Utah may not have a reputation for being a big alcohol paradise, but it actually has a good, strong craft beer scene – especially in Salt Lake City.
Or – it did until Monster Brewing announced plans to close its brewery in Salt Lake City earlier this year.
The loss of the brewery and taproom didn’t just cost 25 jobs – it also eliminated longstanding community ties to the Squatters and Wasatch brands, which were huge pioneers in the Utah craft beer industry.
It’s emblematic of the broader challenges facing the alcohol industry, as distilleries and breweries close throughout the country amid a broader downturn…