Restaurant & Bar Awards

Award winning cuisine, beer, and more. Salt Lake's restaurant options are award-winning. From restaurant reviews to international beer competition results, here you'll find the latest awards granted to Salt Lake's restaurants, brew-pubs, and clubs.

2008 Wine Spectator "Award of Excellence" Winners: Salt Lake
13 Restaurants in Salt Lake brought home Wine Spectators Award of Excellence in 2008.
complete list

Squatters and Wasatch bring home Gold, Silver, and Bronze from the Olympics of Beer Competitions.
"Squatters and Wasatch Beers won four medals at the 2008 World Beer Cup competition held in San Diego, CA on April 19th for their ...
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SQUATTERS AND WASATCH BRING HOME GOLD, SILVER AND BRONZE FROM THE OLYMPICS OF BEER COMPETITIONS
Utah's Brewer's Cooperative Also Makes Brewers Association's Annual List of the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies in the Nation.

Salt Lake City - (April 21, 2008) -Squatters and Wasatch Beers won four medals at the 2008 World Beer Cup competition held in San Diego, CA on April 19th for their hand crafted beers; a gold medal for Squatters' Alt and in the Way; a silver medal for Wastach's Bobsled Brown Ale; another silver for Wasatch's Polygamy Porter; and a bronze for Squatters' Provo Girl Pilsner.

Brewers from five continents earned awards from an elite international panel of judges this week in the 2008 Brewers Association World Beer Cup. The seventh bi-annual competition awarded medals to brewers from 21 countries ranging from Australia and Italy to Bolivia and Japan.

Squatters Alt and in the Way won a gold medal in the German-Style Brown Ale/Dusseldorf -Style Altbier category from among 22 total entries. Brewed in the traditional German old or "alt" style, it is full bodied with a malty richness and deep copper color derived from Victory malt, roasted barley & carries a delicate hop aroma. "I'm really proud of winning this medal. I only brew Alt and in the Way once a year as a Brewmaster's special and it continues to win awards," boasts Jenny Talley, Squatters Brew Master since 1991.

Winning a silver medal in this category, Wasatch's Bobsled Brown Ale is patterned as an American style brown ale with roasted malt undertones and a generous use of American grown Willamette hops.

In the Low Strength Ale or Lager category among 15 entries, silver, Wasatch's Polygamy Porter brought home silver. A dark, full-bodied ale, it offers the drink ability of a much lighter beer. The inviting chocolate and malty flavors fade into a slightly dry silky smooth finish. Squatter's Provo Girl Pilsner merited a bronze in this category. Made in the Bavarian tradition, this crisp, clean golden-hued pilsner is brewed with German variety Magnum hops, then lagered for 30 days for superb drink-ability.

"Once again, Squatters and Wasatch beers made Utah beer drinkers proud to know they have some of the world best ales and lagers available in their own back yard. For a brewer, a World Beer Cup gold medal allows them to say that their winning beer represents the best example of that beer style in the world," beamed Greg Schirf, Operating Partner, Utah Brewers Cooperative.

In addition to the World Beer Cup Awards, the The Utah's Brewer's Cooperative also made the Brewers Association's annual list of the Top 50 Craft Brewing Companies list and a list of the Top 50 Overall Brewing Companies. Statistics are based on sales in 2007. Editors Note: Release available upon request.

The 2008 Brewers Association World Beer Cup again proved it is the world's largest and most diverse international beer competition for commercial breweries with its 644 breweries from 58 countries and 45 U.S. states vying for awards with 2,864 beers entered in 91 beer style categories. The top three entries in each category won gold, silver and bronze medals. Held every two years, the Brewers Association World Beer Cup is a global competition that evaluates beers from around the world and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced today.

The World Beer Cup is referred to as The Olympics of Beer Competitions because of its prestigious awards philosophy and panel of expert judges from around the world. Elite brewers and other industry experts from around the world conducted the blind judging used to determine the awards. Judges from 21 countries participated in this year's competition, working in teams to conduct blind tasting evaluations of the beers and determine the medals. Drawn from the ranks of professional brewers and brewing industry experts, 129 judges came mostly from international breweries, with 64 percent from outside the United States.

For more information on the World Beer Cup and the Brewers Association or to view a complete list of winners visit www.WorldBeerCup.org

Salt Lake's Karen Olson Appointed to DiRoNa Board --
Metropolitan Awarded Best of SLC
Karen Olson, recently accepted the prestigious role of vice chair for the DiRoNA Board of Directors. ...
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Salt Lake's Karen Olson Appointed to DiRoNa Board
- Metropolitan Awarded Best of SLC -

Salt Lake City (November 2008)- Karen Olson, principal owner of Metropolitan, one of Salt Lake City's finest restaurants, recently accepted the prestigious role of vice chair for the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) Board of Directors. The appointment was made at DiRoNA's 18th annual conference October 19-21. Other appointments included William L. Hyde, Jr. of Dallas (chair) and Joseph DiSalvo of Latrobe, PA (first vice chair).

In addition, Olson's Metropolitan was selected for the 2008 Best of Salt Lake City Award in the Restaurants category by the U.S. Local Business Association, an Award Program recognizing outstanding local businesses throughout the country.

"We're thrilled Karen has been given this honor and that her restaurant received this prestigious award," commented Scott Beck, President & CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau. "Those who know Karen and have enjoyed Metropolitan, locals and visitors alike, can appreciate these deserving honors."

Olson has a master's degree from Pepperdine University and is the founder and co-chair of Salt Lake's ever-popular and highly successful Downtown Dine O' Round. Olson received Salt Lake's "2004 Downtown Alliance Lifestyle Achievement Award" for her work in increasing the vitality and economic development of Utah's capitol city.

DiRoNA was established in 1990 to promote the fine dining industry, and the DiRoNA distinction is bestowed upon only the most distinguished fine dining establishments. To be eligible, restaurants must be in operation, under the same ownership, for a minimum of three years. A rigorous, anonymous inspection process scrutinizes every aspect of the dining experience - food, wine, service, physical property and décor. To date, fewer than 800 restaurants have earned the DiRoNA distinction.

U.S. Local Business Association is a Washington D.C.-based organization funded by local businesses operating in towns across America. The purpose of USLBA is to promote local business through public relations, marketing and advertising.