Winter BrewFest takes over old Safeway building Feb. 11
The Missoula Winter BrewFest returns for its second year on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 8 p.m., this time at the old Safeway building on West Broadway next to St. Patrick Hospital. Cost is $10 for a 7-ounce glass and two tokens, and $1 per token thereafter. The Missoula Downtown Association expects more than 30 beers to be on hand with wine, food and live music available.
If this year’s event is anything like last year, I recommend heading to the BrewFest early to avoid the likely packed house. I don’t think I even received a glass last year, pretty sure it was a plastic cup.
- Matt Pritchard
Northside Kettlehouse adds bigger tanks, expands
Kettlehouse Brewing Co. on the Northside of Missoula has swapped smaller tanks for some bigger ones. Kettle replaced a conditioning tank and a fermentation tank, which each held 40 barrels, with tanks that can hold up to 90 barrels. Owner Tim O’Leary told the Missoulian:
“This is primarily to give us some relief at high-production times and free up our scheduling so our days aren’t so long.”
As for the expansion, O’Leary goes on to say:
“We don’t have much space in here. We picked this (Northside) building to get up to 10,000 barrels because that’s what the law says we can have. Now we’re kind of there and built out.”
Read the full story here.
- Matt Pritchard
Note: To clarify the Kettlehouse story in the Missoulian, Big Sky Brewing isn’t the only brewery that can exceed the 10,000 barrel limit, any brewery could exceed that number. But the law states that if a brewery wants to sell beer to be consumed inside the taproom, then they can’t exceed the 10,000 barrel limit. That’s why Big Sky has free samples. Complicated much?
Yes, Frank Thomas has his own craft beer
I grew up outside of Chicago and even after living in Montana for more than 15 years I’m still a White Sox fan. So when I saw that Frank Thomas has his own craft beer I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to post something about it.
Unfortunately, after seeing some reviews for Big Hurt Beer, my enthusism has waned. It’s dubbed as a “crisp full-flavored imperial lager with All-Star taste and a smooth finish,” which is a bit cheesy. Plus, it comes in a 24 oz. can, so that’s rarely a good thing when it comes to craft beer.
Nonetheless, next time in Chicago or Las Vegas (the only places Big Hurt is available) I’ll no doubt have to give it a shot.
- Matt Pritchard
Pangaea by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
Popped open a bottle of Dogfish Head’s Pangaea the other day, which I bought last March in Arizona. The idea behind it was to make a beer that contains ingredients from every continent: crystallized ginger from Australia, water from Antarctica, basmati rice from Asia, muscavado sugar from Africa, European yeast and North American maize.
Here’s Dogfish Head’s Sam Calagione explaining the beer:
After trying the beer, I’m honestly not sure what to say. It was a little bitter and a little sour with notes of the ginger coming through. I don’t think I was quite prepared for it. If you find it on your travels when it’s available, then take the plunge. But be warned, it’s definitely unique.
- Matt Pritchard
Draught Works goes ‘Frosting’ on Friday
Missoula’s Draught Works is gearing up to host the first official Frosters Anonymous party on Friday, Jan. 27., in an effort to bring a little warmth to our neck of the woods.
So what is Frosters Anonymous? Well … it’s “a new thing where you pretend to act like the weather is nice (and) take a photo of yourself.” (Read more here.)
On Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Draught Works will make its patio look like a beach and is asking everyone to take part by dressing up like it’s summer and displaying their favorites summer activities. Those who do will get their picture taken and a free pint to boot.
Sweet, now I can dust off my Speedo.
- Matt Pritchard
Mirco Brew Review and Cool Dog Ball hits Helena on Friday
The 18th annual Micro Brew Review and Cool Dog Ball heads to the Helena Civic Center Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 27, as part of a fundraiser for the Race to the Sky sled dog race. Seventeen breweries will be on hand, including Blackfoot River Brewing, Lewis & Clark Brewery, Big Sky, Bayern, Bitter Root Brewing, Harvest Moon, Beaver Creek and more. Tickets are $18 in advance and can be purchased in Helena at Bert & Ernie’s, Topper’s Cellar, The Overland Express, Staggering Ox, The Man Stores and the Downtown Helena Office, or they are $20 at the door. Music will be courtesy of Destiny and Johnny Rawls and festivities get started at 6 p.m. and last until 11:30 p.m..
And just a note, the dog above has decided not to compete in the race.
- Matt Pritchard
Big Sky Brewing Co. Space Goat
Big Sky Brewing Co. has a far out take on one of their staples.
Cleverly called Space Goat, the beer is a variation of Scape Goat brewed with galaxy hops. That may sound familiar from another excellent beer that Flathead Lake Brewing Co. put out over the summer, Galaxy Pale Ale. Galaxy hops are an Australian variety that bring heavy doses of citrus flavors to beer. The difference can really be tasted in Space Goat, imparting pineapple and grapefruit and a burst of hops into Big Sky’s traditional pale ale.
Space Goat can only be had at the taproom in Missoula and there are no plans, at least for now, of bottling the beer. It’s in limited supply (around four to five kegs left) and it’s been pretty popular, so don’t wait. Plus, it’s free to taste.
- Matt Pritchard
Visit to Higherground Brewing Co.
Higherground Brewing Co.
Finally got the chance to head over to the Bitterroot Valley’s newest brewery, Higherground Brewing Co., over the weekend. The brewery, located in Hamilton at 518 N. First St., opened about a month ago and has a bit of different feel. It seems more like a cafe with a brewery inside, with checkerboard floors and wooden tables throughout. On the Saturday afternoon that I was in there, plenty of families stopped by not to drink but to have some wood-fired pizza that’s available in the brewery. The pizza is pretty good, by the way.
Lewis and Clark Brewing works to meet growing demand
Lewis and Clark Brewery’s Sean Tobin, left, and Gary Hicks help guide in one of two new tanks that arrived Tuesday from Portland, Ore. Photo by Eliza Wiley/Independent Record
We here in Montana are lucky. Not only are new breweries opening up all around us, such as Higherground Brewing, Bowser Brewing, Draught Works and 406 Brewing Co., but existing breweries are expanding just as rapidly. Lewis and Clark Brewing in Helena is one of those places. The brewery last year moved into a new and much larger location, and just this week installed some new tanks in one their first moves to meet growing demand for their beer. Hit the jump for the full story from the Helena Independent Record. (more…)
Big Sky runs into issue with All Souls, delayed until April
I’ve been looking forward to what would have been the 2011 version of All Souls Ale from Big Sky Brewing – especially after having a few glasses of the first batch over the past few weeks – and it looks like I’ll have to wait a bit longer. A friend told me Big Sky ran into trouble with the latest batch (supposedly issues with carbonation), and indeed the release date has been changed to April. On the bright side, in addition to April, Big Sky is on track to release the beer in 750 ml bottles again in December.
- Matt Pritchard