Dead Horse Amber Ale at Forrest Gump Point.
Utah beer lovers rejoice! It's finally not a hassle to find Utah-brewed beer that's over 3.2%! The best part, it only took 86 years! Talk about progression! Seriously though, beer in most Utah bars used to max out at 4.0% ABV, and if you wanted anything higher than that, you had to go to an establishment strictly designated as a bar, not a restaurant. Want to take some home that's higher than that? Well, it's considered hard liquor at that point, and you'd have to head to one of Utah's state run liquor stores to buy some. Don't even get me started on the frosted curtain bartenders had to make mixed drinks behind, to protect the children's eyes from the evils of alcohol.
I'm ranting now though, but the first time I had Moab Brewery's Dead Horse Amber Ale on tap, it tasted like a watered-down amber ale--not their fault, of course.
Ah, right, the name: thankfully (or, regrettably if you're some kind of...) it's not brewed with actual dead horse; instead, the name is a reference to the famous Dead Horse State Park, located near the city of Moab--for any fans of the HBO show Westworld, it might look awfully familiar.
Dead Horse Point State Park: the story behind the name isn't, well, the best.
Great view though!
Right, the beer: this 5.0% amber ale is full-bodied, malty, and flavorful--and that was not always the case, mind you. It's the perfect amount of heaviness, with a crisp, clean, copper color: a traditional amber ale, which isn't a bad thing--it pairs well with just about anything you're eating. If you're at the Moab Brewery itself, that means you have lots of options for dinner--probably after a long day of adventuring in nearby Canyonlands or Arches National Parks, or maybe Dead Horse Point.
Seriously though, the boost in ABV is a game changer for what was once a mild, boring beer. I love amber ales, and this one hits the spot now. Once, I had a 3.2% Utah beer in a frosted mug, which began to freeze and ended up a watery, beer-slushie. Not cool, Utah, not cool.
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