Squatters Pub and Brewery
by Steve LaRue
(Beer Delegate, UT, USA)
Squatters Pub and Brewery, Salt Lake City, UT: 20 years of great beer
I got my start by associating brewpubs with good food rather than good beer, though generally it was the beer that got me through the door in the first place. A lot of times I have found that some brewpubs focus only on the beer and seem to forget that quality food and service provide as much to the atmosphere and overall success as the beer.
Under the guidance of Master Brewer Jennifer Tally, Squatters Pub and Brewery has grown into not only one of the most awarded breweries in the country but one of the best restaurants in Utah. Jenny started as a home brewer, but expressed an interest in commercial brewing, so in 1991 she applied to apprentice with Dan Burick, then the Squatter’s Head Brewer.
She was immediately hired and when Squatters opened a microbrewery Jen was promoted to Head Brewer at the restaurant. She knew how to brew a batch of beer, but wanted to gain further knowledge so she was soon accepted into the Brewers Program at the Seibel Institute.
Jen is now one of the most respected beer people around the world, not only for her brewing prowess but for her skill in recipe design and also as a CBJ as she has judged contests in the US and Australia. She has travelled extensively for research most recently to Belgium which she turned into a 2008 GABF Bronze for her Fifth Element Saison.
Since Squatter’s operates both a pub brewery and a microbrewery in conjunction with Wasatch Brewing called the Utah Brewers Coop, they are able to brew for both draft and bottle accounts as well as provide regular beers for the restaurant, allowing the pub brewery to be used for seasonal beers and any other special beers that Jen might dream up.
Though Utah law requires that all draft beer must be 4% ABV, brewers are allowed to bottle full strength beers. These full strength beers must then be sold to the state for sale in the State Liquor Stores or bought back by the brewer for service in the restaurant, but to get them you must sit at a table and order food.
All but a couple of Squatter’s beers are what most people would refer to as session beers, but they are varied in style and full of flavor.
Squatters Pub and Brewery serves their own beers as well as a selection from the Utah Brewers Coop line-up, which make for a very large selection. Depending on the time of your visit, you will very often find at least one of these beers on cask and/or nitro. Below is a list of most of the beers that Squatters Pub and Brewery offers, but not all at one time; and it is good to remember that something is generally always under development.
Squatter’s recently hosted a couple of parties. The first, a Mug Club party celebrating the beers Jen entered into the 2008 GABF; and an American Homebrewers Association membership drive.
Sold Out! 100 people have paid $50 for their own engraved mug at Squatters Pub and Brewery. Call now to get on the waiting list. Should you decide to join the Mug Club, the benefits are two semi-annual parties that feature seasonal beers and food are offered; one in the spring and one in the fall.
These parties are free to members. The mug that you get is a 28 ounce stein with your name or whatever you want engraved on the glass.
During any visit to the pub, whether you visit the Salt Lake location or the Park City location, you get your mug filled with beer for $3.50, while the regular 20 ounce pours are $4.50. Quite a deal. You also get dessert on your birthday.
The AHA Member Drive Party was quite an event. There were about 60 people attending and though I don’t know the exact numbers, there were several new AHA members.
The discussions at the tables seemed lively and were hopefully mostly about homebrewing. Jen gave great tours to several small groups and it was an informative tour as it was more about the process and recipe design the most tours I have taken. She also happily answered many intelligent questions.
There was also an announcement that the Utah State Legislature will be hearing arguments soon about legalizing homebrewing in Utah. The issue came up in the last session, but unfortunately just went away without discussion. If Utah changes the law and allows homebrewing, Squatters Pub and Brewery will try to expand its role in the community by offering tastings and judging and maybe even a Pro-Am where a homebrewer would be able to brew their own beer together with Jen on the pub’s seven-barrel system. This would be really cool. Both Squatter’s and the AHA provided great door prizes.
Squatters Pub and Brewery is located in an old hotel built in the early 1900s. The building was purchased by Squatter’s and remodeled into a beautiful showcase brewery.
As you enter the triangular entrance, you will immediately see the hostess station and the retail section in front of you. The bar is on the left and looks directly at the glass enclosed brewery.
The dining room is along the left side with a great outdoor beer garden in the back and private dining spaces in the rear and upstairs. All of the spaces are framed by huge timbers that divide the room in to smaller, intimate spaces. There is a huge wood burning fireplace in the dining area.
The menu is extensive but the foods are simple and well done. There are several ethnic and vegetarian selections. Appetizers range from edamame to crab cakes and the entrée selections are varied from mac & cheese to grilled fish. Daily specials are always offered and include a sandwich, pasta and fish and/or a meat selection.
Squatters Pub and Brewery uses sustainable and organic provisioners whenever possible adding to the "Buy, Eat and Drink Local" creed that makes them one of the finest restaurants in the state.
Steve's reviews of Squatters Pub and Brewery beers:
Squatters Alt and In The Way
Squatters Ava Lee Tripel
Squatters Black Forest Schwarz
Squatters Bobsled Brown
Squatters Broadway Kolsch
Squatters Captain Bastard's Oatmeal Stout
Squatters Chasing Tail Golden Ale
Squatters Cherry Luv
Squatters Cheshire Cream Ale
Squatters Custer's Last Stout
Squatters Demolition Dunkel
Squatters Emigration Amber
Squatters Espresso Stout
Squatters Fifth Element Saison
Squatters Full Steam Ahead
Squatters Full Suspension Pale Ale
Squatters Harvest Mild
Squatters Hefeweizen
Squatters Holiday Nut Brown Ale
Squatters Hop Head Red
Squatters Hop Rising
Squatters IPA
Squatters Kindig Weizen
Squatters Orphan Abbey
Squatters Provo Girl Pilsner
Squatters Pumpkin ale
Squatters Second Revelation
Squatters Smoked Porter
Squatters Wit
Locations and pertinent information:
Squatters Pub and Brewery
147 West Broadway
Salt Lake City, Utah
84101
Squatters website
Squatters Roadhouse Grill (Tied House) (formerly Mountain Air Café)
1900 Park Avenue
Park City, Utah
84060
Squatters Airport Pub
Salt Lake Intn’l Airport
Concourse C Terminal 2
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