Variety is the “Salt & Hops” of life.

Independent News

A new beer store offering a curated selection of over 150 premium brews is set to ‘soft’ open Friday at noon.

Salt & Hops occupies the west side of the SaltyCreative event and workspace venue on 443 27th Street in Historic downtown Ogden, the building marked by Brent Atwood’s unmissably cheery Joe McQueen mural. It’s a natural expansion of the whimsical space that is filled with memorabilia, pop art, and other relics that will charm the pants off of any vibrant being who walks through its pistachio crème-colored doors.

If you’re ever dismayed by the dismal beer options at your regular convenience store, or overwhelmed by the randomness at the grocery store, enter Salt & Hops to save the day and send you off with the perfect ale. It’s the creation of owners Mary Rydman and Greg Evans, who both work full-time jobs remotely in their Salty offices and brewed (sorry) the idea over ping pong matches during work breaks.

The vision has unfolded; an entire wall is lined with coolers stocked full of specialty craft beers for all tastes—IPAs, pales, sours, stouts, and more—including a good variety of gluten-free beverages and heavy representation by all the local breweries. “We’re trying to make sure everything we sell is as local as possible,” Rydman said. But, because they understand that sometimes nothing else will do, PBR is available too.

The focus is on finding specialty brews that aren’t available anywhere else in retail; two rare birds from Shade and Kitos from Salt Lake are on the way and two Richard Ramos designed cans from Roosters Brewing are already in there chilling for the lucky first takers.

But there’s more than just very hip, hops. It’s also a convenient and pleasant stop for those extras that will ensure you’re always on the guest list for any party. Along with a not-boring case of beer, dash in with some fine local chocolates, handcrafted snacks, a pair of vintage beer mugs, or a few charming match books and a beer candle. Or, how about coasters, koozies, and bottle openers? And if they have a rowdy dog, “Bark Brews” or one of the irresistibly cute squeezy beer toys.

While they can’t sell liquor, because Utah, there’s everything you need to make a good cocktail. Bloody Mary mix from Ogden’s Z’s Hot Sauce, margarita salt, cocktail cherries, bitters and Fever Tree mixers like Ginger Beer, Orange Spice, and Club Soda.

Another good reason to pop in—you can grab a record and a brew curated by the Lavender Vinyl crew two days a week.

This is Ogden culture and hops, all in one stop.

The soft opening is Friday, January 28, 12-8 p.m. and a grand opening is planned for February 4.

Follow them on IG @saltandhops, FB @Salt&Hops, and saltandhops.com.