown of how each is attempting to weather an unprecedented storm. Here are a few items of note:
- Level Crossing Brewing is releasing Space Oddity, a new Hazy Double IPA, on March 27. It’s the South Salt Lake brewery’s first small-batch release.
- Mountain West Hard Cider is conducting a weekly “Virtual Happy Hour” online. Here are details on how you can participate. The next one is scheduled for March 28 at 5:30 p.m.
- Red Rock Brewery continues to offer 50% off to-go food orders.
- Shades Brewing is re-releasing its Key Lime Pie American-Style Sour Ale on March 26 from 3-7 p.m. You can also grab a take-and-bake pizza (cheese or pepperoni).
- Talisman Brewing in Ogden released a new Hazy IPA on Wednesday. It’s available to-go in growlers and crowlers at the taproom.
- UtahBeerStores.com is a new website (created by Uinta Brewing) that allows for individual breweries to update their own business information. Breweries: Go there to claim your spot and update your info.
Here’s a Full Rundown
It’s always best to confirm the information with individual establishments. 🍻 Breweries: Please notify me of any inaccuracies. The date of the latest update is in parentheses. Updated: March 25 at 3:30 p.m.
2 Row Brewing
Growler fills are $4, and owner Brian Coleman says 2 Row Brewing will release a new Hazy IPA — Quarantine — by the end of the week. A Triple IPA will follow the week after. It’s “pretty much business as usual because people are buying beer at breweries instead of standing in lines at liquor stores,” Coleman says. (3/25)
Avenues Proper
Avenues Proper is offering curbside food service (menu). Its packaged beer-to-go store is also open, though you must come inside (one at a time) to purchase beer. Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Telephone: (385) 227-8628. (3/25)
Bewilder Brewing
Salt Lake’s “newest brewpub…turned food-to-go” reworked its website to put the focus on food. Bewilder is also filling growlers to-go and is selling gift cards. Telephone: (385) 528-3840. (3/25)
Bohemian Brewery
Bohemian has temporarily suspended all operations. However, it sounds like Bohemian will sit down in the coming days to determine whether or not it will resume beer-to-go sales. Stay tuned. (3/25)
Bonneville Brewery
Bonneville Brewery is open for food and beer to-go. Hours: 12-8 p.m. Telephone: (435) 248-0646. (3/25)
Desert Edge Brewery
Desert Edge said it is suspending operations indefinitely. (3/17)
Epic Brewing
Epic is open for beer-to-go. (3/19)
Fisher Brewing
Fisher Brewing announced that its “doors will be closed today and indefinitely, that includes to-go beer sales as well.” The brewery didn’t put a timeline on when it would reopen. (3/16)
Grid City Beer Works
Though not yet open, Grid City had planned to open its doors sometime in March. Those plans are now on hold indefinitely. (3/15)
Heber Valley Brewing
Heber Valley Brewing is selling beer to-go from 1-6 p.m. daily. It also released a Bombagranate Sour earlier this week. (3/25)
Hopkins Brewing Co.
The Sugar House brewery is open Wednesday through Sunday from 4-8 p.m. It’s offering food and beer (growlers and crowlers) to go. Telephone: (385) 528-3275. (3/25)
Hoppers Grill & Brewing
Hoppers is offering food-to-go and recently added additional menu items, including: coconut shrimp, buffalo wings, and salmon. It’s also offering bottled beers for sale and is working out a way to fill growlers. Hours: Monday through Thursday 3-8 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 12-7 p.m. Order online via ChowNow. (3/25)
Kiitos Brewing
Kiitos Brewing is selling beers to-go from its beer store. Hours: 12-8 p.m., closed Sundays. (3/25)
Level Crossing Brewing
Level Crossing Brewing is releasing Space Oddity on March 27. It’s an “other-worldly Hazy Double IPA” that clocks in at 8.8% ABV. It’s brewed with comet, galaxy, apollo, enigma, ekuanot and strata hops. To top it off, Level Crossing “fermented this astronomical ale with orange blossom honey.” Get some beers to-go and check out the special anniversary glasses and growlers.
The brewery originally had planned a party for this weekend to celebrate its one-year anniversary. The shutdown killed that, but Curtis Fox, marketing manager at Level Crossing, says he’s working on pulling together some sort of “virtual cheers” event on March 28. Stay tuned.
Call (385) 270-5752 to place a to-go order (here’s the menu). The South Salt Lake brewery is also delivering food (order online). (3/25)
Moab Brewery
Starting on March 18, Moab Brewery will be filling to-go orders. It’s unclear whether they’re selling beer to go. (3/17)
Mountain West Hard Cider
The Mountain West Hard Cider bottle shop is open for to-go ciders. Call ahead for curbside pickup (801) 935-4147. Mountain West is working with the DABC to get approval for small-batch ciders. “Our hope is to launch a small batch for retail every month or so,” owner Jennifer Hamilton says. It’s also conducting weekly “virtual happy hours” online. (3/25)
Park City Brewery
It no longer has a taproom presence, but you can pick up Park City beers at various grocery stores around town. It recently released a “Mountain Mix Pack.” (3/18)
Policy Kings Brewery
The Cedar City brewery updated its hours: 4-7 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Policy Kings is filling growlers to-go. Here’s a list of available draft beers. (3/19)
Proper Brewing Co.
The Proper Brewing Beer Store is open from 12-8 p.m. daily. Pick up canned beers (5% and high point). “We just ask that folks limit themselves to entering the shop one at a time since it’s a small space that makes it hard to maintain a six-foot distance,” Proper wrote.
Its neighbor — Proper Burger Co. — is offering curbside pickup. By the way, since spring has sprung, so has Ostara. “We can’t have a release party as planned, but stop in and grab some delicious triple IPA with citrus to enjoy at a socially responsible distance,” Proper wrote. Hours: 12-8 p.m. (3/25)
Red Rock Brewing
All menu items at the Red Rock pubs (Downtown, Fashion Place, Park City) are available to-go. Hours are 12-8 p.m. and here’s the online menu. For a limited time, take 50% off your curbside order (Code: RED50). The Red Rock Beer Store is selling beer-to-go. Credit cards only. Beer Store Hours: Monday through Friday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. (3/25)
Red Rock is also able to sell packaged beer to go from its downtown pub. (3/20)
RoHa Brewing Project
RoHa is selling beer to-go and filling new growlers purchased on-site. And it recently packaged a batch of Grapefruit Back Porch Pale Ale.
Since its “Firkin Wednesdays” are on temporary hiatus, RoHa is seeking alternative ways to get people engaged. In the next couple of weeks, RoHa will be trying to host live events around making firkins. Keep an eye on RoHa’s social media for additional details. (3/25)
Roosters Brewing
Roosters Brewing is open for curbside food pickup (menus online). For every takeout order of $25 or more, Roosters is including a $10 gift certificate to be used on your next visit. Online ordering and delivery are coming soon.
At Roosters B Street, grab a crowler of your favorite brew — $7 each for the rest of the month (don’t forget your ID). Hours: Monday through Saturday 11:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday 12-5 p.m.
In light of the dining-in closures, Roosters has been able to shuffle some bottles around. Jacquie King says two cases of Nordic Porter and five cases of Hellevation are now available at the Layton location only. Stop by from 3-8 p.m. (3/25)
SaltFire Brewing
SaltFire built a Self Isolation Survival Pack. Hours: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (3/25)
Salt Flats Brewing
The Salt Flats package agency is open and selling beer to-go. It’s also now producing and selling hand sanitizer ($5 each, limit three per person). It looks like you’ll get a free bottle with a $30 beer purchase. (3/25)
Shades Brewing
On March 26, Shades Brewing is re-releasing its Key Lime Pie American-Style Sour Ale from 3-7 p.m. You can also grab a take-and-bake pizza (cheese or pepperoni).
Earlier, Shades Brewing set up curbside “beer pick-up” tents in front of the brewery’s dock. It also built an “emergency pack” with 24 sorted beers ready to go for $50 plus tax, according to head brewer Marcio Buffolo.
Beer drinkers are still able to select their own beers, but the pack is designed for a quick transaction.
The “emergency pack” includes the following (2 each): Aphrodite Belgian Blonde Ale, Premium Lager, Imperial Lager, Grapefruit Revolution Hazy & Juicy IPA, Slick City Citrus IPA, Kveik Rotator, Plum Berliner Weisse, Misdirected IPA, Double Trub’l Double IPA, Fit Lager, Kveik. And one each: Fit Brut IPA and Fit Blonde. Hours: 3-7 p.m. (3/25)
Silver Reef Brewing
The Silver Reef store is open from 12-6 p.m. (except Sunday). You’re able to purchase beer and spirits to go. (3/19)
Squatters Craft Beers
Squatters has food and beer to-go at its downtown pub (menu, PDF). Hours: 12-8 p.m. Telephone: (801) 363-2739. (3/25)
Strap Tank Brewery
Strap Tank Brewery is offering food to-go curbside. Hours: Monday through Saturday 12-6 p.m. Telephone: (385) 325-0262 (Springville); 352-8194 (Lehi). The Utah County brewery is also giving away $250 gift cards at its Springville and Lehi locations to two lucky to-go customers (winners will be selected on March 29). (3/25)
Talisman Brewery
Talisman Brewery in Ogden is open normal business hours for beer-to-go. It’s offering $12 growler fills, and creating a mixed six-pack of its 5% beer for $20. On March 25, Talisman released a new Hazy IPA. Spindrift (5% ABV) features mosaic and Simcoe hops. It’s available to-go in crowlers and growlers. (3/25)
T.F. Brewing
The T.F. Brewing beer store is open from 12-8 p.m. Crowlers are available to-go as well (check the website for current offerings). Telephone: (385) 270-5972. (3/25)
Toasted Barrel Brewery
Toasted Barrel is selling beer to-go. It’s even dipped into its cellar to “make your life a little better in this crazy time.” A fresh batch of Black Currant Sour is scheduled to hit the fridge on March 25. Its bottle shop hours this week: Wednesday through Saturday 2-6 p.m. Check Toasted Barrel’s social media for the latest. (3/25)
Uinta Brewing
The General Store remains open for beer — and merchandise — to-go. It also began selling this year’s edition of Birthday Suit, a lemon blackberry tart ale with lactose. Hours: 12-6 p.m. Telephone: (801) 467-0228.
Check out UtahBeerStores.com, a new website designed by Uinta for Utah breweries to update their own information (hours, address, available beers, etc.). (3/25)
UTOG Brewing
The Ogden brewery’s beer store will be open from 12-5 p.m. daily. UTOG is offering cases of 5% beer for $34. That’s 24 12-ounce cans you can mix and match.
Vernal Brewing
Vernal Brewing Company is open 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m., with beer to-go. Telephone: (435) 781-2337. (3/19)
Wasatch Brewery
Wasatch Brewery in Sugar House is offering curbside food pickup (menu, PDF) and beer to-go from 12-8 p.m. daily. Telephone: (801) 783-1127. (3/25)
Zion Brewery
The Zion brewpub in Springdale is open for takeout and delivery only. Station II in downtown St. George is open for growlers to-go. (3/25)
Zólupez Brewing
You’re able to find sampler 12-packs of Zólupez beer at various grocery stores around the state. (3/25)
The Bayou
The Bayou is open for curbside to-go orders. It can also sell beer to-go, so long as they’re 5% ABV or lower. It’s only accepting payment over the phone. Here’s a full FAQ page. Hours: 12-8 p.m. Telephone: (801) 961-8400. (3/19)
Beer Bar
Beer Bar closed its doors temporarily. (3/17)
Beerhive Pub
The Beerhive Pub is temporarily closed. (3/16)
Craft by Proper
The Utah-only beer bar closed its doors temporarily (3/17)
Slackwater Pizzeria & Pub (Ogden & Sandy)
Slackwater Sandy is temporarily closed, as is Slackwater in Ogden. (3/22)
The Beer Nut Homebrew Shop
The Beer Nut is open with modified procedures. All grain orders will be pulled by the staff and it will limit the number of individuals allowed in the store at one time. Online or telephone orders are encouraged. Hours: 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Telephone: (801) 531-8182 (3/25)
Salt City Brew Supply Homebrew Shop
Salt City Brew Supply remains open and fully stocked. (3/25)
Brewvies Cinema Pub
Brewvies is temporarily closed but you are able to purchase gift cards online. When you load $25 or more on a card, Brewvies will give you a movie pass that’s valid for any future date. (3/25)
As of March 25, Utah had 346 confirmed cases of COVID-19. Summit County issued a shelter-in-place order in an attempt to slow the spread of the virus.
