(Press release below with brief beer descriptions attached at the very end)

April 30, 2010 SALT LAKE CITY–Uinta Brewing Company announces its Crooked Line, a series of 750 ml cork- finished bottles of unique, high alcohol beer. Uinta constructed a small, 100% wind powered brewery to accommodate brewing tanks, wooden barrels, and a one-of-a-kind Italian bottling line, which was custom built to bottle and cork the Crooked Line beers. The new line is anticipated to be released in early May.

The Crooked Line is inspired by an accumulation of over 20 years of brewing and tasting experiences. Spontaneous diversions, leading to late nights spent around a table complimented with good food, artisan beer, and scintillating conversation, have forged a crooked path, culminating in the Crooked Line. The term “Crooked” also describes beers that may not follow stringent style guidelines. Such diversions empower brewers to draw on their experience in exploring new beers and brewing techniques.

Uinta believes the larger bottles pair well with good company and good food. The cork and cage finished bottle suggests “celebration” and elevates, and enhances, the beer drinking experience by creating an occasion each time the cork pops. The Crooked Line is “slower beer”— certainly slower to produce, and it is meant to encourage drinkers to pause and to indulge in conversation over a shared meal.

The initial release of the Crooked Line includes four beers, the names of which play upon the word “crooked.” Labyrinth Black Ale is aged in rye and bourbon barrels, and is 13.2% alcohol by volume. Cockeyed Cooper Bourbon Barrel Barley Wine is 11.1% alcohol by volume, and is wood-aged for six months. Detour Double India Pale Ale is 9.5% alcohol by volume, and is brewed with four hop varieties. Lastly, Tilted Smile Imperial Pilsner measures at 9% alcohol by volume. Uinta intends to brew other varieties of Crooked Line beers, including single-production varieties, or beers that are available only for a short period of time, perhaps either for a special occasion or to satisfy a creative whim.

Uinta Brewing is thrilled to work with local artists for the Crooked Line. For the first four releases, Leia Belle, Travis Bone, and Trent Call gave their own creative interpretations of the beer names by designing the label-art. While all of the beers belong to the Crooked Line family, each beer embraces itself own unique identity, beginning with the label and finishing with what’s inside the bottle.

Fortunately, in the current climate of economic uncertainty, the craft brewing industry is growing. According to the Brewers Association, growth in 2009 was 7.2% by volume and 10.3% by dollars compared to 5.9% by volume and 10.1% by dollars in 2008. Overall, total US beer sales were down 2.2% in 2009, but this figure includes mass produced beer. (http://www.brewersassociation.org/pages/business-tools/craft-brewing-statistics/facts)

Established in 1993, Uinta Brewing Company is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Its original line of beers includes Cutthroat Pale Ale, its flagship beer, and a variety of other beers often named after Utah’s diverse landscapes or historical events. In 2003, Uinta expanded its offerings through a more contemporary brand extension, called the Four Plus Series.

Uinta Brewing strives to produce high quality products with responsible and respectable practices. Uinta beers have received regional, national, and international awards and medals. Uinta Brewing is proud to be an OU Kosher certified company, producing Kosher certified products. Dedicated to good business practices, Uinta Brewing has been 100% wind powered since 2001, and is the first business in Utah to make that mark. Please visit Uinta’s website, www.uintabrewing.com, for more information regarding Uinta’s beers and environmental stewardship.

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Beer Descriptions:

Labyrinth: Enter the Labyrinth, a multi-dimensional black ale. Discover the complex intermingling of black licorice and roasted oak. Seek the subtle hints of bittersweet chocolate. Flavors are enhanced when served cool, not frigid. Explore pairing Labyrinth with flavorful cheeses and desserts.

Detour: Detour blazes the trail for fresh and bold Double IPAs. Four varieties of hops combine to step up the flavor profile. A hoppy adventure that finishes dry. Big character. Venture to pair with other spirited flavors such as those found in spicy ethnic foods.

Tilted Smile: Titled Smile breaks away from the crowd. Strong in character, yet approachable and versatile. Confidently balanced with Saaz hops and 100% Pilzen malt. Crisp and delightfully carbonated. Explore pairing with grilled meats and seafood.

Cockeyed Cooper: (The label isn’t yet approved but I would expect that it will be very soon- the brewery released a Bourbon Barrel-aged Barley Wine last year so this may just be taking that beer and giving it a more permanent role in the rotation)