Squatters Pub Brewery (also known as Salt Lake Brewing Company) was founded in September 1989 in downtown Salt Lake City by business partners Peter Cole and Jeff Polychronis. Their launch ended a 22‑year brewing drought in downtown SLC, making it Utah’s second modern brewpub (the first was Wasatch Brewery in Park City, 1986). The name “Squatters” was inspired by a British comedy sketch involving a character named Squatters, a tongue‑in‑cheek nod to the founders’ humor and Utah’s conservative culture. In like manner, Squatters developed humorous beer names like St. Provo Girl Pilsner and Polygamy Porter, and the slogan "Good for What Ales You."

Their flagship beers — Emigration Amber Ale and City Creek Pale Ale — were available from day one; Emigration remains a staple. Squatters also hired one of the nation’s first female brewers, Jennifer Talley, who crafted their award‑winning Full Suspension Pale Ale.

In 2000, Squatters merged its production with Wasatch Brewery under the Utah Brewers Cooperative, and then was sold to CANarchy collective in 2012. When Monster Beverage Corp. acquired CANarchy in 2022, the brewpubs were reacquired by original founders Cole and Polychronis.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune article, 2019

1989

Squatters Pub Brewery opens in SLC

2000

Merge with Wasatch Brewery to form Utah Brewers Cooperative

2006

Park City, Utah

Squatters Bar Roadhouse Grill opens

2007

Launch of Utah’s first certified organic beer

2012

Squatters/Wasatch sold to CANarchy collective

2022

Monster Beverage Corporation buys CANarchy; founders reacquire brewpubs