Here's the thing about the craft brewing scene in Utah: It's thriving. Sure, we don't have the most microbreweries per capita, nor can we claim to drink the most. In terms of total beer consumption, Utah drinks the least in the nation. While Utahns don't drink much, we do drink well: Utah-based breweries annually take home coveted medals from the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and other high-profile national and international competitions.
Utah Liquor Laws Visitor Guide Distilleries
Craft breweries of all sizes can be found throughout Utah, including in Moab near Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, in Springdale at the mouth of Zion National Park, in Price, throughout the Wasatch Front, in Park City and as far north as Logan.
Medal-Winning Breweries
- Moab Brewery (Moab): This perpetual favorite for bikers, hikers, river rats and regular folk, brews beers and ales on-premise.
- Wasatch Brew Pub (Salt Lake City):Try a Wasatch brew with locally-sourced, sustainable meals at the Salt Lake International Airport or its locale in the hip Sugar House neighborhood.
Uinta Brewing (Salt Lake City):One of the nation's top 50 craft brewers by volume, their products can be found at their facility several blocks to the west ofUtah Brewers Co-op.
Squatter's Pub Brewery (Salt Lake City): One of Salt Lake's first brewpubs, in business for more than 25 years, with an extensive list of award-winning beer. Squatter's "People, Planet, Profit" mantra means a dedication to great service and sustainable, local products, where possible. Products can also be found at their Utah Brewers Co-op facility in Salt Lake City.
- Red Rock Brewery (Salt Lake City): Established in 1994, it has consistently delivered high-quality craft beers since its inception. With a national reputation for creativity, having garnered over 100 regional and national awards, and acclaimed as 'Brewpub of the Year' by Brewpub Magazine, Red Rock has become a Salt Lake staple.
- Epic Brewing Company (Salt Lake City):Has a fast-growing lineup and its Annex gastropub in nearby Sugar House features the brewery's 36 high-point bottled beers and eclectic dishes in a bohemian atmosphere.
- Roosters Brewing Co (Ogden, Layton and Salt Lake City): Adorned with medals from the International Beer Awards, Roosters Brewing Co. boasts its brewing prowess at locales in Ogden, Layton and the Salt Lake International Airport.
- Templin Family Brewing (Salt Lake City):Competing against 50 fellow breweries, Templin Family Brewery recently claimed the title of Best Brewery from Lagerville, earning both the People's Choice award and a place in the Lagerville Hall of Fame.
- Proper Brewing Co (Salt Lake City): Recognized for its commitment to creativity, tradition and attention to detail, Proper has earned numerous awards from major national beer competitions, solidifying its reputation as a standout in Salt Lake City's craft beer scene.
- Epic Brewing (Salt Lake City): In 2009, Epic Brewing Company broke ground as Utah's first post-prohibition brewery exclusively crafting high-alcohol content beer. Epic’s convention-defying beers have been earning awards ever since.
Utah Liquor Laws Renewed
In 2019, Utah bid farewell to its infamous 3.2% ABV (alcohol by volume) beer law, which dated back to 1933. Today’s liquor laws allow all beer up to 5% alcohol by volume to be sold in grocery and convenience stores.
Global Bottlings: There's a well-reported sentiment that a low-point limit on draught beer actually has a significant benefit for brewers in that it challenges them to brew better, being unable to cover up potential defects in beer with a higher alcohol content. Brewers then take that skill and apply it across their product line. While Utah bars and restaurants only carry local draughts at 5% ABV, they stock bottles of all ABV (alcohol by volume) from around the world.
Utah's Craft co*cktail Scene
- Night Out:Mixologists put together some pretty incredible craft co*cktail menus for your night on the town, whether dining at The Copper Onion, Mar Muntanya, Arlo, Urban Hill or Finca, or grabbing a beverage at Beer Bar after the ballet.
- High West Distillery (Park City): High West sets the bar for not only whiskey blending, new whiskeys and vodka in Utah, but has earned national distinction for their spirits.
- Beehive Distillery (Ogden): Their grain-to-glass approach to craft distillation has its team sourcing quality raw materials, distilling their own spirits and patiently aging its earliest products in small batches.
- Sugar House Distillery (Salt Lake City): Practices a similar craft distillation process as Beehive and holds the distinction of offering Utah's first locally-distilled rum.
Discover the Breweries of the Wasatch Front
Written By Matcha
5 minute read
Over the past two decades, Salt Lake’s breweries have grown into a culture all their own. Here’s what you need to start planning a pub crawl with this collection of Salt Lake’s most popular breweries.
Northern, Food & Drink
Read More
Uniquely Utah
When local breweries and distilleries are paired with a blossoming farm-to-table scene, visitors and locals find flavors unique to Utah virtually anywhere in the state. Many Utah restaurants create carefully crafted co*cktail menus, wine pairings or exclusive wines and incredible cuisine.
And while happy hour drink discounts are prohibited by Utah law, the state continually ranks as "the happiest state in America" based on metrics measuring standards of living, health, workforce and economic confidence.
With fresh powder dropping on our peaks and a plethora of resorts close by, we've earned that beer after all the mountain playtime.
"You can get an absolutely amazing drink at a lot of places all along the Wasatch Front and beyond."
- Darby Doyle, co*cktail Historian
Read the Stories
- Best Après Ski Bars in Park City and Beyond Written By Austen Diamond 4 minute read Want to master the art of après? Here’s your guide to the best après-ski bars in Park City and the Wasatch Front.
- Discover the Breweries of the Wasatch Front Written By Matcha 5 minute read Over the past two decades, Salt Lake’s breweries have grown into a culture all their own. Here’s what you need to start planning a pub crawl with this collection of Salt Lake’s most popular breweries.
- From Big Air to Big Ales: Utah’s Best Local Craft Brew Picks Written By Visit Utah Here's the thing about the craft brewing scene in Utah: it's thriving.
- How-to Guide for Salt Lake City Conference Attendees: Food, Drink and Fun Written By Matcha Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of your time before, during, and after your conference in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- Rediscovering A. Fisher Brewing Company Written By Lindy Blanchette 8 minute read One brewery where you can find both a rich history and a fresh perspective is the newly reopened A. Fisher Brewing Company (also referred to simply as Fisher Brewing). After more than fifty years this Utah classic is back to stay, providing a wide variety brews to enjoy.
- The Hills are Alive With the Scent of Whiskey Written By Cody Kirkland 4 minute read The first of several legal Utah distilleries since 1870 is the High West Distillery. Tour the facility, enjoy a tasting, build your flight and have a burger.
- The Myth of Provo-bition: Where to Drink in Utah County Written By Court Mann No, Utah County isn’t ‘stone-cold sober.’ We’ve got proof.
- Utah Spirits Tours Written By Darby Doyle 5 minute read Utahns have rediscovered distilling. Sample the merchandise on a gin distillery tour, stay for dinner and taste Utah whiskey, vodka and more on other tours.
- Utah's Rum Underdogs Written By Darby Doyle 6 minute read Utah distilleries are becoming very popular. Distillery 36 is rising to the top of the list. Drink in their story and then let’s toast with Brigham agricole rum!
- Welcome to the 5%: Liquor Laws Support Utah's Vibrant Craft Brew Scene Written By Matcha While Utah still has some unconventional liquor laws on the books, they aren’t an impediment to enjoying the local creations. So raise a glass to your next trip to Utah — you won’t be disappointed.
