I can say with great confidence that 99.9% of the population who didn't grow up in Utah typically associate it with Mormons, polygamy, Karl Malone (who is dead to me), Sundance, and that Band of Horses song that has nothing to do with the Great Salt Lake. For myself and others who grew up there, the reality is somewhat different. True, everybody has blond hair and blue eyes, and yes, Tony Danza did get his ass beat by a snowboarder outside of a nightclub in Park City, but Utah is much more than a bunch of wholesome white folks that wear an extra layer of underwear, and a lot has happened since someone showed Mr. Danza who was really the boss. Lately, my behated state of rearing has been enjoying a fair amount of food and drink press. Cristiano Creminelli's artisan
salamis and sausages are the latest cure for common cured meat, the
High West Distillery is making
moonshine from oats, and the Utah Brewers Cooperative (also known as Wasatch and Squatters) took home the hardware for best mid-size brewery at the
Great American Beer Festival. Adam Curfew, good friend and brewer for the UBC, sat down with me after recovering from the week-long hangover associated with celebrating the win. We discussed his likeness to the 'Hoff, why brewing in Utah makes you a better brewer, and the chances of Wasatch and Squatters making it out here for
Philly Beer Week. Check it out after the jump, and next time you find yourself in Salt Lake, head down to the brewery for a
tasting.
