Well is seems every state has its own alcohol laws and this bleeds over into the brewery craze (and my desire to try beer in every state!). In some states the breweries have been able to manipulate the regulations to work well for the brewing industry while others not so much. For example, Montana has been able to get around the liquor license laws with their breweries and brew pubs but they have to close at 8:00 and are not allowed to serve over a certain number of ounces to each patron per day.
It is really no surprise however that the state of Utah has some of the most insanely strict and very weird alcohol laws in the nation. For one they are not allowed to serve beer (including tasters) at the breweries unless they are also a restaurant. And funny enough, it was fairly recently that they changed the law that mandated in the restaurants you had to order food before having any beer (or alcohol)! Currently Utah law sets a limit of alcohol level (abv) at 4% for beer sold on tap at beer only bars and restaurants, you can buy higher abv beer but it has to be in a bottle. There is also a law prohibiting happy hours because they “promote overconsumption”. And don’t even get me started with their other liquor laws!
Here in Ogden I was able to find two “breweries” one that was a restaurant and the other a brewery. Roosters Brewery and Restaurant in old downtown Ogden had good food and good beer. Allowed only two tasters at a time, I tried a couple of their on tap (less than 4%) beers.
I stopped by Talismen Brewery today and had a nice chat with one of the owners before walking away with several bottles and a growlette full of beer. All without trying any of them as it was not allowed!
Utah is certainly a beautiful state but with the majority of their citizens being members of the Mormon Church, which does not allow drinking alcohol it is no surprise, their laws are so strict and crazy!
Tasting a beer in each state? I thought your goal was to go for a swim in each state. I will have to admit, both are pretty cool goals for your trip.
I have to do both – the swims work off the beer!