Craft Beer & Brewing
Mark Watson is the brewmaster at Uintah Basin’s only craft beer pub, Vernal Brewing Company (VBC).
Mark was born in Massachusetts and trained at American Brewers Guild. He worked at Pyramid Brewing in Berkeley, California for eleven years. Mark then took over as brewmaster at VBC in 2014, changing old beers and creating new ones. He always plays with recipes, making creative beers for customers to try.
"I kind of consider Vernal ‘Bud Light Ville’," Mark says, "and I'm converting people over to craft beers." He believes that "People have misconceptions about beers based on the look of it. Once you taste it and get the aroma it can totally change your perspective on the beer itself." Mark even says that "certain notes might spark a memory in your past."
Brewmaster: The brewmaster is the chef of the brewery. They are in charge of many things, including the staff, production, and flavor of the beer. The brewmaster also acts as the brewery's representative in public and private settings.
Craft beer: America considers craft beer an innovative beer. Brewed by small brewing companies, different beers have unique styles, flavors, and histories.
For further information on the tradition of beer brewing in Utah, see:
https://www.craftbeer.com/breweries/what-is-a-craft-brewery
Del Vance. Beer in the Beehive - A History of Brewing in Utah. Dream Garden Press, 2006.