From Farm To Talisman

Talisman Brewing’s seasonal brew Hot Girl Summer is back, a wheat ale made with local honey and lavender

News | Personal Essay

A can of Hot Girl Summer and freshly poured glass on a summer evening picnic, August 7, 2025.

This year, on July 10, Carli Brewer invited me and a few friends to harvest her first lavender crop since 2020 (thanks to grasshoppers) at her Ogden Valley farm, Lavender Hill, on the night of the full moon. As we set out to tie bundles of freshly picked lavender sprigs, Brewer casually mentioned that her lavender is an ingredient used by Talisman Brewing for their seasonal summer ale, Hot Girl Summer. 

I showed up for a new experience, a chance to deepen friendships, and absorb the intoxicating fragrance of one of my favorite herbs. The unexpected discovery that I would also be laying hands on a core ingredient for one of my favorite local breweries, and part of a story I would soon write, was thrilling. 

Tonight, I’ll be sipping Hot Girl Summer with friends in Ogden Valley near Lavender Hill, under the light of the full August moon, experiencing the “circle of creation” brought directly from artisans’ hands in my community.

Carli Brewer (pictured first) and friends harvest on July 10, 2025 at Lavender Hill farm in Liberty, Utah. Photos by Deann Armes

“Not many people get to see the full circle of creation,” Brewer said. “To grow the lavender, harvest it, and follow it through the brewing process, knowing that it’s blended with local wheat and honey makes it extraordinarily special.”

I got a first taste of the sweet, floral notes on Thursday at Ogden Nature Center’s summer concert with The Wildwoods. Brewer had stopped by Talisman Brewery to grab the last six-pack of Hot Girl Summer – the rest were purchased by Maverik Inc. in a move to support local, and are available now at select stores. 

Brewer said, “It was the perfect beverage for our August evening; sitting on blankets listening to live music. We enjoyed this light wheat sweet beer. Its crisp flavor is followed by a hint of lavender. It’s refreshing, not heavy.”

Hot Girl Summer went on draft Friday and can be enjoyed at the brewery or purchased to-go in a crowler or growler. Unlike the canned version that has honey malt, the batch on draft is made with real local honey.

Talisman Brewing is a bit off the beaten path in Ogden, on 12th Street just minutes from Interstate 15 and downtown with plenty of parking, which makes it feel like a lucky find. It is an intimate, regulars’ haven where people play card games on picnic tables and strangers become friends. There is usually a food truck on weekends, Beer Yoga on Saturdays once a month, and they’ve just added new events like concerts and trivia nights. 

Talisman’s chocolate milk stout Udder Chaos won “Best Sweet Stout” at the Idaho Mountain Brewers Beer Fest this year. Iron Age, a high point oatmeal stout, is also an award-winner, among others. Specialty beers on draft now include Man Crush orange creamsicle IPA, New Whipa New England white IPA, Lemon Bar and Huckleberry sours, and more. I love too many to pick favorites, but want to give special mention to the Berry Salty raspberry gose and the new Watermelon wheat ale – I’ve yet to sample all the seasonal flavors. Time to go in for a flight.

Talisman Brewing is located at 1258 Gibson Ave. in Ogden, Utah.