When Jamie Burnham, manager of The Beer Nut, celebrates Pie ’n’ Beer Day, sometimes she just heads straight to the beer. “It’s another drinking holiday, but at least it’s sort of anti-establishment,” she says with a laugh.
We believe that the “pie and beer” of July 24 should be celebrated equally and with a curiosity of the exuberant culinary possibilities. We’ve asked local brewmasters to pair their favorite beers with pies of their choice. The outcome: a list that can be celebrated to make every day Pie ’n’ Beer Day.
Squatters IPA & the Local’s Only Pizza
This slightly spicy pizza, topped with mushroom and salami—Creminelli calabrese—has just enough oomph to warrant an IPA’s bitterness. “Hops have the ability to cut through spice and fat. You need a bold beer, but the Hop Rising would be too aggressive,” says brewmaster Jennifer Talley. Squatters, 147 W. Broadway, Salt Lake City, 801-363-2739; 1900 Park Ave., Park City, 801-649-9868, Squatters.com
Red Rock Amber Ale & rhubarb and pear crisp with salted caramel sauce
When there’s rhubarb a-baking, it must be summer. “The crisp’s salted caramel sauce brings out the beer’s sweetness and smoothness, while the beer’s minor hoppy bite plays with the rhubarb’s tartness,” says Red Rock executive chef Andee Lays. Red Rock Brewing Company, 254 S. 200 West, Salt Lake City, 801-521-7446; 1640 W. Redstone Center Drive, Park City, 435-575-0295, RedRockBrewing.com
Epic Brewing Brainless on Cherries & The Bayou’s deep-fried Twinkies
This is where white trash meets upper crust. Beer-battered with Epic’s Pfefferhorn Lager and then fried, Bayou Twinkies are topped with a raspberry puree and paired with a barrel-aged Belgian-style beer. “The tartness goes wonderfully with the lightness of the cherries,” says brewmaster Kevin Compton. “The Brainless has a light palate—it’s a very wine-like beer—which makes it drinkable after a meal. Plus, you can’t really go wrong with a deep-fried Twinkie. Epic Brewing Company, 825 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-906-0123, EpicBrewing.com; The Bayou, 645 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-961-8400, UtahBayou.com
Roosters Bee’s Knees Honey Wheat & lemon meringue pie
Roosters doesn’t serve pie, so brewmaster Steve Kirkland imagined he’d want something light and fruity for a summery wheat-beer pairing. “Bee’s Knees is on the sweeter side and we don’t hop it a lot; that’d work with a tangy pie. Most wheats are served with lemon, so it’s a natural fit,” Kirkland says. Roosters Brewing Company & Restaurant, 253 25th St., Ogden, 801-627-6171; 748 Heritage Park Blvd., Layton, 801-774-9330, RoostersBrewingCo.com
Desert Edge Latter Day Stout & bourbon pecan pie
For the most intense Pioneer Day combination, brewmaster Chris Haas paired two mildly sweet treats. “It’s a sweeter stout but has some roasty-ness and coffee flavors, which is excellent with the roasted pecans,” he says. Desert Edge Brewery at the Pub, Trolley Square, 602 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City, 801-521-8917, DesertEdgeBrewery.com
Hoppers Pale Morning Ale & apple pie
Brewmaster Donovan Steele is a DIY sort of guy: He crafts brews and he’d bake his own apple pie for this pairing. “This ale has a caramel malty-ness to it and mildly spicy hops with citrus and raspberry notes that would go well with any pastry, especially a spiced apple pie,” he says. Hoppers Grill & Brewing Co., 890 E. Fort Union Blvd., Midvale, 801-566-0424, HoppersBrewPub.com
Uinta Tilted Smile & apple pie
“Nothing beats an apple pie in July. That’s pretty American,” says brewmaster Will Hammill. This high-alcohol (9 percent by volume) lager’s recipe is simple but, Hammill says, its sweetness is enhanced by the apple’s tartness, its Saaz hops are accentuated by the pie’s cinnamon and nutmeg and its pilsen malt is enhanced by the crispy, buttery crust. Uinta Brewing Company, 1722 S. Fremont Drive (2375 West), Salt Lake City, 801-467-0909, UintaBrewing.com
Bohemian Brewery Bavarian Weiss Beer & wood-fired chicken pesto artichoke pizza
The crisp, clean finish of this excellent wheat works well with a savory pie—a combo that comes with a little less guilt. “Also, the beer’s citrusy notes work well with the artichokes and roasted garlic,” says marketing manager Pete Petras. Bohemian Brewery, 94 Fort Union Blvd., Midvale, 801-566-5474, BohemianBrewery.com
Shades of Pale Pale Ale & pecan pie
These flavor profiles are meant to tango. “Drinking the beer, you hit the bitterness, the floral taste, and then have a lasting crispness. You want to have those flavors lingering on the palate so they mix with the pie’s sweetness and carmelly undertones,” says brewmaster Trent Fargher. Shades of Pale Brewing Company, 1950 Woodbine Way, Park City, 435-200-3009, SOPBeer.com
