Brewer Q & A (Issue 22)

93 Rating – Wasatch Brewery – Devastator

Responses from Wasatch brewmaster Jon Lee.

Who came up with this beer's recipe?
This was a team effort from the senior staff, though the inspiration for making it came from a discussion that Adam Curfew (Wasatch director of cellar operations) and I had one day. We really wanted a strong lager beer in the lineup and thought a dopplebock would be the perfect choice. After it was green lighted, we started playing around and over the years we’ve refined it to what we are enjoying today.

What’s your favorite aspect of this beer (flavor, aroma, etc.)? 
The rich malt flavor, the sweetness of the alcohol, and that clean lager fermentation! 

Where does this beer’s name come from?   
It's an homage to the European “-ator” beers, but to make it our own (and to scare you a little) we called it "Devastator." Also, did you note the image of the scary ram splitting through the two local institutions? It's some minor social commentary: we're trying to put a split between church and state where, at times, one does not seem to exist.

Is this your "desert island beer?"
Yes indeed!

Can you describe this beer in 10 words or less?  
Delicious malty lager beer! Eight percent ABV will get you!

Do you know a story – or have a personal story – that revolves around this beer?  
I have the image for Devastator on the side of my race car. In 2010 when we won the “GABF Mid-Sized Brewery of the Year,” I was trackside at the NASA National Championships and was so stoked on that win that it took all the adrenaline out of me for my upcoming race (GABF Awards were less than an hour from race start). I let the announcer know that we had just won in that categpry, and every lap he made mention of us. Needless to say, that night we had quite a few in celebration! That’s a great memory I’ve got of this beer fitting into a well-earned celebration.