Mountain Brewers’ Beer Fest on tap Saturday in Idaho Falls

The 17th annual Mountain Brewers’ Beer Fest takes over Idaho Falls from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. More than 40 breweries will be on hand from Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Nevada, and even Vermont and Illinois, a pretty eclectic mix.

Tickets are $20 online, or you can get six for $100. Music and food will also be offered with the beer under 40,000 square feet of tent at Sandy Downs, and proceeds from the event go to help local charities.

If you’re able to go, unlike me, and you’re on the fence, think of it this way: there will be around 6,000 people enjoying the day and drinking some of the best beer in the Rocky Mountains.

Here’s a list of the breweries that will be pouring:

- Matt Pritchard

Draught Works moves closer to opening doors in Missoula

I’ve been meaning to do an update on Missoula’s newest craft brewery, but have found myself short of time as of late. Luckily, Matthew Frank over at the Missoula Independent recently met up with owners Paul Marshall and Jeff Grant, and has a nice piece on Draught Works.

Draught Works was originally to be called Hellgate Brewing Co. as earlier reported here, but had to change the name after, at least from what I hear, there was a complaint about using the word “Hellgate” because Kettlehouse Brewing Co. already has a beer with that name in it (Hellgate Honey Hefe).

According to the article, Draught Works will be the 28th brewery in Montana and plans to open in July at its location on Spruce Street.

Congrats to Marshall and Grant, and I hope to take a tour in the near future.

- Matt Pritchard

Guide to Friday’s Modest Mouse concert at Big Sky

After years of waiting for the Big Sky Brewing Co. Concert Series to start back up, the time is almost here. Modest Mouse will kick off the 2011 performances on Friday with special guest Talkdemonic.

The concert is sold out, and for those of you lucky enough to have a ticket here are a few things you need to know:

• Doors open at 6 p.m., show begins at 7:30.
• There will be at least one free area to park your car, with signs pointing the way
• Limited VIP parking is available for $7, cash only
• Bicycles are encouraged and there will be a secure corral near the entrance
• Kids under 5 can enter free, one child per adult
• Sealed nonalcoholic beverages and water bottles are welcome
• Only low-back chairs can be used at the concert (no more than 6 inches off the ground). You can also bring a blanket, but you can’t bring an umbrella.
• Food and beer (with ID) will be available for purchase

Here’s a link to the full q-and-a.

The National Weather Service says there’s a 30 percent chance of showers with a high of 59 degrees, so you might want to dress warm as the sun goes down. And it’s Montana, so it could be 70 and sunny or 50 and rainy.

Cheers to hoping they play Moon & Antarctica in its entirety, or just You’re the Good Things.

- Matt Pritchard

Kettlehouse Brewing releases new four-pack boxes

We’ve been Kettlehouse crazy over the past couple of weeks. I guess because there’s a lot going on.

The latest news out of the Missoula brewery is that they’ve changed up their four packs in an effort to treat the planet a little better. Here’s what packaging manager Corey Regini had to say about the switch:

The new four packs now come in boxes to match our eight packs. The four packs do not include the (plastic) rings. We wanted to get rid of the rings as they are not environmentally friendly. In our new four packs, both the cans themselves and the packaging can be recycled. The paperboard that we use for the boxes is obtained through part of the sustainable forestry initiative, which promotes sustainable forest management.

Kettlehouse has first ever ‘Ladies Day’ at Myrtle Street taproom

“Oh, yes it’s ladies night, and the feelings right, Oh, yes it’s ladies night, Oh what a night…”

Kettlehouse beer slingers Megan Williams and Samantha Alario show off thier new pink shirts on "Ladies Day" at the brewery

Kettlehouse Brewing Co. brewer Colleen Bitter and packaging manager Corey Regini brewed up more than a new idea for a beer.

The duo decided to make Tuesday “Ladies Day” at the Kettlehouse’s southside location on Myrtle Street. While the women brewed up a new Cream Ale in the back, Megan Williams and Samantha Alario slung beers to patrons in the taproom. It was all ladies, all Tuesday.

To recognize the inaugural “Ladies Day,” the women sported pink Kettlehouse T-shirts to show their support for the Pink Boots Society, a worldwide association dedicated to helping advance female careers in the beer industry. It’s the first time that an all-female staff has managed one of the brewery locations. That’s partly because there are only a few female brewers in the state. Colleen was the first female brewer in Montana, and Corey, who was learning the skills of the trade on Tuesday, is hoping to eventually join the brewing ranks.

Plus, it’s only appropriate that the two women were brewing a beer that will likely cater to many female customers. The light, lager-style ale is low in alcohol and hops and is often referred to as a “lawn mower beer,” Biatter said. Look for the Cream Ale in about two weeks.

- Chelsi Moy

Celebrate American Craft Beer Week

Today marks the start of the sixth year of American Craft Beer Week with events all over the country celebrating one of our best products. Blackfoot Brewing Co. is one the breweries going all out with special offerings throughout the week. Cheers to another reason to enjoy your favorite ales and lagers. Here’s a video to get you started:

- Matt Pritchard

Flathead Lake Brewing Co. launches Tackle Box ‘growler’

Flathead Lake Brewing Co. will soon be selling a 128 oz. Tackle Box, which is basically like a smaller version of a Party Pig, or more along the lines of a Miller Lite Home Draft Kit (I’ve only seen the commercials), but filled with something I would drink. FLBC says the “growler” is “unbreakable and recyclable,” and will keep beer fresh for up to two weeks if kept cold. It can fit in a backpack and can be refilled over and over.

Flathead Lake Brewing in Wood’s Bay is having a launch party on May 15 with beer specials, and FLBC of Missoula is throwing one on May 16.

This certainly seems like a good idea, I love the concept of being able to have FLBC’s draft beers stay fresh in my fridge for two weeks. Now, if only they’d pass one along to me … for testing purposes, of course.

- Matt Pritchard

2011 Garden City Brewfest winners: Missoula 5-O named best beer

Kettlehouse Brewing Co.’s Barrel Aged Double Haul

I love Double Haul, definitely one of my favorite beers. I’ve had it on draft, on nitro, out of a growler and out of a can, but I’ve never had the barrel-aged version until now.

The Northside Kettlehouse has it on tap, and it’s a must try for anyone who loves Double Haul, burbon or whiskey. The brew has been aged in bourbon barrels for three months and comes in at 9 percent alcohol by volume. One of the guys working there late last week described the taste as like taking a shot of whiskey and dropping it into a glass of the IPA. A woman sitting next to me said she tasted some vanilla. I thought it tasted a little like black liquorice; I could be wrong. Whatever the flavors, there’s no question it’s potent. You could get a growler of it, just make sure you’re with some friends and hide your keys.

Head over and grab a snifter while the beer is still around. And good news for all you Cold Smoke lovers, Kettle’s in the process of doing the same thing with that brew.

- Matt Pritchard

Weekend reminder: 19th annual Garden City Brewfest

Caras Park is where it’s at on Saturday as the Missoula Downtown Association hosts the 19th annual Garden City Brewfest in Missoula. Beer will flow from noon until 8 p.m., and if you want to enjoy yourself, I suggest you get there early. More than 55 beers will be available from around Montana and the country. The cost is $10 for a 7-ounce glass and two tokens, additional fills are $1.

There will be pizza and brats from Sentinel Kiwanis, and El Cazador, the Grille, Shichuan BBQ and IZA will also be on hand. The Big Sky Mudflaps will perform from noon-2:30 p.m., Kung Fu Kongress from 3-5:30 p.m. and Secret Powers from 6-8 p.m.