by Sean Zimmerman-Wall, Powder Magazine

Alta makes beer for Utah skiers

Once upon a time in Little Cottonwood Canyon, a group of skiers decided to build a resort. Through unique vision, hard work and ingenuity, the Alta Ski Area rose from the remnants of an old mining town. The 2012-2013 ski season is Alta’s 75th and the management has come up with the best way to commemorate the occasion: Beer.

Elsewhere in extra dry Utah, Greg Schirf realized the need for locally produce libations to serve thirsty skiers after a day on the slopes. He opened the state’s first brewpub, Wasatch, in Park City at the top of historic Main Street. Last summer he joined forces with Alta to make an anniversary brew.

“We are very excited to be introducing this beer. They are a company that has a lot of our core values. They have been around for a while and this is about getting their loyal customers and our loyal customer on the same page,” said Connie Marshall, Alta’s long time director of marketing and public relations. Both companies pooled resources and worked to develop the taste profile over several months of testing. “Our design teams choose certain aspects from our other beers that we liked. We also used a hop blend that we had never used before from the Pacific Northwest called Falconer’s Flight,” says Brewmaster and managing partner at The Utah Brewers Cooperative, Dan Burick. “This is new to the Alta folks and it is cool to see people who aren’t necessarily in the beer business enjoy their own beer.”

The brewers describe the beer as a deep caramel colored pale ale with a piney floral aroma and citrus-y undertones. It is best enjoyed after a full day of skiing bell to bell and pairs well with nachos.

The colorful six packs feature local shredder Jen Berg enjoying a turn at Alta, no doubt heading to the Goldminer’s for a beer of her own. It will be available at storefronts around the Wasatch throughout the season. Snowboarders can drink it, too.