Big beer bash returns to Midvale for eighth year

Lovers of lagers of all forms will want to circle May 20th right away. That’s the date for this year’s Lagerpalooza, held once more at Midvale staple Bohemian Brewery. The free to attend event (all ages are welcome) will see a roster of SLC’s finest rock up to pour their take on this Euro-borne brew.

At this time, eight local brewers will be on site, with two others tentatively penciled in as well:

T.F. Brewing
Grid City
Fisher Brewing Company
Offset Brewing
Helper Brewing
Strap Tank
Bewilder Brewing
Bohemian Brewery
Hopkins – pending confirmation
Level Crossing – pending confirmation

Running noon through 7.00 p.m. all drafts are priced simply at $5.00. Therein, expect to see a wide and diverse lineup of lagers, including but not limited to: American-style, Mexican-style, rauchbier, kolsch, IPL/hoppy, amber, dunkel and more.

Also available will be last year’s “best in show” beer, the product of the yearly home brew competition the event is anchored around. The “Simply Elegant” Czech-Style Amber lager is available to enjoy on-site, or 12oz cans to go. The malt forward lager is described as having a “depth of caramel and biscuit notes that last throughout every sip. Noble hops with noticeable bitterness balance the beer for a ‘simply elegant’ drinking experience.” Created by Paul Konopelski and Dave Elske it weighs in at 5.8% ABV. Speaking of which, the event again culminates with the annual home brewing awards ceremony; with a new best in show set to be crowned.

Food will be available from Bohemian directly inside the restaurant, as well as from several food trucks. To pair with your pour, guests can sample from Taco Daddy, Cobra Dogs, Black’s Sliders, and Weller’s German food truck. The organizers tell me they also hope to have beer-infused cupcakes from Sweet Vinyl Bakeshop (by the talented Melissa Diaz).

Entertainment on the big includes: Johnny The Clown Balloon Artist, Photo Collective Studios photo booth, DJ Jason Lovato, a giant adult-sized bouncy slide, a cornhole tournament presented by Beehive Sports, Craft Pub Runners 5K, Solstice Malt (local barley malter James Weed), various home brew clubs with brewing demos, and a Taste Masters live podcast (tastemastersdrink.com). Finally, all proceeds from the sale of the 2022 best in show brew goes to benefit Delete Blood Cancer.

Here a few other notable events and specials for your calendar while we’re at it…

Scarbolo wine dinner at Veneto

May 17th

If you’re someone who knows your pinot grigio, Veneto can’t wait to talk to you after you experience a Friuli Venezia Giulia Pinot Grigio. Second-generation winemaker, Valter Scarbolo will share his family’s dedication and passion for winemaking, and discuss and pour five of their wines at an intimate dinner that starts at 6.30 p.m. Price is $190 per person, call for reservations.

Old Cuss fresh & raw dinner

May 19th and 20th

Over this duo of evenings, South Salt Lake’s Old Cuss will begin a new ‘dinner series’ of events. The launch event is titled as ‘fresh & raw’ and is described by the business as follows:

. . .

Here at Old Cuss we take pride in “Celebrating the Veggie” with our 100% plant based cuisine. Dinner will focus on incorporating fine dining techniques and Latin flavors to bring you a unique dining experience. Dinner is served in courses

Our dinner series will also incorporate local art and music talent into our evening festivities. Please come hungry for delicious food, great conversation and a new appreciation for your local community.

Each ticket purchased gets you a seat at our communal table where you will share a dinner experience with friends and strangers alike. The evening is all about getting to know your neighbor, so there won’t be any assigned seating. We urge you to know each other, because we anticipate a diverse spectrum of individuals to attend.

Food and beverages are included in the dinner service. There will be additional beverages available along with a private after hours market shopping experience. Tickets can be purchased online.

Wasatch Food Co-op lease signing party

May 20th

Via press release.

. . .

Wasatch Cooperative Market (416 East 900 South, Salt Lake City), a Salt Lake-based community-owned grocery start-up, announced they are executing a lease for their first brick-and-mortar location at 416 East 900 South in Salt Lake’s Liberty Wells neighborhood. Please join the co-op on May 20th for a free neighborhood party to celebrate this turning point in the store’s development. The event is:

Free to the public
Farmers market pop-up, food trucks, family friendly activities
Live music by Mel Soul and the Heartbeat

“This year marks a milestone in Utah’s local food economy with the entrance of a cooperative grocer,” said Erin Whitelock, a member of the WCM board of Directors. “We look forward to re-investing in our local food system through a full-service grocery store focusing on local goods first.” WCM worked with Utah developer Kathia Dang to become the anchor tenant of her re-development at 400 E 900 S – The Milk Block.

What was once home to the Southeast Asian market has been re-envisioned by Dang to become the neighborhood’s nucleus for commerce and community, offering local restaurants, retailers and four live-work units. Construction on the project is slated to begin in August 2023.

Flights N Bites

May 25th

Guided by Wine Academy of Utah sommelier Jim Santangelo, guests will enjoy unique wine pairings with a salad, pesto pasta with parmesan and mushrooms, and a triple chocolate brownie for dessert. Running from 6.30 – 8.00 p.m. the 21+ only even is priced $60 per person. Tickets are available online.

DuMol Wine dinner at Riverhorse

May 25th

The details on this upcoming wine dinner on Park City’s Main Street, courtesy of press release.

. . .

Riverhorse on Main welcomes guests to its first wine dinner of the season featuring Napa Valley’s DuMOL Winery on Thursday, May 25, at 6 p.m. Riverhorse on Main’s talented culinary team will prepare a sumptuous 5-course dinner, each thoughtfully paired with DuMOL’s limited production varietals.

“We’re excited to partner with DuMOL Winery to officially kick off our wine dinner series,” says Executive Chef Seth Adams of Riverhorse Hospitality Group. “Hailing from Napa’s Russian River Valley, DuMOL’s selection of artfully nuanced wines perfectly complement our exclusive menu for the evening and will provide and unforgettable experience for our guests.”

Guests of the intimate DuMOL Wine Dinner will begin the night with passed appetizers during a small reception, followed by an elegant fine dining experience of five expertly crafted courses paired with renowned DuMOL wines including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Tickets for this 21+ event are available now on RESY for $320 per person with a $150 deposit. Limited seats are available so reservations are encouraged as soon as possible.

May offerings at The Lodge at Blue Sky

May 26th and 30th

Two events worth a look in are coming up shortly at The Lodge in Warship. Details via press release as follows.

. . .

Caputo’s farmstead and artisan cheese tasting. Friday May 26th in the Wine Room. Experience an in-depth tasting through the world of fine cheese, specifically that from Southern Europe and the New World, all made by true artisans. Experts will provide tips on how to shop for and store cheese, as well as telling the health of the cheese from the texture and flavor. The event runs from 4 to 5.30 p.m., and costs $80 per person for the cheese tasting and an additional $50 per person for a wine pairing.

Harvest series at Gracie’s Farm, preserves dinner. Tuesday May 30th at Gracie’s Farm. Enjoy a multi-course dinner honoring an Utah tradition of preserving fruits and vegetables. The bright flavors both celebrate the season’s bounty and awaken spring senses with new flavors. In the Broadfork Barn, enjoy courses filled with various ingredients. The Templin Family Brewery will pair local craft beers to each course. The Welcome Reception starts at 5.00 p.m., followed by dinner at 6.00 p.m. The four-course dinner is $155 per person, with an additional $95 wine pairing or $65 cocktail and local beer pairing available. The guest list is capped at 30 guests.

Utah Cheese Awards lands at Scion

June 14th

A little further ahead, this year’s Utah Cheese awards is set to land at Scion Cider. A perfect venue for my money. Running 6.30 to 8.00 p.m. sample five of the best cheeses of the region, served alongside bread and other foods to accent the flavors. Guests can pair the tastings with Scion’s exhaustive collective including a curated flight of cider, pairing advice from Rio Connelly. Tickets are priced $30 per person, and this is a 21+ only event. Here’s the full release from the event runners:

. . .

The Utah Cheese Awards, a regional cheese plate food contest, and Scion Cider Bar of Salt Lake City announce “Cheese & Cider of the Intermountain West” to be held June 14 at Scion’s Central 9th location.

The Utah Cheese Awards was established in 2017 by graphic designer Steve Jerman. After serving a farmstead internship, and being inspired by the world of artisan cheese, he felt a local contest may work. After five successful years, it was expanded into neighboring Intermountain states.

Scion Cider Bar was established in 2021 and includes the largest variety of cider in Utah. As the area’s first cider establishment, it has helped launch local interest and acted as a pioneering advocate.

“Always wondering where to go from here, I decided using the knowledge base the award show has created was the next step. After Scion Partner Elisabeth Osmeloski voiced her support I was very excited,” said Jerman, “I’ve been to Scion and loved it after being to a similar bar in Portland.”

Jerman has selected five of the most award-winning and unique cheeses to be tasted alongside an accent condiment. Rio Connelly, who previously co-founded both Epic and Proper breweries of Salt Lake City, will suggest cider pairings, concentrating on those made in the Utah Cheese Awards eight- state judging area.

Jerman will give some background on the specific cheeses, the processes and makers. While Connelly will do the same with the ciders suggested. The event is being sponsored by Heber Valley Artisan Cheese of Midway, Utah and MouCo Cheese Company of Fort Collins, Colorado. A limited amount of tickets are still available at https://utahcheeseawards.wordpress.com/public-event/

Featured image top – Midjourney – a glass of lager beer, crisp, beads of condensation, very detailed, surrounded by hops, bright warm light.

Big beer bash returns to Midvale for eighth year