Grizzly Growler

I don’t like making lists. Someone inevitably gets left off and then pissed off at me. But, I know some of you really like lists, so I’m going to round out the top local beers of 2008. I may or may not get around to doing my favorite beers anywhere list, so enjoy this one. [...]

Big Sky Brewing Co. released it’s newest beer recently. It’s a saison, and besides having a lot of history behind it, this beer has a great flavor profile, an uncanny pairability with food and an easy going disposition. Here’s a few words from head brewer Matt Long about Big Sky’s new saison: Our new brewer, [...]

Where Tim drinks Bitterroot Brewing Co.’s Saison and talks about the famous French farmhouse-style ale. Prost, GG

I only had a small taste of this delightful beer. I made a brief appearance at the Bitterroot Brew Fest last week, and I had my three kids in tow, so I decided to just have a couple of small samples. But, I wanted to let you know that this style of beer has been [...]

The drum beats of his key strokes caught my attention the first time I heard him play. I wasn’t lucky enough to have seen him at Minton’s or any one of dozens of small jazz cafes he played. I first heard his music played on a CD in jazz appreciation class in college. I took [...]

Nebraska is proof that good beer can happen anywhere. Well, Upstream Brewing Co., which is located in Omaha, is proof that good beer can happen anywhere. In an impromptu tasting with Matt, Charlie and Tim at Big Sky, we popped open this fantastic gueuze – lambic that Bjorn brought back from a trip to the [...]

This was still fermenting during my last visit to Bitterroot Brewing Co., but I’m all excited to head down and try this. From Nicol Bozik: The Belgian Trippel is officially on tap. This strong, Belgian ale is fruity and spicy with a sweet finish. It was brewed with Belgian yeast and Belgian candy sugar and [...]

Matching Asian cuisine with wine is tricky. Typically you would pair spicy Chinese food with a reisling or a Gewurztraminer. However, I can save you a lot of hassle right now. Forge the wine, or better yet, sip the wine as an aperitif or with appetizers. If you’re going to do Asian food, especially spicy [...]

Stop for a moment and picture this scene: You’re standing in front of a white stone farmhouse, the grass at your feet is tan, blasted by the August heat. Dogs bark in the distance and several chickens dance at your feet as they scratch for the pearls of grain spilled from the farmer’s bag. You [...]

OK, so not all of us go nuts about celebrating those odd-year anniversaries. But I’m glad Deschutes Brewing Company, in Bend, Oregon, did. Their 19th Anniversary Golden Ale is an ode to craft brewing in all of its glory. From the addition of Saaz hops to Belgian white candy diamonds, this beer has an ingredient [...]