If You’re from Washington, NEVER Order a Beer from Here

Washington is a beer-lovers paradise. The Yakima Valley alone is host to 75% of the hops used for beer in the United States (and about half of that for the world), we have local breweries and brew pubs popping up all the time from big cities to the smallest rural areas. Beer goes with pretty much anything from celebrations to get-togethers to just something to enjoy after mowing the lawn. To quote the amazing Psychostick: "Beer is good. And stuff."

But if you're from Washington, there's one place you should never order a beer and for several reasons.

And that place is Utah.

Literally anywhere in Utah.

Ask someone to quickly name the first 10 things they think of when they think of Utah. I promise zero of those 10 items are beer. Utah has amazing scenery and skiing and all sorts of stuff that makes Utah a great state, really. But when it comes to beer, they come up short.

Utah has some unique (to say the least) beer laws that would make Washingtonians scratch their head.

A few weird Utah beer laws

All beer on tap must not exceed 5% ABV.
There are some great beers that are 5% or less, but when they literally have Hazy IPAs that are 5%, it doesn't have the same body or feel of one that would even have 6%. I know, I tried one. And the one I tried, though listed as 'hazy' wasn't even hazy so there's that. They do provide canned beer that has more, but beer on tap has to be 5% or less.

You can't stand and drink.
This is a true story: I was with my friends and they didn't have enough seats at the bar. No worry, I could grab a pint and hover or even lean but they said if we were drinking, we had to be sitting. You couldn't even carry it from one table to the next, a server had to do that for us. Insanity!

This also goes for shots, wine, cider and probably anything with alcohol.

You're only allows 2 drinks, 3 with food, per hour.
And, yes, they keep count. This I didn't mind as much as I pace myself but when you're with friends and snacking and chatting and singing (or whatever you do with your get-togethers) this came up with my friend when he ordered a glass of wine and couldn't get it because he already exceeded his alcohol allotment for his time there. Doing something this basically encourages bar hopping so I don't get it. Maybe they don't want you to get too comfortable.

There's also a few more to this list like if you're at a restaurant you must order food with your drink (an appetizer will do) but if you're at a bar you can drink without a food order. Chances are if I'm drinking I'm also snacking so that wouldn't bother me but for some, who knows.

All things to consider.