Ever wonder what it would be like to start a brewery in the Mormon capital of the world? Find out from Kevin Crompton (pictured on left) and David Cole (right) on Tuesday when Epic Brewing’s head brewer and co-owner, respectively, will be at Taste of Tops in Tempe from 7-9 p.m.
Epic opened in Salt Lake City three years ago when then-governor Jon Huntsman Jr. pushed liquor law changes through the conservative state legislature. After Huntsman left office, many of the laws were rolled back.
Under Utah law, restaurants and bars can’t serve draft beers whose alcohol content is higher than the 3.2 percent by weight (or 4% ABV). Thus, Epic has been limited to selling its beers in state-run liquor stores, at the brewery (only samples with food) or in bottles.
A couple months ago, Epic grudgingly introduced a line of so-called “3.2 beers” – Priesthood Pale Ale, The Vision Lager, Unfaithful IPA, and Rimando’s Wit – just to have a presence in Utah grocery stores and on local taps.
But it’s Epic’s higher-alcohol beers that have captured the attention of critics and reviewers. This summer, Epic opened a brewery and warehouse – in Denver – to ship its “full-strength” beers to 13 states other than Utah.
Epic Meet & Greet tap list
- Hopulent IPA
- Brainless Belgian Golden
- Sour Apple Saison
- Blue Law Porter
- Fermentation without Representation Imperial Pumpkin Porter
