The Deer Valley Mountain Beer Festival returned to the resort’s Silver Lake lawn this past weekend, bringing together 24 breweries, live music, food and mountain scenery to celebrate the start of fall. Now in its fourth year, the weekend festival has grown into a signature seasonal event, drawing about 1,500 people each day.
Festivalgoers arrived via the Silver Lake Express chairlift, where patches of yellow were already beginning to show in the high-elevation aspen stands. At the top, the resort’s lawn filled with booths offering — at final count — 78 different brews. Attendees traded tokens for sampler-size pours, with everything from experimental beers to spiced cider on tap.
Josh Hockman, Deer Valley Resort’s director of beverage, wandered the event in a felt hat he had picked up at Oktoberfest in Brazil, now decorated with beer pins.
“That’s where my wife is from, Brazil, and the town where her family lives, they host the second-largest Oktoberfest in the world down there,” he said, showing off some of the charms. “Up until this year, I didn’t realize I should wear it — it will now be here at every festival.”
Hockman said the event is designed to feel approachable.
“We keep it small here because, one, we don’t want lines, and two, we want to have a conversation back and forth,” he explained. “It needs to be as beneficial for us on this side of the tent as it is for them on that side.”
Four breweries joined the lineup for the first time: Epic Brewing Company, Fisher Brewing Company, Bewilder Brewing Co, and Rabbit’s Foot Brewing, which opened in West Valley City this past May.
Fisher’s crew — owner Tom Fisher Riemondy in-and-out for quick mountain biking runs — poured beer while also sharing some of the brand’s long history.
“In the 1800s it was the largest brewery in the United States,” said Ty Florack-Hess, a friend of the owner who helps run events. “It survived prohibition and then was around for another 30 years or so. And Tommy, he’s the direct descendant of Albert Fisher, so they were able to bring the brand back.”
Florack-Hess said this was their first appearance at the festival, but hopefully not their last.
Proper Brewing Co. used the festival to debut “Balkansko,” meaning “Balkan’s very own,” a beer inspired by the Balkan region. Adis Agović, who works in sales and marketing for the brand, said the product was a longtime passion project.
“I was born and raised in the Balkan region in Bosnia, moved out here when I was young, and all my family’s over there, so I’d visit quite often. And every time I went out there and I tried beers, I’m like, ‘Man, there’s nothing like this in America,’” Agović explained.
So after years of bringing beers and hops back to Utah, they perfected a recipe that aims to recreate these Balkan-style lagers: clean, crisp, bready with a floral aroma. He also designed the label himself, featuring a scene of his hometown, which happens to be a filming location for “Game of Thrones.”
Agović noted that, perhaps surprisingly, Utah has a large Balkan population who haven’t been represented in local beer.
“They never had anything of their own. Because when you go to restaurants, it’s all a Mexican lager, a Belgian, something like that,” he said. “So I was like, this is literally speaking to a large demographic that no one’s ever highlighted here.”
Templin Family Brewing was also back for the event, with Emmett Templin working the taps and chatting with tasters alongside his father, Chris. It’s the only event the father-and-son duo get to work together, Emmett said. They were pouring three different top sellers, even running out of some by late Sunday.
Other unique options included Rooster’s Brewing Co.’s “Cosmic Autumn Rebellion,” a pumpkin chocolate chip cookie beer, and Talisman Brewing Company’s “Hot Girl Summer,” a lavender honey wheat ale made with honey from the new owner’s own hives.
Robert Marc of Etta Place Cidery in Torrey returned for a second year, praising both the organization and atmosphere.
“There are really two reasons (we came back),” Marc said while pouring a glass of their dry cider option. “One, Josh, who runs this thing, he is just absolutely on it. It’s the smoothest, easiest running event that we do. And, the vibe up here is very different, we find more of our kind up here.”
Nate Roberts, who moved to Park City from Chicago in 2016, said he appreciated the community feel.
“I wish there were more events like this, to bring more people together,” he said, adding that Offset Bier and Templin Family Brewing are his local favorites.
One visitor from Phoenix, who stumbled upon the event while escaping the desert heat, praised the “Dark Helmet Swarzbier,” a black lager from Heber Valley Brewing Company, as “the best beer I’ve had since I got to Utah” despite already sampling 14 breweries. He didn’t have many other favorites but admitted he wasn’t too upset.
“It’s a beer fest. That’s the whole point, is to just randomly walk up somewhere and be like, ‘Hey, why the hell not,’” he said.
The Deer Valley Mountain Beer Festival will return next year, but in the meantime, keep an eye out for local brews on tap at the resort year round.