Squatters celebrates 25th anniversary with barley wine ale

What a glorious mural of awesome Squatter beer labels.

In honor of Squatters‘ 25th anniversary, Brewmaster Jason Stock has released Squatters 25th Anniversary Barley Wine Ale. In keeping with founding partner Peter Cole’s heritage, Brewmaster Stock has designed an English-Style Barley Wine ale, with a deep ruby color and a sweet malty nose.

Traditional English Maris Otter malted barley forms the backbone of this brew, accompanied by a variety of caramel malts to give depth, complexity and richness. English Golding hops are used to balance the sweetness of the malt and alcohol. This beer may be enjoyed right away. However, as noted on the neck label, this is a beer that is intended to be enjoyed at a later date. A brew that is meant to be treated like a fine wine, the flavor will round out and develop as the beer ages, conceivably for many years to come.

“I recommend that our guests buy a few bottles to drink right now while the beer is relatively young,” Stock said, “and if you can resist temptation, put some away for a year or more to enjoy on a special occasion. The heavy dry fruit flavor of the beer pairs very well with strong cheeses, as well as rich meat dishes such as lamb, as well as with very rich desserts.”

The label on the 25th anniversary ale bottle is special as well, featuring the winning mural art of Richard Landvatter, noted muralist, illustrator and designer. To commemorate Squatters 25th anniversary, Landvatter employed his unique portrait style to depict a colorful rendering of Squatters brewmaster Jason Stock with a cleverly incorporated hop beard.

About Squatters’ 25th Anniversary

Squatters founding partners, Peter Cole and Jeff Polychronis, followed the American brewpub revolution from the very beginning. Risking it all for the cause of great beer, the pair undertook a yearlong pub crawl.

“After countless beers, we decided it was time that Salt Lake must have a brewpub of its own,” Cole reflected. “From day one, we made a total commitment to the quality of our beer and food. Our seasoned team has developed long-term relationships with farmers, growers and suppliers, utilizing the best ingredients producing superb brews and pub fare.”

Squatters original Brewmaster Dan Burick has been brewing Squatters beers from the beginning. Burick oversees the production of Squatters’ bottled and draft lineup of year-round and seasonal beers. Over the years, Burick and the Squatters brewing team have been recognized for superb brews regionally, nationally and internationally: 12 World Beer Cups; 24 Great American Beer Festival Medals; and 30 North American Brewers Association Medals. In 2010, Squatters Craft Beers and Wasatch Brewery (Utah Brewers Cooperative) received the prestigious U.S. Mid-size Brewery of the Year award from the Brewers Association.

Squatters Pub Brewery opened for business on Sept. 5, 1989, in downtown Salt Lake. In 2000, a second pub opened at Salt Lake International Airport, and in 2006, Squatters Roadhouse Grill and Pub opened in the ski resort community of Park City. Over the years, Squatters has been declared Best Brewpub so often and set the bar for brewpub cuisine, they have been inducted into the Hall of Fame by Salt Lake Magazine and the pub walls are covered with 26 City Weekly– Best Local Pub, Beer and Environmental Awards.

“People, planet and beer is what we’re about,” Cole said. “We are continuously working to reduce our carbon footprint, embracing the triple bottom line philosophy throughout our business with the attitude that a healthy community is a better place to work and live in, and enjoy such brilliant beers.”

Polychronis and Cole currently operate three pubs and a wine and ale house. In 2000, Squatters and Wasatch Beers merged their microbrewery operations for draft and bottle production, creating the Utah Brewers Cooperative. Squatters and Wasatch bottled and draft beers are available in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Colorado.