As an East Coast microbrew drinker and confirmed beer snob, I was understandably concerned before my recent trip to northern Utah. The Beehive State is well known for its arcane alcohol laws, as influenced by the omnipresent Church of Latter Day Saints. I needn't have worried, though. The greater Salt Lake City area runs foamy with tasty brews.

The Red Rock Brewing Company, at 254 South 200 West, in Salt Lake City, was our introduction to Utah brewpubs. Since it was cold and rainy that day, I started with the Oatmeal Stout, mild and more porter-like than stout. I then had a mellow Nut-Brown Ale with my lunch - the spinach, bacon and too rich Gruyere cheese pizza special.

My traveling, drinking, and dining buddy, Hank, first had a pint of the inoffensive Amber Ale and then moved on to the much superior IPA Junior, so called because it has less alcohol than a non-Utahan IPA. He also had pizza (pepperoni) and we both agreed the crusts could have been a little crispier.

Our favorite brewpub of the trip had to be Squatter's Pub Brewery, on 147 West Broadway in Salt Lake City, just around the corner from the Red Rock. On our first visit, stopping for beer-consumption only, I had the Emigration Amber Ale, which was nice and not too hoppy. Hank tried their Full Suspension Pale Ale. It was an excellent pale ale, extremely drinkable.

The second visit to Squatter's was a few days later on our last night in Utah, and we decided to eat as well as imbibe. The Chasing Tail Golden ale, darker than most golden ales and with plenty of hops, went very nicely with my chile-rubbed ahi tacos (served with chile verde, pureed black beans and innocuous yellow rice).

Hank had the jambalaya, to which he added some of my chile verde for a needed extra kick, and washed it down with more pale ale. I wish I hadn't been too full to try the Captain Bastard's Oatmeal Stout. It looked delicious and was recommended by the local guy sitting next to us.