Wasatch Beers (Schirf Brewing Company) was formed when Greg Schirf found his way to Utah from Milwaukee, America's beer capital, only to discover that his newly adopted home state did not have a brewery of its own. Recognizing a need and an opportunity, he committed to rectify this situation. In 1986, Schirf opened the first brewery in the resort town of Park City and named his beers after the majestic Wasatch Mountains that rise just east of Salt Lake City. In July 1989, Schirf Brewing opened its new company headquarters and the first brew pub in Utah at the top of historic Main Street in Park City. In fact, it was Schirf who proposed the bill to the Utah Legislature in 1988 that would make brew pubs legal in Utah. There are now more than 12 thriving brew pubs in the state thanks to Schirf and the bill's sponsor, Senator Mike Demeitrick of Price, Utah. Over the next several years, Wasatch found a friendly rival in Squatters (Salt Lake Brewing Company) as they competed for the title of Utah's best brewery. In 2000, sensing a rapidly growing market and opportunity, Wasatch and Squatters created a partnership (a.k.a. Utah Brewers Cooperative) to increase their share of Utah beer sales and to compete better with national brewing giants. Squatters and Wasatch now share a brewery located in Salt Lake City at 1763 South 300 West. The combining of brewing operations has cut costs, improved buying power, and enabled both companies to take advantage of increased distribution in and outside of Utah.