Scenes from the 2010 Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championship

I still see a lot of PBR up on the hill, but there were a lot of people drinking craft beer too. What better way to enjoy your craft beer than a good, old alpine-style ski jumping competition?

Prost,

GG

Head to the Bowl for craft beer and Gelande ski jumping today

One of the most enjoyable Sunday afternoon activities in Missoula is cruising up to Snowbowl for a day of powder skiing or to watch events like the Snowbowl Cup Gelande Championships. The Last Run Inn has a fantastic selection of craft beers from around the state, and world-class ski jumpers will keep you eyes in the sky. Here’s a little video I shot last year to entice you to head up there today.

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GG

Is your favorite pub certified as a Purveyor of an Honest Pint?

A pint of beer, it seems, is not always a pint. Some times it’s a mere 12-ounces of craft beer in something other than a pint glass. Oh, sure, it looks like a pint glass, even feels like a pint glass, but it’s a few ounces shy of honest.

Therein lies the need for the Honest Pint Project, which promotes the fair and equitable use of true 16-ounce glassware commonly referred to as pints.

And while I support the general idea of consumers getting their value out of their beer in terms of the size of the glass they consume it from, I just think people should drink beer from glassware that is more suitable for tasting the complexities of beer. Stemware for wine is a great way to drink beer, but if that’s too pretentious for you, those great Belgian beer glasses, one for each of the country’s 300+ beer styles, should become part of your glassware collection.

And then there is the to-each-his-own approach. I have friends who drink from handmade glasses with little tiny bubbles in the, and these serve their purpose nicely as well. However you consume your beer, just make sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

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GG

Widmer Gasthaus Honest Pint Certification

Stone Brewing Company Stone Skips Across the Pond Part IV

Enjoy the latest installment of Stone Brewing Company’s Stone Skips Across the Pond series.

Stone Skips Across the Pond | Full version from stonebrew on Vimeo.

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GG

Missoula to San Fran flights will allow you to attend Whiskeys of the World and Artisanal Spirits Event

But it’s still gonna cost you $300 just to go to the airport. Nevermind that, your fee for the event is only $120. Can’t think of a better way to spend a weekend and $500 then attending the Whiskeys of the World and Artisanal Spirits Event in San Francisco, on March 27th.

Can’t get there this year but perhaps next year?

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GG

Bigfork Brewfest is this Saturday

The Bigfork Brewfest is this Saturday, February 27, 2010. It’s from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Electric Ave, in front of the Garden. Tickets $15 in advance and $20 at the gate.

A pair of beauties up the Bitterroot

Bitterroot Belgian Honey Trippel

Until recently, mug number 98 sat dusty and forlorn on a shelf at Bitterroot Brewing. But some hard-working journalists and Grizzly Growler fans at the Ravalli Republic newspaper have been filling in for me in between my long absences from the southern Bitterroot Valley.

Which is why it was funny that the server in the taproom should look at me funny when I requested to see my old mug. “Who are you?” she asked. “I’m the Grizzly Growler,” I responded. “I write the beer blog.” When she looked confused, I explained that the boys from the Ravalli tend to come in and use my mug. “I see, I usually know everyone’s face and I didn’t recognize yours,” she said.

So, yeah, I don’t get down to Bitterroot Brewing as often as I’d like. It’s not always the 45-minute drive, which I love, it’s more the time-sucking requirements of job, family and community.

But I did get a chance to pop in briefly recently and try the vaunted Belgian Honey Trippel and to get a sneak peak of the Wit they’re getting ready to put on tap.

Brewed with 125 pounds of Fireweed honey from Washington State, the Belgian Honey Trippel is a sweet offering the gods of Belgian beer. Made with Belgian yeast to capture the true fruity, bready spirit of Belgian beers, this particular version really stands out in strength of character. From the 9.75 percent ABV to the strong malt backbone, this beer is a balanced ode to Westmalle and the other artisans of Belgian. The light honey taste is an interesting alternative to the use of Belgian candy sugar. I found this beer to be different enough from other Montana-made Belgian-style beers that it stands out a lot. It’s that combination of Belgian traditional brewing ingredients and techniques paired with the addition of local products like honey and even Montana water that make it unique.

The Wit, which should go on soon, was brewed using some rye, which gives the beer a clean and firm bite to it. It’s not a bitter bite, but something strong from the use of rye, which has such a distinctive taste. It also makes this beer much drier than you’d expect.

I’m hoping they will indeed put some away for summertime, because I could more than a few hours spend wading the Bitterroot River followed up by a thirst-quenching session at the brewery over a couple pints of this good-looking cloudy beer.

Prost,

GG

Help Tamarack Brewing Company rename their Yard Sale Amber Ale

Tamarack Brewing Company is going to be expanding the Yard Sale Amber Ale around the Flathead Valley, and they’d like your help to rename it. Post your answers on Tamarack’s Facebook page here, or use your Facebook login and connect to the Montana Craft Beer forum at SpeakupMissoula.com.

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GG

New York Times tastes 20 Belgian golden ales

This is a great review of some of the most popular and easy-to-find Belgian beer styles today, as well as some not-so-easy to find.

Read the New York Times review of Belgian golden ales here.

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GG

Bottleworks to release 11th Anniversary Ale tonight, a blended Ivan the Terrible from Big Sky Brewing Company

The famed Seattle beer shop, Bottleworks, will release their 11th Anniversary Ale tonight. The big craft beer news is that this beer is a blended Ivan the Terrible from Big Sky Brewing Company, and it has a little of everything in it and more. Take a little magic and stir it around with some almost indescribable characteristics from beer aged in various wine and bourbon barrels, and you have what might be considered the perfect beer.

The bad news for Montanans is that the beer is only available at Bottleworks, and it’ll likely sell out quick, according the Matts. So, you can either sit and daydream about it, or you can catch a Horizon flight to Seattle to be there in time for the limited release party from 5 to 7 p.m.

Here’s what Bottleworks says about it:

Our 11th anniversary ale is a blend comprised mostly of Ivan the Terrible aged in port, bourbon, and rye whisky barrels with a few other touches like a Belgian Dark strong ale added for balance and complexity. Expect a very rich stout with equal parts fruit and wood

Congratulations to Big Sky Brewing Company on brewing and blending a phenomenal beer to represent Bottlework’s 11th Anniversary Ale.

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GG

Blended Ivan the Terrible