Epic Brewery Ruining Salt Lake City’s 3.2 Image

Utah has a long history of unusual and absurd liquor laws so brewing quality beer in Utah has always been a challenge.  Utah is a 3.2 state meaning that you can only purchase low-point beer in grocery stores and gas stations and in some bars and restaurants 3.2 is all you can consume.

For visitors to Salt Lake City, navigating the liquor laws and beer rules can be quite dizzying – heck the Hot Buttered Rum String Band even wrote a song about it.

When it comes to brewing and selling beer the laws get even more confusing so I am not even going to go there.  Regardless Utah has quite a selection of phenomenal 3.2 brewers like Wasatch, Squatters, and Uinta.

Epic Brewery opened its doors on May 17, 2010 and took Utah brewing to a new level – the high-point level.  Epic Brewing Company is the first brewery since prohibition that exclusively brews beers greater than 4% alcohol.  Plus Epic is the only place in Salt Lake City to purchase cold, full-strength beer (all liquor stores in Utah sell beer at room temperature).

Epic focuses on high quality, fresh, original brews.  All Epic beers are sold in 22 ounce bottles and can be purchased directly from the brewery at 825 South State Street, state owned liquor stores, and at select establishments around town such as the Brewhive Pub and Fiddler’s Elbow.  That is – if you can find one.

Epic beers have been flying off the shelf so fast that the brewery had to double their brewing capacity since they opened.  Basically a three-month supply of beer flew off the shelves in just a week causing people to serious question Utah’s 3.2 persona.

Epic beers make an excellent souvenir to bring home for the non-believers.  The probably wouldn’t believe you without the proof anyway.  Help spread the world that yes you can find high quality, full-strength beer made in Utah.

[Photo courtesy of wickenden]