Uinta Brewing Company

Uinta Brewing Company is a craft brewery based in Salt Lake City, Utah, founded in 1993. The company began production in a renovated mechanics garage and developed a portfolio centered on beer names and identities drawn from Utah's geography, wildlife, history, and outdoor culture. Its early flagship, Cutthroat Pale Ale, references Utah's state fish and helped establish the regional character that remains central to the brand. Other early beers included King's Peak Porter, named for Utah's highest mountain, Golden Spike Hefeweizen, recalling the completion of the transcontinental railroad in Utah, and Dubhe, named after a star associated with Utah's centennial identity. Uinta expanded from a local brewery into one of Utah's largest brewing companies and a significant U.S. craft-beer producer. Its range has included pale ales, India pale ales, hazy and juicy IPAs, porters, pilsners, lagers, hefeweizens, seasonal beers, specialty releases, and barrel- or fermentation-focused small batches. Hop Nosh IPA became one of the company's best-known modern offerings and received a “world class” designation from Beer Advocate. The brewery has also maintained a broad year-round portfolio alongside seasonal and limited releases, allowing it to address both mainstream craft-beer demand and more experimental drinkers. Environmental initiatives have been part of Uinta's corporate identity. In 2001, it became the first Utah company described as being powered entirely by wind energy. The brewery began adding solar panels to its roof in 2011, reinforcing a sustainability position linked to its Utah-based identity and outdoor-oriented brand language. The company experienced substantial growth during the 2010s. It reported sales of 60,000 barrels in 2013 and 77,000 barrels in 2014. In August 2014, Uinta announced that it had sold an undisclosed percentage of the business to New York-based private-equity firm The Riverside Company. According to the announcement, the investment was intended to support hiring and expansion beyond the Salt Lake City region. By March 2015, Uinta beers were reported to be available in 32 states and Washington, D.C. Distribution has subsequently been reduced in some markets, particularly during the latter half of the 2020s decade. Uinta has remained closely associated with Utah while competing in the wider American craft-beer market. It was reported as the country's 39th-largest craft brewery in 2016 and as Utah's largest brewer at that time. More recently, the brewery has operated in a challenging U.S. beer environment characterized by higher costs and weaker craft-beer sales. Uinta's sales reportedly declined 11 percent in 2024 compared with 2023, following a broader contraction in craft-beer sales. Despite those pressures, the brewery continued to release and enter beers in competitions, winning gold medals in the American Cream Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in both 2024 and 2025.

Uinta Brewing Company began brewing in the winter of 1993 in a converted mechanics garage in Salt Lake City, Utah. From the outset, the brewery used local references to distinguish its beers. Cutthroat Pale Ale drew its name from Utah's state fish, while King's Peak Porter referred to the state's highest peak. Golden Spike Hefeweizen commemorated the railroad event associated with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in Utah, and Dubhe took its name from a star connected with Utah's centennial symbolism. The brewery gradually developed from a local producer into a substantial regional craft brewer. Its portfolio broadened across traditional and contemporary styles, including pale ales, IPAs, hazy IPAs, porters, pilsners, lagers, hefeweizens, seasonal beers, and limited specialty releases. Hop Nosh IPA became a prominent offering and was recognized as “world class” by Beer Advocate. Uinta's naming system continued to connect products with Utah's natural environment, history, and local culture, while the range itself became more nationally competitive. Sustainability became an important part of the company's operating narrative. In 2001, Uinta became the first Utah company described as operating with 100 percent wind power. In 2011, it began installing solar panels on the brewery roof. These measures complemented the brand's association with outdoor recreation and western landscapes. Uinta reported rapid growth in the early 2010s, with 60,000 barrels sold in 2013 and 77,000 in 2014. In August 2014, it announced the sale of an undisclosed ownership percentage to The Riverside Company, a New York-based private-equity firm. Chief executive Will Hamill said the investment would be used to add employees and extend the brewery's reach beyond the Salt Lake City market. By March 2015, the company's beers were reported to be distributed in 32 states and Washington, D.C. Uinta was identified as the 39th-largest American craft brewery in 2016 and the largest brewer in Utah. The company later reduced distribution in several states, particularly during the second half of the 2020s. Like many craft breweries, it faced a difficult commercial environment as costs increased and overall craft-beer sales weakened. Uinta's sales reportedly declined 11 percent in 2024. Even so, the brewery continued to maintain a diversified product program and received gold medals in the American Cream Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival in 2024 and 2025.

1. 2025Second consecutive Great American Beer Festival gold

   Uinta again wins gold in the American Cream Ale category.

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2. 2024Great American Beer Festival gold medal

   Uinta wins gold in the American Cream Ale category.

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3. 2016Uinta ranked among leading U.S. craft breweries

   Uinta is reported as the 39th-largest craft brewery in the United States and the largest brewer in Utah.

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4. 2015Distribution reaches 32 states and Washington, D.C.

   Uinta beers are reported as being sold across 32 states and Washington, D.C.

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5. 2014Private-equity investment announced

   The Riverside Company acquires an undisclosed percentage of Uinta to support staffing and geographic expansion.

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6. 2014Reported sales reach 77,000 barrels

   Uinta reports selling 77,000 barrels, reflecting growth from the previous year.

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7. 2013Reported sales reach 60,000 barrels

   Uinta reports selling 60,000 barrels of beer during the year.

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8. 2011Solar installation begins

   The brewery begins installing solar panels on its roof.

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9. 2001Wind-powered operations

   Uinta becomes the first Utah company described as being powered entirely by wind energy.

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10. 1993Uinta begins brewing in Salt Lake City

    The brewery starts production in a renovated mechanics garage in Salt Lake City, Utah.

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A Utah-rooted craft brewery combining regional storytelling, broad modern beer styles, environmental initiatives, and distribution beyond its home state.

• Cutthroat Pale AlePale ale1993

  Uinta's early flagship beer, named after Utah's state fish. It represents the brewery's longstanding practice of using Utah-specific natural references in its product names and brand storytelling.

• Hop Nosh IPAIndia pale ale

  A prominent Uinta IPA and one of the brewery's best-known contemporary offerings. The beer helped position the company within the hop-forward segment of American craft brewing and was described by Beer Advocate as “world class.”

• Golden Spike HefeweizenHefeweizen

  A wheat beer named for the ceremonial golden spike associated with the completion of the transcontinental railroad in Utah. It is part of Uinta's early portfolio of beers grounded in regional history.

• 801 PilsPilsner

  A year-round pilsner whose name references the 801 telephone area code associated with the Salt Lake City region. It extends Uinta's local identity into a broadly accessible lager style.

• Baba Black LagerBlack lager

  A year-round dark lager in Uinta's core portfolio, providing a malt-forward alternative to the brewery's pale ales and hop-focused IPAs.

• Wyld Juicy IPAJuicy IPA

  A year-round juicy IPA reflecting Uinta's participation in the modern hazy and fruit-forward IPA segment. It sits alongside more traditional and stronger IPA variants in the company's broader range.

• Dubhe Imperial Black IPAImperial black IPA

  A dark, high-strength IPA named after the star Dubhe. It illustrates Uinta's use of astronomical and Utah-related references for specialty beers while combining roasted malt character with an assertive IPA format.

• Seasonal and limited releasesSeasonal and specialty beer

  Uinta's seasonal and small-batch programs have included Yard Sale Winter Lager, Season Pass Vanilla Porter, SUM'R Kolsch, Punk'n Pumpkin Ale, Anniversary Barley Wine, Monkshine Belgian-style Blonde Ale, Fest Helles, and other rotating beers.

• 2011Rooftop solar program

  United States

  The brewery began adding solar panels to its roof, extending its renewable-energy efforts beyond wind power.

  Outcome. The program reinforced the brewery's sustainability and outdoor-oriented brand identity.

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• 2001Wind-powered brewery initiative

  United States

  Uinta adopted wind power for its brewery and presented the move as a sustainability milestone within Utah's business community.

  Outcome. The initiative became a durable part of Uinta's environmental positioning.

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• 2014Accept private-equity investment from The Riverside CompanyM&A

  Uinta was expanding beyond its Salt Lake City base and needed capital to support continued organizational and geographic growth.

  What changed. The company sold an undisclosed percentage to The Riverside Company.

  Aftermath. Uinta said the proceeds would be used to hire employees and expand distribution beyond the Salt Lake City region.

  Ownership percentage and investment amount. (August 2014)

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• 2011Add solar generation at the breweryStrategy

  Uinta had already adopted wind power and continued developing an environmental operating profile.

  What changed. The brewery began installing solar panels on its roof.

  Aftermath. Solar energy became part of the company's broader sustainability narrative.

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• 2025Uinta wins another Great American Beer Festival gold

  Uinta again won gold in the American Cream Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival.

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• 2024Uinta reports a decline in 2024 sales

  Uinta's sales reportedly fell 11 percent from the prior year amid higher costs and broader weakness in the U.S. craft-beer market.

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• 2024Uinta wins Great American Beer Festival gold in American Cream Ale

  Uinta received a gold medal in the American Cream Ale category at the Great American Beer Festival.

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• 2014Uinta sells a percentage of the company to The Riverside Company

  Uinta announced an investment by New York-based private-equity firm The Riverside Company. The company said the capital would support hiring and expansion outside the Salt Lake City region.

  M&A
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1. Uinta Brewing Company