Utah Beer News visited recently with representatives from Salt Lake Brewing Co., which includes Wasatch Brewery and Squatters Craft Beers.

As part of the Virtual Taproom series, we talked with Kristin Martino, marketing manager for Salt Lake Brewing Co., and Libby Taylor, general manager of the West Side Tavern and Beer Ambassador for Salt Lake Brewing Co., about Brave Noise Beer and Wasatch Brewery’s 35th anniversary.

The full video can be viewed below (or here), and the audio portion is available as part of the Utah Beer News Podcast. Below is part of our conversation, edited for length and clarity.

Utah Beer News: Could you talk about the background of the Brave Noise Beer initiative?

Libby Taylor: Absolutely. A few months ago, Brienne Allan, at Notch Brewing, had an encounter with a gentleman one day who saw her moving some things around and said, can you really be lifting those? Is that something you can handle?

She posted on her Instagram asking, have you guys ever experienced sexism like this on your day-to-day operations as women in craft beer? And it snowballed. She got so many responses. It varies from little statements that you kind of get on a day-to-day basis to some very serious encounters at beer fests or other areas.

So as we do in this industry, we decided to make a beer to help keep this conversation going, give us an outlet for discussion, and raise some money for associated causes.

About a month ago Wasatch Brewery made this beer. Our funds are going to go to the Utah Domestic Violence Coalition, which does a lot of great work to support women in the state. So I’m very excited about that. Brienne Allan and another influencer, Under the Jenfluence, who did the homebrew recipe, got together and built this really great wheat-heavy pale ale. Hazy, juicy, late additions of Mosaic and Sabro, so it’s super delicious, smells great.

Article Continues Below

🎙 Listen: Salt Lake Brewing Co.

BONUS: Subscribe to the Utah Beer News Podcast and listen to our interview with Kristin Martino, marketing manager for Salt Lake Brewing Co., and Libby Taylor, general manager of the West Side Tavern and Beer Ambassador for Salt Lake Brewing Co. Learn more about the Brave Noise Beer collaboration, as well as details on Wasatch Brewery’s 35th anniversary.

Listen Now

Utah Beer News: As part of the Brave Noise collaboration, breweries committed to establishing a code of conduct (if they didn’t already have one) and make it publicly available.

Libby Taylor: It’s a very clear outline of the expected behaviors of our guests, our employees, our vendors, anyone who is working as a representative or on our properties. The expectation of not being discriminatory, zero-tolerance policies toward harassment, that sort of thing. The expected behaviors that we want, the behaviors that we won’t tolerate.

Utah Beer News: Switching gears a bit, Wasatch Brewery is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2021. What have you had going on this month and what’s coming up to commemorate the milestone?

Kristin Martino: Yes, 35 years is a big deal. We started in 1986 with Greg Schirf eager to drink some really good beer. And now, 35 years later, we want to celebrate his legacy. We have different specials going on right now with throwback beers. $3.50 for a 12-ounce pour all month.

Then on Friday, Oct. 22, we’ll have 35% off appetizers. We’ll also be giving away t-shirts for the first 50 people walking through the door (at the pub in Park City and in Sugar House).

Salt Lake Brewing Co.: Virtual Taproom

Martino and Taylor joined Utah Beer News in its virtual taproom on Oct. 19, 2021, to celebrate Wasatch Brewery’s 35-year anniversary. In the episode, we talked about the milestone event as well as the just-released Brave Noise Beer.

Utah Beer News: Anything else happening right now you’d like to mention?

Kristin Martino: We have the new beers for Squatters. Don’t forget about 147 West and Hazy Hop Rising. And the addition of pink cans for the Hop Rising line. We went pink with the Hop Rising for October. Five cents of every can sold benefits breast cancer research.

Libby Taylor: It is fresh hop season, so if you haven’t tried Clothing Hoptional, we do have that still pouring. We partner up with Summit Land Conservancy every year to forage for wild hops. It’s always amazing to see what (Head Brewer) Nils (Imboden) can do with foraged wild hops. You don’t have a lot of control over the flavors but he made a really killer beer this year.

Brave Noise Beer is available on draft at the West Side Tavern, Wasatch Brewpub in Park City, and soon to be available at Wasatch in Sugar House.

Wasatch is celebrating its 35th anniversary in October. On Oct. 22, specials are planned for the Wasatch Brewpub in Park City and at Wasatch in Sugar House.

Follow Wasatch Brewery on social media (Facebook/Instagram) for more.

About Salt Lake Brewing Co. (Wasatch/Squatters)

To learn more, please visit the following Utah Beer News resources:

• Landbier Swiss-Style Lager (Beer Tastings) — Wasatch Brewery (Oct. 15, 2020)
• Wasatch Brewery: Driving Innovation at ‘Top of Main’ (Aug. 24, 2020) (Podcast Episode)
• Squatters Craft Beers Celebrates 30 Years (Sept. 3, 2019)
• Kick-Back Series (Beer Tastings) — Wasatch Brewery (Feb. 19, 2019)
• Black O’Lantern Pumpkin Stout (Beer Tastings) — Wasatch Brewery (Sept. 18, 2018)
• Polygamy Porter (Beer Tastings) — Wasatch Brewery (July 24, 2018)
• Full Suspension Pale Ale (Beer Tastings) — Squatters Craft Beers (June 26, 2018)
• Lime Kellerbier (Beer Tastings) — Wasatch Brewery (May 8, 2018)

Wasatch Brewery

• Opened: 1986
• Notable: Wasatch Brewery is Utah’s oldest modern-day brewery and one of the nation’s first craft breweries. Its footprint now includes a brewpub at the top of historic Main Street in Park City, a production facility/taproom in Salt Lake, a pub in Sugar House, and a pub at the new Salt Lake International Airport.
• Website: https://wasatchbeers.com/
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter

Squatters Craft Beers

• Opened: 1989
• Notable: Squatters Craft Beers opened its doors at 147 West Broadway in downtown Salt Lake City on Sept. 5, 1989. In doing so, it became the capital city’s first brewpub.
• Website: https://www.squatters.com/
• Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter