Appreciating the Outdoors One Brew at a Time

Utah’s scenic landscape of chalky red rocks, deep lakes and towering mountains is central to our state’s branding, and sometimes those outdoor activities include a cold beer. These five breweries emphasize Utah recreation culture by showing support for local, outdoor-centric organizations, often while appreciating our state’s most unique landmarks with a beer in hand.

Epic Brewing Company

825 S State St, SLC, UT

Emphasizing their founder’s humble beginnings as a Great Salt Lake brine shrimp fisherman, Epic Brewing has not forgotten their roots. They pay homage to outdoor life in Utah through their brews and partnerships, such as their Spiral Jetty IPA featuring an image of Robert Smithson’s famous GSL art installation on the label. For years, Epic has been donating to the FRIENDS of Great Salt Lake’s annual fundraiser and gala while also maintaining relationships with nonprofits such as Venture Outdoors, Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens, Yoga & Beer at The Gateway, Seven Canyons Trust, Ragnar and Bike Utah.

“Epic Brewing Company was founded on the idea that there’s a beer for every person and every adventure. It’s imperative that we call out local landmarks and attractions as a part of our branding because Utahns are so intertwined with the great outdoors,” says Epic Marketing Manager Gus Erickson.

Proper Brewing Co.

857 S Main St, SLC, UT
1393 US-191, Moab, UT

Featuring local landmarks such as the Delicate Arch on their Leisurebrau Cold IPA and The Daily IPA referencing their location in Moab, Proper Brewing has put outdoor recreation and Utah landmarks at the forefront of their brewery. With an emphasis on sourcing locally—salt harvested from the Great Salt Lake and hand-foraged ingredients such as wild hops and spruce tips—Proper is Utah-made, through and through. They are the current sponsors for Sunset Yoga and Yappy Hour, a local dog park happy hour event, and they donate each year to outdoor organization the Henry’s Fork Foundation while also working with local entities Tracy Aviary & Botanical Gardens and Hogle Zoo.

“From the locally sourced ingredients we use in our recipes to the names and imagery on our cans, we love to tell a story with beer and Utah has so many stories we want to share,” says Proper Sales Director Rebecca Cardaccio.

RoHa Brewing Project

30 Kensington Ave, SLC, UT

RoHa Brewing Project focuses on environmental impact and enjoying Utah’s landscape. They only package in recyclable cans and the team is often together skiing, biking, hiking, swimming or rafting. As with the Explorer and Dual brew packs, RoHa products feature contour artwork representing the mountains along the Wasatch Front, and their Steady Edge Imperial Red IPA features a red rock landscape. RoHa’s support of local, environmentally focused outdoor organizations includes Save Our Canyons, HEAL Utah and Clean the Darn Air, and they regularly host their Pints for Purpose event series, donating a portion of the night’s proceeds toward a local nonprofit.

“We are just naturally outdoorsy people—the crew here at RoHa loves to get a day in the mountains or on the rivers and lakes that Utah has to offer. These activities keep us inspired and our lives balanced,” says RoHa Managing Partner Rob Phillips.

Salt Flats Brewing Co.

2020 Industrial Cir, SLC, UT

Named after the Bonneville Salt Flats, Salt Flats Brewing centers their branding around the brewery’s previous life as a professional racing facility. Their focus also includes other aspects native to Utah, such as their recently released Save the Lake Pilsner, which aims to educate on and provide support for the Great Salt Lake’s shrinkage crisis. With the GSL currently at its lowest recorded water levels, air quality and toxic dust from the Bonneville Basin threatens to impact the Wasatch Front. SFB plans to donate 5% of the pilsner’s proceeds to local nonprofits that support the preservation of the lake.

“We are passionate about our state, especially when it comes to the current challenges of the Great Salt Lake. We love to brew beer dedicated to such a great cause,” says SFB Operating Manager JC Straub.

Uinta Brewing Co.

1722 South, 1722 Fremont Dr #2, SLC, UT

Uinta Brewing’s branding is synonymous with the Utah outdoors. From their Cutthroat Pale Ale referencing the state fish to their Was Angeles craft lager derived from the nickname locals gave the Cottonwood Canyons, the outdoors have always been a part of Uinta. Their original tagline—“Earth, Wind and Beer”—references their sustainability efforts as one of Utah’s first businesses to utilize renewable energy. Uinta has ongoing partnerships with the Utah Avalanche Center, Salt Lake City Public Utilities with a focus on the watershed, Fish for Garbage, an initiative that coordinates annual river cleanups and the Utah Cutthroat Slam.

“The brand itself has become outdoor-lifestyle oriented. We’re staying true to that but also making sure that we aren’t just using those landscapes and those images to sell beer—we’re also giving back to them through donations and our footprint,” says Uinta Director of Marketing Jeremy Worrell.

Read more beer features:
Glitter and Hops: A Guide to Utah’s Pride-Themed Brews
Brew News