Bikes and beer are two great things that go great together. Nothing is better than a cold brew after a long, hot day on the trail. That’s why I am so excited about the opening of the Park City Brewery, arguably Utah’s first trailhead brewpub.
Of course there are breweries somewhat near trailheads, like the Wasatch Brewery or Squatters in Park City, but none of them are literally right at the trailhead like Park City Brewery. Located a stone’s throw from the Bad Apple trailhead in the Glenwild trail network, Park City Brewery is already a popular hangout for thirsty mountain bikers.
My friend, Justin, and I recently took a ride on Flying Dog, and started pedaling from the Bad Apple trailhead. Not only can the classic Flying Dog be accessed here, but also the Bob’s Basin freeride downhills. After three hours of bombing down Flying Dog and Crazy 8s under threat of thunderstorms, we bellied up at the bar to sample this brand-new brewery’s offerings.
Park City Brewery currently has four beers on tap: Hooker Blonde Ale, Last Pitch IPA, Breaking Trail Pale Ale, and Boogie Water Brown. I sampled the IPA and Pale Ale and found them both to be top notch. The IPA was crisp, clean and loaded with hop flavor. I was surprised how flavorful it was for a low-alcohol beer. The Pale Ale was also delicious; a little on the malty side for my taste but still a solid pale. I look forward to tasting the other brews as well as seasonals, which the brewmaster says will be on rotation in the future.
What really impressed me about Park City Brewery aside from the location and their beer, is the brewery itself. It’s a small space with a bar and several tables made from High West whiskey barrels. Behind the bar are windows that allow a peek into the brew tanks where workers bust their butts creating tasty beer. The front of the place is a slide-up, garage-style door that opens out onto a large patio with additional seating.
Taking it all in, I felt like I was at a small brewery in Colorado instead of Utah. It reminded me of the Palisade Brewery in Palisade, Crazy Mountain in Avon, or Grimm Brothers in Loveland. There is no food. There is also no pretentiousness like what is found at many breweries in Utah (I’m looking at you Epic Annex and Wasatch Sugarhouse) Just good beer on tap and free popcorn if you get the munchies.
The Park City Brewery is a much needed and refreshing addition to Utah’s growing beer scene. To discover them for yourself, they are located at 2720 Rasmussen Rd. Suite A1 in Park City.
For more, visit www.parkcitybrewery.com