“Cheers for the beers!”
-Alex Brumley, Everybody Wants Some! [2016]
Full throttle to the bottle. It’s been an amazing few years for craft breweries in Salt Lake City. An increase in population and an increase in demand all happened at once, and our brilliant brewers have taken full advantage. Salt Lake City breweries are opening their own brew pubs for us to eat and fill our growlers, collaborating with local Utah food trucks, staying on top of the latest trends (hazy IPA and sour fans, rise up!), and ensuring that Utahns get can always get great beers on tap even with our 5% limit.
We are so fortunate to have such a talented group, and I would argue that the Best Breweries in Salt Lake City make up some of the Best Breweries in the US. Though I am not the only one making that argument. Up-and-coming Salt Lake City breweries like T.F. Brewing, Level Crossing, Grid City Beer Works, and Shades Brewing are winning big at Great American Beer Festival.
Necessity is the mother of invention. And while I’ll never advocate for the ridiculous restrictions from Utah’s DABC, the unintended consequence is a collection of incredible breweries rising up to meet the specific needs of SLC’s beer drinking community. The DABC’s guidelines would be a huge hindrance for most craft breweries, the breweries in Salt Lake City have thrived because of their ingenuity, creativity, and passion.
So cheers to everyone (except for the Utah DABC), and enjoy the Best Breweries in Salt Lake City! Like the Utah craft beer scene, this list is always expanding. Let us know your favorite Salt Lake City breweries in the comments below!
Feeling something a little stronger? Check out our favorite Utah distilleries next.
T.F. Brewing
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Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 936 S 300 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
I would like to be adopted by the Templin Family if it means I can live at the Stammtisch in their Granary District brewery. T.F. Brewing is consistently recognized for their craft. And while it’s nice to be recognized with awards (of which T.F. is getting quite the collection), the quality of their German style beers is the real award. In the brewery world, there is a brand of brewery that chases trends to maximize reach. The old jack-of-all-trades master of none. I want more breweries like T.F. who have enough skill and taste to say, “We are going to do this and we are going to do this better than literally anyone else.” If you’re checking out T.F., like I said before, you can’t go wrong with any of their German style beers. In particular, be sure to check out their Granary Kellerbier, which is racking up awards from the Great American Beer Festival. I would also recommend any pilsner they are currently brewing, their multi-faceted Berliner Weisse, and for something that packs a hell of a punch: the Ferda double IPA.
Grid City Beer Works
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Neighborhood: South Salt Lake
Address: 333 2100 S, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
I’ve had a pilsner right off the line in Plzeň. I’ve been chasing that dragon since 2015. With no hyperbole, I can say that Grid City has the best pilsner outside of the Czech Republic. You won’t find a finer beer. And with one step inside their brewery, you can see the science behind its creation. Grid City is the nuanced beer purist’s Xanadu – a Xanabrew if you will (please don’t). No where else in Salt Lake City do you have the option to try a beer with a CO2, cask, or nitro pour; or a Lukr pilsner pour with specific levels of foam to your preference – including a milk shot of pure foam that is just magic. If this is your first time, please just get their House Pilsner because I am nothing if not an evangelist for this beer. You can’t miss the Pale Ale (I prefer a nitro pour) and Brown Ale. And if you’re already there, how about the GABF bronze medal Honey Cream Ale for those with a subtle sweet tooth. I would also always recommend getting a taster of any current special release, which is often some wild combination of flavors that barely fits on their sign outside. Also, I know this is a best brewery list, but don’t sleep on their seltzers. The Peach Bellini and Rosé seltzers are bubbly goodness.
I won’t go into here, but Grid City has an incredible food menu that can’t be missed. So go hungry and leave happy.
SaltFire Brewing Co.
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Neighborhood: South Salt Lake
Address: 2199 S W Temple, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
Behind the SLC’s best collection of beer labels is thankfully some of SLC’s best beer. SaltFire Brewing’s speciality is high-point (Utah-speak for over 5% ABV) beers with in-your-face flavors that hit the palate like a punch to the face. As a rule, whatever they’re currently brewing with their Series of Singularities is likely going to be worth your time. Same goes for anything with Barrel-Aged in the title. I don’t know what’s up with these barrels, but I would like to live in one. Other series to check out include Saison De Trahison, and Mobius Trip. Of all the breweries doing the limited release thing, SaltFire is the one I keep returning to. And if it’s hot outside, get yourself a cold Punk As Fuck triple IPA (11.5%) and forget how to speak.
Level Crossing Brewing Co.
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Neighborhood: South Salt Lake
Address: 2496 S W Temple, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
I don’t know when South Salt Lake decided to be the center of SLC’s brewery scene, but it certainly made a grab at that throne when Level Crossing opened its doors. Another one of Utah’s Great American Beer Festival success stories, Level Crossing is quickly raking up awards for its Vienna Lager, Suss It Out Rye IPA, and Cryptoporticus Philly Sour Double IPA. My personal go-to is the In the Pines Hazy Pale Ale – A piney and refreshing hazy with enough hops to please the pale ale fan but smooth enough to crush on a chair lift at Brighton. You also can’t miss the wood-fired pizzas at Level Crossing, and the staff will be excellent guides on pairing recommendations.
Fisher Brewing Company
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Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 239 500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
In Salt Lake City, sometimes the best new breweries are actually the best old breweries, but now… new? Fisher Brewing is one of Salt Lake City’s oldest breweries having originally operated from 1884 until 1967. Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of the story. With the craft beer revolution rearing its head in 2017, Fisher Brewing lived once again. Fisher began the next wave of SLC breweries and brought our craft beer scene into the 21st century with bold flavor, fantastic swag, and a great brewhouse vibe. I’m a big fan of their classic Fisher Beer lager, and its south-of-the-border cousin the Fisher Cerveza mexican lager. The Citra Bomb Tom is a delicious grapefruit forward pale ale, and while we’re on that (tasting) note, you can’t go wrong trying any of their pale ales. The only thing better than Fisher’s wide selection of styles is their branding. Every single one of my family members is dripped to the nines with Fisher gear. It’s SLC’s unofficial uniform.
Be sure to check out their rotating schedule of food trucks as well.
Shades Brewing
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Neighborhood: Liberty Wells
Address: 154 W Utopia Ave, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
While you’ll find IPAs, Belgians, and lagers at Shades Brewing, where they really shine from the shade is with their sour ales – specifically their Kveik sours, which have been gilded at the Great American Beer Festival with several gold medals. You simply have to start with the Kveik 1 Golden Sour Ale, because 1. it’s the original, and 2. all my favorite Shades beers are based on the Kveik 1. The others in the Kveik series that I keep coming back to include the Kveik Peach Cobbler, Kveik Pina Colada, and the Kveik Thai Thom Kha. Get in and do your homework.
Kiitos Brewing
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Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 608 W 700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
If you want to get weird with it, there’s no better brewery in Salt Lake City than Kiitos. Kiitos Brewing stretches the parameters of beer to wonderful lengths, as they’re not tied down to one specific style but rather to push your palate with unique experimentation with flavors and styles. You’ll will be perfectly happy drinking their staple ales like their Blonde, Pale, Hazy, and Amber, but for my money I would go specifically to indulge in their beer du jour. Check their latest tap list and go wild at some pinball.
Uinta Brewing
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Neighborhood: Glendale
Address: 1722 S Fremont Drive, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Uinta may be one of the largest breweries in SLC, but their large scale distribution has not led to any less of a fantastic product or unique brews. You’ll find many of my favorites like the 801 Pilsner, Cutthroat Pale Ale, and Golden Spike Hefeweizen at local grocery stores, but for the complete experience you really need to check out their brewery and taproom in West SLC. Other highlights include the Hoodoo Kölsch, BABA Black Lager, and “Nosh” series. Another benefit of visiting the brewery is the food available from Nomad Eatery, which is an all-time favorite of ours. But I’m really burying the lede here. There is no better summer beer than Uinta’s Lime Pilsner. Full stop.
Bohemian Brewery
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Neighborhood: Midvale
Address: 94 E Fort Union Blvd, Midvale, UT 84047
What I love about Bohemian Brewery is it has quietly been omnipresent in the SLC beer scene since 2001. No fuss. No postering. Just creating delicious Czech and Bavarian style beers and slinging stick-to-your-ribs comfort food to pair it with. I would highly recommend visiting Bohemian specifically to follow their beer and food pairing guide which is available directly on the menu as that’s truly the best way to experience their beer’s full flavor and power. I generally will order whatever pairs well with the 1842 Czech Pilsener or Cherny Bock Schwarzbier. But in the freedom of a second round, the GPA German Pale Ale and Dortmunder Export Lager are my next choices.
Proper Brewing Co.
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Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 857 Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
If you’re going to brew, better do it proper. Real ones remember visiting Avenues Proper for a proper meal and discovering their fresh and bold microbrews. From their unassuming fine dining location in The Avenues, to a full-fledged empire of beers, Proper Brewing’s wide-selection of year-round and seasonal beers is sure to please. If you’ve read this far, you already know I got the thrills for the pils, so naturally I love Proper’s SLC Pils (with one of my favorite labels honoring SLC Punk) and the Czech Your Head – a Czech-style pilsner with a label honoring three bad brothers you know so well (RIP MCA). I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t really go for a gose ale, but those who do will recommend the Lake Effect and Lei Effect gose variations. Proper’s greatest strength though comes in the form of their traditional and hazy IPAs. The list goes on, especially with seasonal and special releases, but you should be able to find the Revenge double-IPA, the Yacht Rock Juice Box juicy IPA, and the Hopothetical New-England style IPA.
2 Row Brewing
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Neighborhood: Midvale
Address: 73 W 7200 S, Midvale, UT 84047
It’s simple. I see 2 Row on a menu, I order it. Midvale’s own has some excellent picks including the Dangereux Farmhouse Saison, and the 24K Golden Ale – but if you are going with 2 Row, it’s all about that New England style haze. Both the Feeling Hazy and Chasing Haze IPAs are among the best NE IPAs in SLC and a must-have for my fellow hazy gazers.
Red Rock Brewing
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Neighborhood: Downtown
Address: 254 S 200 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
We had 3 beer options at our wedding. One of them (and the most popular) was Red Rock’s Elephino double IPA. When I think Red Rock, I think about the highest point of high points. The aforementioned Elephino sits at a cool 8%, and it’s juicy boi brother, the Fukiphino juicy double IPA, comes in at 9%. Not to mention those that hit double digits like the Marvella Belgian-style triple (11%) and Drioma imperial stout (10.1%). Pre-book that ride home.
Chappell Brewing
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Neighborhood: South Salt Lake
Address: 2285 S Main St, South Salt Lake, UT 84115
My highlight of the Utah Beer Fest 2023? My introduction to Chappell Brewing. Talk about making a first impression. My socks = knocked clean off. I love an IPA that blows past the “hoppiness for hoppiness” and instead offers a full flavored explosion. That’s the only way I can describe the Playground hazy pale ale. Simply a must-try. And remember what I said about my not-so-fondness of the gose? Well, I go for the gose at Chappell. The Pie Hole strawberry rhubarb gose made a believer out of a naysayer like me.
Silver Reef Brewing
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Neighborhood: St. George
Address: 4391 Enterprise Drive, St. George, UT 84790
The 2nd best part of St. George is that it’s 2 hours away from Las Vegas. The number 1 best part of St. George is Silver Reef Brewing. My personal favorite is their smoky Rauchbier – and the Great American Beef Festival awarded their Black Hill German dark lager a bronze medal in 2023.
Salt Flats Brewing
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Neighborhood: Glendale
Address: 2020 Industrial Cir, Salt Lake City, UT 84104
Can’t say I’ve had a bad beer from Salt Flats, which is always a go-to for tasters (and refills) at the Utah Beer Fest. Give the Kilted Harley Scottish ale a try and then toss a caber.
Heber Valley Brewing
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Neighborhood: Heber
Address: 501 N Main St, Heber City, UT 84032
Along with the rise of the Heber Valley comes Heber Valley Brewing – a much welcomed addition to Wasatch County. Big ups here to the Cold Fusion Kölsch and Lone Pine Pale Ale.
RoHa Brewing Project
Neighborhood: Ballpark
Address: 30 Kensington Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
The RoHa Brewing Project cracked the SLC market at the perfect time and staked its claim in the SLC beer canon, bringing its tasty IPAs to the streets of the Ballpark neighborhood. Make some trouble with Back Porch pale ale, Thursday IPA, and Shambo Juicy IPA – and make it double with the Big Green Couch double-dry hopped double-IPA.
Epic Brewing Co.
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Neighborhood: Granary District
Address: 825 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Epic Brewing is an important character in the history of SLC’s beer scene as they were a vital player in the transition from the old guard to the modern craft beer revolution – having been the first craft brewery in SLC to brew high-point beer since prohibition. They also notably made a big investment in Denver instead of SLC in 2013 due to the restrictive nature of Utah’s liquor laws. I get that. Business is business. But for those of us who go hard for our town and strive to build a better SLC – we might still be a little salty. Especially when you then name a beer Escape to Colorado. That’s like a Taylor Swift song about an ex-boyfriend but written about you. Ow. But now that the Denver fling is over, I’ll go ahead give the Big Bad Baptist imperial stout series a shout. Welcome back our prodigal son. But we are never ever ever getting back together.
Wasatch Brewery
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Neighborhood: Sugar House
Address:2110 Highland Dr, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Before there were breweries on every block, Wasatch was there for us. They were the OGs of SLC’s craft beer scene, so we are here to pay our respects. One of the first local beers I ever heard about was Wasatch’s Polygamy Porter – and it’s malty goodness made me an easy convert. And while some beers come and go, I’ll always have a soft spot in my heart for the Apricot Hefeweizen which is the beer that got me into beer – refreshing as it is approachable.
Squatter’s Craft Beer
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Neighborhood: Downtown Salt Lake City
Address: 147 Broadway, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Fun fact: The Squatters Full Suspension pale ale was the first beer I ever snuck a sip of (totally legally) and to my virgin lips – I hated it and poured it out. But now with some hair on my chest, I realize the error of my ways and only pour it down my throat. For Squatters, get yourself a Hop Rising or Trop Hop Rising double IPA. This is a ski lift go-to when you need 9% ABV in one can.
Strap Tank Brewery
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Neighborhood: Lehi
Address: 3661 Outlet Pkwy, Lehi, UT 84043
Soaking isn’t the only thing to try in Utah County. If you have to visit Utah County, be sure to hit Strap Tank first to make a more pleasant journey. Hell, Strap Tank is even worth the journey with its huge brewpub filled with bikes, beers, and Americana.
Moab Brewery
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Neighborhood: Moab
Address: 686 S Main St, Moab, UT 84532
Moab is home to Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, the Slick Rock Trail, Jeep Safari, and, most importantly, Moab Brewery. Hit them all in one weekend and become an honorary Utahn.
Hopkins Brewing Co.
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Neighborhood: Sugar House
Address: 1048 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84106
Right in the heart of Sugar House sits Hopkins Brewing, a brick-walled brewpub with a lot of heart. I’ve had the opportunity to try a few different Hopkins beers both in-person and at Utah Beer Fest, with a couple notable seasonal standouts including the Coconut Macadamia Porter and Twilight Saison.
Talisman Brewing
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Neighborhood: Ogden
Address: 1258 Gibson Ave, Ogden, UT 84404
Ogden’s own Talisman Brewing might just hit that wonder niche you’re looking for. I guess my niche is a malty Scottish ale like Talisman’s Uplifted export-style Scottish ale. On the hoppier side, check out the Comin in Hop session IPA or the Hazards triple IPA.
Prodigy Brewing
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Neighborhood: Logan
Address: 25 W Center St, Logan, UT 84321
Is this Utah’s northern most brewery? If so, then the Kings of North by default goes to Prodigy Brewing in Logan. With a wide breadth of options on the tap list, we’re here for the experimentation and to see what sticks.
Park City Brewing
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Neighborhood: Park City
Address: 1764 Uinta Way C1, Park City, UT 84098
When you want a little bit of everything from a grocery store beer pack, Park City Brewing’s variety pack hits all the right notes.
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