Report ranks Montana one of the top 10 states for beer
Here’s yet another article giving Montana credit as one of the best states for beer, and rightfully so.
The Street.com, an online financial newsite, recently came out with its list of 10 Best Beer States for 2011. Rounding out the top 10 is our very own Treasure State.
At 30.5 gallons of beer per year, the average Montana resident’s beer consumption is second-highest in the nation, almost a full gallon ahead of third-place North Dakota and a whopping three gallons ahead of South Dakota … There are some hard winters in Big Sky Country, but there’s plenty of beer to warm those cold nights.
The top 10:
10. Montana
9. Delaware
8. New Hampshire
7. Wisconsin
6. New York
5. Washington
4. Colorado
3. Oregon
2. Vermont
1. California
- Matt Pritchard
Love Montana beer? Then check out the 3rd annual Montana Brewers Festival
Summer is, sadly, winding down, but there’s no need to fret. The third annual Montana Brewers Festival sponsored by the Montana Brewers Association hits Bozeman on Sept. 9. There will be more than 75 beers from more than 20 MBA brewers available. It’s the “largest collection of Montana-made beer ever gathered in one place” !!!
Details:
Time: Friday, Sept. 9 · 5:30 p.m – 11 pm
Location: Open-aired Haynes Pavilion, Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Bozeman
The third annual Montana-made beer festival is expected to serve more than 75 different beers, in bottomless 6-ounce tasting portions, from over 20 Montana Brewers Association breweries!
Why?
This is the largest collection of Montana-made beer ever gathered in one place. It’s one-stop access to the unique brewers and beers is why Montana is second in breweries-per-capita, and it make Montana a strong contestant as one of the greatest brewing states.
Kick up your heels with – The Dirty Shame – playing classic outlaw country on the large dance floor, along with The Growlers, who will jump-start the evening.
Delicious food will be served including: pull pork sandwiches, brats, burgers, noodles and pizza– and of course, all the fixings! Join this annual marquee festival of Montana-made beer.
Price: $20 in advance, $25 at the door gets you a 6-ounce tasting glass, bottomless pours and all the music and fun. Or join us early, beat the crowds and chat with the brewers for $35.
2011 Montana Brewers Festival Tickets
A $1 processing fee will be added per ticket. Please print a copy of your receipt and bring to the Will Call table at the Festival. Thanks for joining us and supporting Montana craft beer! Have fun, and drink responsibly.
For a listing of beers, click here.
Flathead Lake Brewing Co. to celebrate Women’s Equality Day on Aug. 26
Flathead Lake Brewing Co. in Woods Bay will tip its hat to women on Aug. 26 to celebrate Women’s Equality Day. There will be door prizes, special promotions and more from 12:30 – 8 p.m. Musician Jae Hatt will play on the Brew deck from 4-7 p.m.
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to a special merit-based scholarship fund geared toward women at Flathead Valley Community College. Acting as “celebrity” bartenders will be state Sen. Carmine Mowbray R-Lake County, and Sandy Welch, the Flathead County Republican chairwoman.
Come help celebrate this important day, help support women’s equality, contribute to FVCC scholarship funding, and vote for your favorite FLBC beer!
- Matt Pritchard
Bowser Brewing opening pushed back to end of September in Great Falls
Just received an update from Evan Bowser of Bowser Brewing Co. Looks like the opening has been pushed back a little, so thirsty Great Falls’ folks will just have to wait a little longer.
Hey everyone just an update, we are being pushed back and hopefully plan to open at the end of September instead. I just set us up a Facebook page so you can go on there and look up Bowser Brewing Company to stay updated on when we open. Thanks.
Evan Bowser
Bowser Brewing Company
- Matt Pritchard
Bigfork distillery first in Montana to earn international award
Craft distilleries have been popping up all over Montana, producing fine, hand-made liquor. Now, it appears, at least one is getting some international recognition.
Whistling Andy Inc. of Bigfork recently won a Platinum Medal for their Hibiscus Coconut Rum at the 2011 Spirits International Prestige Awards in San Diego. This marks the first time a Montana distillery has received a medal in any international spirit competition, according to a news release. The Spirits International Prestige Awards, which were held on June 28, were established three years ago to fill a “lingering void” in international spirits competition.
Here’s how Whistling Andy’s Hibiscus Coconut Rum is made:
Whistling Andy’s hibiscus coconut rum begins with their crystal rum, based on traditional Caribbean recipes using blackstrap molasses and unrefined cane sugar. After fermenting their recipe for eight days they triple distill the resulting alcoholic concoction, resulting in a smooth sipping white rum with wonderful notes of banana, licorice and plum. Next, the distillers at Whistling Andy steep in dried hibiscus flowers sourced from a tea company in Jamaica. The hibiscus has a very floral aroma, accenting the fruity nose of the rum. Whistling Andy’s staff purchases natural coconut from a company that spins coconut water through a centrifuge to pull the fat out, resulting in a clean, clear subtle coconut flavor without any chemical suntan lotion-like aftertaste or particulates. The result is a deep red, wonderfully scented rum with coconut undertones that finishes incredibly smooth.
And here’s a little background information:
Whistling Andy distillery opened its doors to the public on New Year’s Eve, 2010. In just seven months Whistling Andy’s distillers are already producing vodka made with 100 percent Montana winter wheat, three different styles of gin, crystal rum, hibiscus coconut rum, moonshine and are aging two different styles of whiskey. The first barrel of harvest whiskey, an American-style whiskey with barley, wheat, corn and rye, will be ready for bottling at the end of October. All of the grains used in Whistling Andy products come from one family farm in Ronan.
Whistling Andy distilling is owned and operated by the Anderson and Marchetti families. The name Whistling Andy originated from Roger Anderson’s Air Force nickname and the man on the labels of the Whistling Andy liquor bottles is Jean Claude, Dana Marchetti’s great grandfather. An interesting side note about Jean Claude, he was a Teetotaler, abstaining from alcohol. Hopefully he had a good sense of humor.
- Matt Pritchard
Kettlehouse’s Community UNite to benefit your ticker tonight
Need a reason to drink tonight? Here’s one:
Love Kettlehouse beer and your HEART? YOU ARE INVITED! … Come to the Wednesday “Community Unite” at Kettlehouse, August 17th, Northside Tap Room at 313 North 1st Street from 5-8 pm. Enjoy fresh Kettlehouse beer, support the American Heart Association and this year’s HeartWalk & Heart5KRun in Missoula. A portion of the proceeds from every pint sold between 5-8pm goes to this great Missoula organization.
It’s the dog days of summer and you will be leaving from work TODAY a little parched….well you know what to do! I hope to see you all there.
- Matt Pritchard
New Belgium’s Clips of Faith tour descends upon Missoula on Friday
New Belgium Brewing’s film tour promoting beer and sustainability hits Caras Park on Friday at 7:30 p.m. The tour will benefit Bike/Walk Alliance for Missoula. Watch some films, drink some beer, it’s easy enough.
Beer. Film. Folly. Fans. Bring ‘em all together and we discovered the makings of one tasty, traveling event: Clips of Faith Beer and Film Tour. It doesn’t get much better than sitting on a picnic blanket enjoying handmade beers and handmade films on a beautiful summer’s eve. So come join us.
- Matt Pritchard
First Missoula Osprey Brewfest hits Ogren-Allegiance Field on Saturday
It’s a match made in heaven: baseball and beer.
The first Missoula Osprey Brewfest gets going this Saturday as the O’s take on the Helena Brewers. Gates open at 3 p.m. and the brewfest will last through 7th inning. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Cost is $3 for a wristband and a beer, and $1 more per beer after that. If you plan on attending, you’ll need a ticket to the game to enter.
I can tell you that I wouldn’t want to be playing for the Brewers that night, the heckling could get out of hand.
- Matt Pritchard
One woman’s trip through western Montana’s beer country
Just ran across an article on The Daily Meal by Kayleigh Kulp, who recently finished up a seven-day beer tour of western Montana.
Stops included Great Northern, Flathead Lake Brewing, Tamarack, Glacier Brewing, Big Sky and Kettlehouse. The story does a nice job of showing off the awesomeness that is our craft-beer scene from an outsider’s perspective.
And speaking of Kettlehouse, that sounds great right about … now.
Happy weekend, everyone.
- Matt Pritchard
More craft brewers putting local customers first
Photo by Patrick Semansky/Associated Press
It may seem counter-intuitive, but more craft breweries are finding themselves pulling out of markets in order to feed their local, and growing, base.
Flying Dog Brewery in Maryland is one that’s seen its local demand boom and thus has curtailed distribution to 13 states. The moves help to save on shipping costs and also allow breweries to keep beer available to local customers. Good if you live near your favorite brewery, bad if you don’t. Read the full story by David Dishneau of the Associated Press after the jump.