History
Squatters Pub Brewery opened in 1989 as Utah's first post-Prohibition brewpub, breaking ground for the state's craft brewing renaissance. The 5% ABV draft limit (federal-stricter than the rest of the country) constrains the industry but spawned innovation in low-ABV beer styles. By 2026, 30+ breweries operate across Wasatch Front; the annual Utah Beer Festival at the Gateway draws 200+ beer pours and 50+ breweries.
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Common allergens: Gluten
Make it at home
Ingredients
- 2.5 kg pale 2-row malt
- 500g Munich malt
- 200g Crystal 60L malt
- 20g Cascade hops (60-minute boil)
- 20g Cascade hops (15-minute boil)
- 30g Cascade hops (whirlpool)
- 1 packet US-05 American Ale yeast
- 10 liters reverse osmosis water
- Brewing salts (gypsum, calcium chloride) to taste
Method
- Mash grains in 4 liters of water at 65C (149F) for 60 minutes. Sparge with 6 liters at 75C.
- Bring wort to a boil. Add 20g Cascade hops at the start of the 60-minute boil.
- Add 20g Cascade hops at the 15-minute mark. Add 30g Cascade hops at flameout for whirlpool flavor.
- Cool wort rapidly to 18C (65F). Transfer to a sanitized fermenter.
- Pitch the US-05 yeast. Ferment at 18-20C for 7 to 10 days until gravity is stable.
- Cold-crash at 2C for 2 days. Bottle or keg with sugar for carbonation.
- Condition 7 days at room temperature, then refrigerate. Serve at 4-7C in a chilled pint glass.
Tip from the editors. Target a 5% ABV cap by adjusting grain bill; this recipe produces around 4.8% naturally. Cascade hops give the canonical American Pale Ale aroma, but Utah-grown hops are increasingly available.
Where to eat wasatch craft beer
Wasatch craft beer in Salt Lake City
Squatters Pub Brewery ★ 4.8
Squatters Pub Brewery on West Broadway is Salt Lake's first post-Prohibition brewpub since 1989, anchoring Utah craft brewing downtown with pilsners and IPAs.
Epic Brewing Company ★ 4.5
Epic Brewing on South State Street, the bottle-focused craft brewery and tap room, opened in 2010 as Utah's first brewery to focus on high-ABV bottles.
Uinta Brewing Company ★ 4.4
Uinta Brewing on Fremont Drive since 1993, Utah's large independent craft brewery, runs the state's defining brand across multi-state distribution alongside.
Fisher Brewing Company ★ 4.4
Fisher Brewing on West 800 South runs Friday and Saturday until midnight, with rotating food trucks and Granary District ales and lagers on draft.
TryCraft beer with rotating food trucks
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