Salt Lake City's Brewpubs
Where to Go to Get a Great Beer and a Great Meal
Although getting a great beer in Salt Lake City, Utah may seem counterintuitive, it's just not so! Salt Lake houses several great brewpubs that also have great menus.
Salt Lake City is home to the Wasatch Mountains, The Mormon Temple, and some of the best brewpubs in the West. Although popular notion would have visitors believe it’s difficult to get a beer – let alone a good beer – in Salt Lake, these four establishments are quickly proving that myth wrong.
147 West Broadway
After touring over 40 pubs in the West, Peter Cole and Jeff Polychronis vowed to start a brewery in Salt Lake City. The result is Squatters – a brewpub with three locations that each serves a line-up of award-winning beers. Comically named beers such as Chasing Tail Golden Ale and Provo Girl Pilsner are served along side seasonal favorites, stouts, hefeweizens, and Utah’s first organic ale. When it comes to food, the choices are classic pub cuisine. The burgers are thick, and served on doughy, locally baked buns. Try a Black & Blue Burger or a Squatters Bourbon Burger. If burgers aren’t your thing, they also serve pizzas, salads, and steaks.
254 South 200 West
Ask any college graduate what goes best with beer and they will answer pizza. Red Rock Brewing Company has perfected this pairing, in a more gourmet style than the standard pepperoni-cardboard mess that delivered in 20 minutes or less. The Barbeque Chicken Pizza is served with a tangy sauce and the perfect mix of chicken, onion and cheese. Also noteworthy are the Wild Mushroom or Four Cheese – a blend of Gruyere, Gouda, mozzarella and Romano cheeses. Although a lesser known brewery than some of their peers, Red Rock brews a fierce line-up that includes Honey Wheat Ale and a German style Black Bier. Never fear, designated drivers – Red Rock also makes their own Root Beer and Cream Soda.
94 East 7200 South
Driving the twenty miles or so from Salt Lake City to Midvale became much more worthwhile when Bohemian Brewery opened its doors. The family-run brewpub brews four beers: Czech Pilsener, Viennese Lager, Bavarian Weir, and Cherny Bock, each with their own distinct taste. If you can’t decide on one beer, get a sampler – four small glasses of each beer. When it comes to your meal, go authentic and try the Pirogies and Bratwurst, Bavarian Brats, or Schnitzel. Order a side of Spatzle, a plate full of corkscrew-shaped starchy pasta. One dish is plenty to share with your tablemates. Before you leave, be sure to visit the second floor to peruse the pub’s scooter collection.
645 S State Street
Although not technically a brewpub, no discussion of beer in Salt Lake City would be complete without mentioning The Bayou. Self-publicized as “Beervana,” this restaurant serves over 200 different kinds of beer from around the world – everything from bubbly ales to hoppy pilsners to chocolately stouts. They also support local breweries, and serve selections from Squatters, Bohemian Brewery, and Wasatch Beer. For something light and tangy, try Piraat Ale from Belgium. For a beer with a sweeter side, try a Lindemans Frambois, a light beer flavored with raspberries. Don’t forget to order food. In addition to traditional pub food, The Bayou specializes in Cajun cuisine. For starters, try a slice of Alligator Cheesecake – a savory mix of cream cheese and alligator sausage in a pastry shell, similar to quiche. Follow it up with a bowl of gumbo – with the crawfish. And for main entrees, you can’t go wrong with Blackened Catfish or Crawfish Etouffee. If Cajun isn’t your style, try a Turkey Burger flavored with curry and plum sauce. Forgo traditional fries and order your sandwich with a pile of golden Sweet Potato Fries.
