Ale Yeah, it’s SLUG Mag’s Brewstillery! A Brew-tiful Guide to Beer Tasting Notes

Welcome, fellow drinking enthusiasts, to the fantastic world of local brews and spirits! Today we will adventure through the realms of beer tasting notes for you, as you head into SLUG Mag’s Brewstillery 2024. Celebrating Utah’s breweries and distilleries, Brewstillery offers a wide variety of tastings of local beers and spirits. This is an all-ages event that has something for everyone to enjoy! From the crisp bite of a pale ale to the velvety smoothness of a stout, we’ll navigate the many flavors that will be present at this year’s Brewstillery. So grab your pint glasses and get ready to sip, sniff and savor our way through this wonderful guide. 

Let’s hop to it!  

Understanding Tasting Notes

Before we get into the nitty-gritty tasting notes of the brews at this year’s Brewstillery, let’s make sure you have a brief understanding of different tasting notes and what might influence them. When first assessing a new beer, you want to begin by noticing the temperature, appearance and aroma. Of course, to follow, pay attention to the taste and texture. Understanding tasting notes in beer requires a keen awareness of the various elements that contribute to its flavor profile. From the choice of ingredients—like malt and hops—to the intricacies of the brewing process, each step influences the final product’s taste. With plenty of tasting notes to discover, get ready to deepen your appreciation for the diverse array of tastes and aromas found across different local brews.

Beer Styles & Distinct Tasting Notes

Beer styles hold a large spectrum of flavors and scents, each offering a unique experience for the palate. Pale Ales, characterized by their balanced maltiness and hoppy bitterness, often present tasting notes of toasted grains, citrusy hops and hints of pine. A lovely pale ale I recommend you try is Prodigy Brewing’s On the Job Pale Ale, which is nicely balanced with a mix of classic and citrus hops. I really enjoy this brew for its woody, citrus flavor and its calm, subtle kick. Another great one to try is Uinta Brewing Company’s Cutthroat Pale Ale—this brew has a distinct pine-y hop, preceded with a hint of caramel malt. You might even want to take a pitcher, it’ll last longer.

Stouts, on the other hand, boast a rich and creamy texture, often having robust flavors of roasted malt, coffee, chocolate and sometimes even a subtle smokiness. A great classic to try if you’re wanting the perfect stout is Hopkins Brewing Company’s Dry Irish Stout, which has locally-grown and floor-malted Solstice Mild, giving it a rich, bready character that leaves a nice, dry finish. This stout is a fun taste because it has that dark, rich flavor but not too much. Another great choice to note is Uinta’s The American Stout, with its flavors of coffee and rich dark chocolate, balanced with a nice touch of bitterness. Uinta has so many options, it can be hard to go wrong with almost any of them. 

India Pale Ales (IPAs) are renowned for their bold hop profiles, displaying notes of tropical fruits, floral aromas and a prominent bitterness that tends to linger. A personal favorite of mine is Prodigy’s Hopped and Confused IPA, which has a delicious grapefruit aroma with sweet citrus flavor. I especially like its hint of malt sweetness and tangy finish. Another great IPA to keep on the radar while at Brewstillery is UTOG Brewery’s The OG Juice IPA, which presents a similar style to Prodigy’s, but has a light, easy and hoppy taste. In my opinion, IPAs are the way to go! 

If you are looking for a crisp, clean profile, a Pilsner might be the one for you. Pilsners are a type of lager, often having a delicate balance of malt and sweetness with more hops than a typical lager. A new found favorite of mine is the Czech Your Head Pilsner from Proper Brewing Co. Czech Your Head has a perfect mix of hop, body and malt with a great bitter taste. I mostly love it for the hint of herbal flavor that’s been added in. You’ll for sure want to get this one on your list to try at Brewstillery. 

Belgian Ales, known for their complex yeast strains, deliver an array of fruity esters, spicy phenols and earthy undertones, creating a fuse of flavors that evolve with each sip. There are so many fun varieties when it comes to Belgian Ales. A great one to try is Level Crossing’s Dallas Alice Belgian Style Blonde Ale—try and say that 5 times fast—which has been brewed with clean malt flavors, mild hop bitterness and pleasing fruity esters that give you an easy-drinking ale to enjoy! Another great one to try is Prodigy’s Rusty Hoe Farmhouse Ale, which is slightly dry and refreshing with a subtle Belgian yeast characteristic. I like the Farmhouse because it has somewhat of a playful vibe with a dry finish, which I often prefer. 

Cheers to Beers!

Each beer style represents a distinct journey through the world of flavors, inviting enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the diversity that Utah’s local beer has to offer. The brews noted above give you just a glimpse of the different flavors and styles that will be available to you to try at Brewstillery. Experiment with the different brews, don’t be afraid to try something new and note both what you like and what you don’t. Whether you prefer the bold bitterness of an IPA or the smooth richness of a stout, there’s a beer out there waiting to be savored. Don’t forget to come and raise the bar with us on Saturday, June 15 from 2–7 p.m. at SLUG Mag’s Brewstillery at the Artspace City Center in downtown SLC. Purchase a ticket in advance at 24tix.com!

Read more about SLUG Mag’s Brewstillery here:
SLUG Mag’s Brewstillery 2023 @ Artspace City Center
SLUG Mag’s 2021 Brewstillery Fun Guide