17th annual Bitter Root Brewfest sees record number of beer lovers
More than 1,800 people attended last Saturday’s Bitter Root Brewfest, setting a record for the event in its 17th year. Whoa! Here’s the lowdown from David Erickson of the Ravalli Republic:
Last Saturday’s 17th annual Bitter Root Brew Fest set a record for attendance, bringing more than 1,800 people to Hamilton to party to live music and to sample craft beer from all over the region.
“This was a record-setting Brew Fest,” said Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce director Rick O’Brien. “It was great. Being tied in with Daly Days and Daly Mansion activities that day, it was the crowning jewel for the two-day event.”
This year, two musical acts, Portland-based Keegan Smith & the Fam and local favorite Joan Zen, added a new flavor to the event.
“We upscaled the event with the headliner band with Keegan Smith & the Fam,” O’Brien said. “And, of course, our own Joan Zen was stellar. Another added value for the guests was we increased the number of food booths this year. It was fantastic.”
Bitter Root Brewing general manager Jason Goeltz said although it cost organizers a little more money this year to pay the bands, it was definitely worth the money.
“There is a lot of competition these days in hosting brewfests,” he explained. “In order to really achieve the numbers of people, not necessarily the financial numbers, it has to be more than just a focus on the beer; hence the lineup this year. That, certainly from a management perspective, is changing the way we put these brewfests on. Undoubtedly, it likely affects the net proceeds from these events, but they are still profitable. But from the consumers’ perspective, it’s a win-win home run: two amazing entertainers.”
Goeltz said that brewfests are trending away from just beer-sampling festivals.
“In a certain aspect, having live entertainment dilutes the focus on just the beer,” he said. “But in our trade overall, the market is becoming saturated with other fantastic Montana craft brands. I really feel it was an enormous success. I’m really proud to say we’ve got a brewfest that now attracts a larger number of people than it has in the past.”
There were 42 different beers on tap Saturday, and Goeltz said the crowd went through the suds quickly.
“We went through quite a lot of beer,” he said. “Being the hometown brewery, we certainly put in an additional effort. We are on the committee every year with the chamber, and I’m obviously just happy and proud with the way it went.”
O’Brien said that while he doesn’t have any concrete numbers, he has been hearing that local businesses did very well over the weekend.
“Having that many people in the valley is a great boost to the local economy,” he said. “We had a lot of out-of-town people in for Brew Fest. We truly appreciate the support of the Montana Brewers Association in encouraging their members all over the state to support Bitter Root Brew Fest.”
- Matt Pritchard
New brewery to open in Great Falls in late August
A father, son duo are currently at work bringing craft beer back to Great Falls.
Bowser Brewing Co. is scheduled to open in late August, according to a recent story in the Great Falls Tribune. Evan and father Richard are looking to turn their hobby into a business and hope “to have 10 beers on tap in the tasting room – five that will be available year-round and five that change throughout the year.”
The brewery will be located at 1826 10th Ave. S. The two have hired Dennis Holland as their brew master and hope to eventually serve wood-fired pizza, according to the Tribune.
For more, here’s the original story.
- Matt Pritchard
Decemberists at Big Sky Brewing, Bitterroot Brewfest on tap this weekend
Another good weekend for beer lovers in western Montana, with a great band on Friday and a brewfest on Saturday.
First off, the Decemberists are coming back to town on Friday to play the Big Sky Brewing Amphitheater. Last I checked, tickets are still available on TicketFly.com for $30 plus fees. Should be (fingers crossed) a great night for some folksy rock.
On Saturday, the Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the 17th annual Bitterroot Brewfest from 3 to 10 p.m. The festivities will be held across from Legion Park on Bedford in downtown Hamilton. Music will be courtesy of Joan Zen (4-6 p.m.) and Keegan Smith & the Fam (7-10 p.m.). Tickets are $20 for a glass and three drinks. Around 30 beers will be on tap, and among them, Bitter Root Brewing will be pouring Imperial I.P.A., Huckleberry Honey Ale and American Hefeweizen, and Bayern Brewing will have Dragon’s Breath Dark Hefe, Dump Truck Summer Bock and a surprise beer, according to the Bitterroot Brewfest Facebook page.
Drink up, be safe and have fun.
- Matt Pritchard
IPA tasting at the Wild Mare in Corvallis on Wednesday
A new restaurant in Corvallis will host its first India pale ale tasting on July 20. Owner Pam Kaye says there will be 10 IPAs: Kettlehouse Double Haul, Flathead IPA2, Blackfoot Single Malt IPA, Bitter Root IPA, Lone Peak IPA, Deschutes Hop Henge Experimental IPA, Sierra Nevada S. Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop Ale, Sam adams latitude 48, Lagunitas Hop Stoopia and Rogue Brutal IPA. Cost is $10, and five kinds of wings will be available for 50 cents each.
The Wild Mare is located at 283 Second St. in Corvallis.
- Matt Pritchard
Double Haul gets some love in the New York Times
The New York Times recently asked readers to share their favorite local drinks on Facebook. A few of the responses were posted on their website in the Diner’s Journal section, and among them include a drink that’s very dear to all the India pale ale lovers in Missoula:
“Megan Triplett Birzell – Double Haul IPA from Kettlehouse Brewing Company in Missoula, Mont. Best beer in the world.”
I’ll cheers to that.
- Matt Pritchard
Highlander Beer headed to bottles for first time since 1964; Celtic Fest is July 30
Missoula Brewing Co.’s classic Highlander Beer, which was brought back to life a few years ago, is making its return to bottles for the first time since 1964. Bob Lukes, owner of Missoula Brewing Co., says Great Northern Brewing is in charge of the brewing and will be putting the Scottish Red Ale into 22 oz. bottles. Lukes says the beer will available year-round throughout western Montana starting late this month, with hopes of distributing to Helena and Great Falls in the future. Look for Highlander on store shelves soon for around $2.99.
In addition, Highlander Beer is the primary sponsor of Missoula’s Celtic Festival on Saturday, July 30, in Caras Park. There will be food, which includes Highlander Beer battered fish and chips from Silk Road, and Highlander-flavored ice cream from Big Dipper, and, of course, music. Here’s the schedule:
10 a.m. Celtic Road Bowling
3 p.m. Dillon Junior Fiddlers
In Kid’s Zone
– Celtic Zumba Dancing
– Kids Facepainting & Crafts
3:30 Missoula Irish Dancers
4:00 Malarkey Celtic Band
4:45 Irish Storyteller, Michael O’Malley
(O’Malley presents in Kid’s Zone at 3:15 and 5:15)
5:15 An Dochas Band & The Haran Irish Dancers
6:45 Celtic Dragon Pipe Band & The Missoula Highland Dancers
7:30 Young Dubliners
- Matt Pritchard
Pre-Missoula Marathon Beer Run gets going Friday night
Little slow on this, but tonight Run Wild Missoula will host a special Beer Run to gear up for Sunday’s marathon. It starts at the Badlander at 6 p.m.
Introducing a special edition Beer Run two days before the Missoula Marathon! This is a chance to show out-of-town Missoula Marathon participants a good time and to allow local runners/walkers to share our special community. This Beer Run will include 3, 4 and 5-mile routes with RWM ambassadors who will act as tour guides. The Badlander will generously offer drink specials on local micro-brews. Plus, Jeff Galloway, who is participating in the Missoula Marathon on July 10, will be there to join in the fun.
- Matt Pritchard
17th annual Bitterroot Brewfest hits Hamilton on July 23
There are two great breweries in the Bitterroot Valley, and come July 23, around 30 other microbrews will join them.
The Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce will sponsor the 17th annual Bitterroot Brewfest from 3 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, July 23. The festivities will be held across from Legion Park on Bedford in downtown Hamilton. Music will be courtesy of Joan Zen (4-6 p.m.) and Keegan Smith & the Fam (7-10 p.m.).
Cost is usually $20 for a commemorative glass and three tolkens, but if you hurry you can save $5 here. Enjoy.
- Matt Pritchard
The Becky: A perfectly simple margarita
Fourth of July weekend is upon us, and for most anyone who reads this blog that means kicking back, enjoying some fine beer and watching things explode. Ah, sounds like fun. But listen, it’s a long weekend and I’m sure not everyone you hang out with enjoys the details of ales as much as you.
So, let me introduce a family favorite, the Becky. It might not be the most patriotic drink, but it’s not something you’re going to regret.
Now, I’m sure everyone out there has had a margarita at some point, probably followed by a headache, induced by that green mix available in stores, or poor tequila. I also assume that people out there have had really good margaritas, as there’s no shortage of those recipes either.
Here, however, is an extremely easy and simple concoction that involves only three ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. 100 percent agave tequila (as tequila drinkers know, 100 percent agave is a must)
- 1 1/2 oz. triple sec (you could use some other expensive orange liqueur, but then it wouldn’t be a Becky)
- Fresh juice from 1/2 a lime
Serve it on ice and it’s as simple as it gets. No sour mix needed. And if you’re wondering about the drink’s namesake, it’s after a very special friend of my mom.
Enjoy and have a great Fourth of July.
- Matt Pritchard