This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Hold onto your pants!
The new Clothing Hoptional Wild Hop Ale, a collaboration beer between Park City's Wasatch Brew Pub and the Summit Land Conservancy, was unveiled last week and is now available on tap.
Throughout the summer, the conservancy led several "hop hunter" hikes to forage for wild hops — the plants were descendants of those that German immigrants brought to Summit County in the 1800s.
This fall, the hunters harvested 42 pounds of wild hops that Wasatch's head brewer, Justin Kingsford, used to make the limited-edition beer.
Kingsford said Clothing Hoptional is an unfiltered golden ale with citrus and floral aromas and caramel, honeylike malt flavor.
To go along with the name, volunteer graphic designer Allison Cook created a label that features an almost-naked couple — à la Adam and Eve — with wild hops strategically covering their private parts. They are holding mining equipment, a nod to Park City's historic past.
For every glass sold, $1 will be donated to the Summit Land Conservancy to help preserve open space.
The brew is available at the Park City's Wastach Brew Pub, 250 Main; and Wasatch's new Salt Lake City location, 2110 S. Highland Drive.