I’m no food blogger but I had these and couldn’t find the recipe online anywhere to “PIN”. They’re perfect for a warm, spring day. Figured I would add to the noise. These are sooo delish!

 

Makes 3 cups. Time: 10 min

2 c. ice cubes

1 c. part skim ricotta

¼ c malted milk powder

¼ c chocolate syrup

2 tbl skim or 1% milk

1 tsp vanilla extract

Blend all ingredients until smooth (not bits of ice left). Pour and serve.

 

Not a lot can top a cold brew after a killer day on the hill. Last year, we celebrated Park City Mountain Resort’s 50^th anniversary with a Golden Ale and Alta’s 75^th with the Anniversary American Amber. You sit in a cozy chair, kick off the boots, put your feet up, and crack one open, toasting to your turns. It’s no surprise then that many resorts team up with brewers to create signature labels that embody your moments on hill.

Wyoming’s Snow King Mountain and Snake River Brewing Company are the latest to partner up with the return of Snow King Pale Ale. It first came out in 2013 to commemorate the 75^th Anniversary of Snow King Mountain, Wyoming’s first ski area but the recipe has been modified slightly. It has a blend of Progress hops from the UK, and US-grown Organic Fuggle, and Organic High Alpha Magnum. Apprarently, “dry hopping” brings out “the delicate flavors and aromas, and the result is a copper-colored, fully hop-flavored and moderately bitter beer.”

“We’re excited to bring it back for the second year because we had such an enthusiastic response last year,” said Krissy Zinski, Snake River Brewing Company’s Director of Marketing and Events.

Even if you don’t drink beer, you’ll dig the retro label which comes from a vintage Snow King poster Snake River Brewing and local retailers will also sell limited edition pint glasses and t-shirts featuring the skier on the iconic “Town Hill”.

Snow King is planning a “Return of the King” Celebration – complete with a first keg-tapping of the new Snow King Pale Ale –Saturday, December 20.

Other noteworthy ski beers:

Red Chair NWPA from Deschutes Brewery is named after the oldest operating chairlift at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

It’s safe to say that Utahns know a thing or two about their beer and wine regardless of what you think about our crappy liquor laws. Sure, the mixed drinks could be downed by a 6-year-old without any effect but the stuff meant for sipping and not getting wasted is getting some renowned attention.

Twenty of some of the Beehive State’s best dining spots just got a nod from Wine Spectator Magazine. The annual ‘Best of’ issue featured 3,748 award winners, spanning all 50 U.S. states and over 80 other countries and territories. “Wine Spectator congratulates each and every one of this year’s Restaurant Award winners,” said Marvin R. Shanken, Editor and Publisher, Wine Spectator. “The commitment of this year’s winning restaurateurs to building high-quality wine programs has been extraordinary. There has never been a more exciting time to be a wine lover.”

I’ve been to most of these at some point in time and not only is the food epic but so is the bill. Make sure you save up when you go wining. Why can’t there ever be a restaurant with a killer wine list but a total that doesn’t cost you next month’s rent?

Your best bet is to grab Park City’s Park Record newspaper and take advantage of their two-for-one coupons. Just this week I saw ones for Bangkok Thai, 350 Main and Goldener Hirsch.

Now, go tell your friends that not only can you buy a drink around here but you can find a decent glass of wine too.

The August issue of Wine Spectator hits the stands July 22. All of the restaurants can be found through WineSpectator.com’s Restaurant Search.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Squatter’s Craft Beers is growing up and I don’t know how I feel about that. Same for its brother brand Wasatch Brewery. The two icons of the Utah craft brew revolution, the ones with the edgy sense of humor aimed squarely at the Utah way of life, are going for a cleaner, crisper and, in Squatter’s case, a more nostalgic look. It’s like the ski bum who now shaves and wears dress slacks. Squatter’s and Wasatch have matured.

By the time I got to Park City, Squatter’s Pub Brewery in Salt Lake City was giving Wasatch Beers and Brewpub, Utah’s first microbrewery est. 1989, a run for their money. They consistently one-upped each other with brews like the Wasatch 1st Amendment Lager (“Exercise your First Amendment right to a great beer”) created after Utah imposed a beer excise tax. Like most non-Mormons in Utah, I connected with the daring sense of humor. By 2000, the two companies merged to form Utah Brewers Cooperative; you distinguish between them as the maltier tasting Wasatch appeals more to younger palettes while the hoppy Squatters’ blends tend to attract the drinks and dinner crowd. The loud labels reflected the rebellious Park City past-mine and theirs. So does a tamer beer-look mean I too must mature? I drink wine now but I want my beer to be fun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “old” look. Photo courtesy Wasatch Beers

I was reassured at today’s brand launch that the irreverence is still there. We’ll still see beers like Polygamy Porter (where you can’t have just one) or Provo Girl (enjoy her in a toolshed) but they will now be smartly dressed. And customers are buying it.

photo courtesy Wasatch Beers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It’s been a whirlwind these last few months,” said Wasatch founder Greg Schirf. “Growth is over 43 percent year-to-date and that’s before all our new packaging is fully implemented.” Wasatch brews will now feature popping colors on a solid black label, while Squatter’s beers, in celebration of their 25^th anniversary, recall a bit of history with sepia-tinged labels and artsy images. Squatter’s has also rolled out two new flavors for the summer- Bumper Crop Honey Ale and Wee Peat Scottish Ale.

Last year, the Co-op introduced their beer in cans so you can take the party where bottles shouldn’t go. The new flavors are perfect for tubing on the Weber River and one-handed dancing at the local concert series at Deer Valley or Newpark. See? We don’t have to grow up just because the look changes.