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

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

If you’re heading to Denver anytime soon, or just want another reason to go, check out this promotional video about the fine craft brewers in the Mile High City via craftbeer.com. I’ll be heading there in a few months, and this video is making me thirsty.

- Matt Pritchard

Drinking beer is fun. Feeling terrible after drinking too much on New Year’s Eve isn’t.

Lifehacker.com has a guide that puts hangover cures and myths to the test, basically what works and what doesn’t. The bottom line to the article is: eat and drink water, lots of water. Sounds like common sense, but how many times have you forgotten these simple steps?

And since it is almost New Year’s and many out there will be having fun, remember to plan ahead and leave the car at home. There will be increased DUI patrols around Missoula, not the way to start 2012. On that note, here are some of the cab services available around town:

Yellow Cab: (406) 728-8294

Green Taxi: (406) 543-6644

UCallus: (406) 880-01673. A free cab service, but they do accept donations.

Happy New Year.

- Matt Pritchard

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Bonfire Brewing out of Eagle, Colo., has jumped on the Tim Tebow bandwagon with its “Tebrew” barley wine. The logo features “a man crouching as if in prayer but holding up a mug of beer, with the tagline ‘The Sunday Sipper.’ ” Is there anything Tebow can’t do? No. Here’s the story via the Associated Press:

EAGLE, Colo. – A beer inspired by Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow has produced big interest for a small brewery in Colorado’s mountains.
Bonfire Brewing’s “Tebrew” is a barley wine, a high-alcohol type of beer. Tebrew has a logo featuring a man crouching as if in prayer but holding up a mug of beer, with the tagline “The Sunday Sipper.“
Bonfire Brewing, in Eagle, Colo., plans to enter the barley wine for competition at the Jan. 7 Big Beers, Belgians & Barleywines Festival in Vail. The Vail Daily reports that after the brewery put the logo on its Facebook page, calls started pouring in seeking the limited brew.
“It’s been great for the brewery, great for Eagle and great for the state,” brewery co-founder Andy Jessen said.
Jessen acknowledged that he doesn’t know whether Tebow drinks beer or not. He said the brew is more about fans and football than the player.
“It’s just a good time to be in Colorado and be a football fan here,” Jessen said.
Brewery owners say they’re flattered by the attention, but the batch is only 150 gallons. “Tebrew” is available only at the festival and at the small brewery’s tasting room, in 10 ounce servings.
“In the style of 4th quarter heroics, we’re waiting until the last minute to serve it up,” according to the brewery’s Facebook description of Tebrew.
The brewery is also selling T-shirts and mugs featuring the logo.

- Matt Pritchard

A few weeks ago, I asked readers to share their most memorable beers of 2011. Here’s a selection of what you said:

Sean Essen – Had to be Southern Tier’s Creme Brulee Stout, ridiculous stuff, dessert in a glass. … Actually, scratch that – ’96 Sam Adams Triple Bock.

Andy Baker – About three weeks ago I had the Autumn Maple from The Brewery. There was so many flavors, it was just like my thanksgiving dinner. Incredible!

Joey Petrilli – Savor Flowers, best no, but most memorable.

JW Robinson – My most memorable beer was a pint of Bayern’s Maibock from the wood keg that was tapped at the brewery. Maibock out of a bottle is good enough to stand alone, Bayern’s medals prove that. But when you drink it from the wood keg, it has this distinct, unknown flavor that you can’t get unless you visit Bavaria. We are lucky to have such great brewmasters in our own backyard. I make sure to plan my life around the wood keg Maibock every spring. What made the beer experience even better was that I was sharing, and discussing how great it was, with my very close friends and family. You can’t ask for much more.

Johnny Bevins – Kona Blend from brew fest

Mark Molvig – Galaxy Pale Ale- Flathead Lake Brewing Co.

Feel free to add more to the comments.

- Matt Pritchard

Montana Rep. Denny Rehberg is taking on Rep. Dan Lipinski of Illinois over Saturday’s NAIA football championship, which pits Carroll against Saint Xavier, and good beer is on the line.

According to the Great Falls Tribune, if Carroll wins its second title in a row, the Montana lawmaker will receive a growler from Harrison’s Brewery in Orland Park, Ill. If Saint Xavier prevails, Rehberg will deliver Lipinski two six-packs of Lewis & Clark Amber from the Helena brewery.

This isn’t the first time a Montana congressman has put Lewis & Clark beer up for collateral in a bet over a Carroll College championship game. Last year, Sen. Max Baucus made a similar wager with Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota.

The game kicks off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and will supposedly be televised on the CBS Sports Network.

- Matt Pritchard

As 2011 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on the year that was. So GG’s interested: What was the most memorable beer you had this year?

Now, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the best beer, just one that sticks out in your mind. For instance, it could be one you had while watching a Montana sunset this summer, or one after an epic snow day last winter, or one at your favorite beer festival. It doesn’t have to be a beer from Montana or even one you had in Montana, just anything you’d like to share.

For me, one that sticks out in my mind is the glass of 2011 Abyss by Deschutes Brewery I indulged in at the 2011 Grizzly Scholarship Association’s Beer and Wine Festival. Any beer that smells like chocolate chip pancakes is right up my ally. Dark, deep and rich, truly a special beer. Plus, throw in a side of Posh Chocolate that actually has some of the beer in it and you have yourself a winning combination. And although it doesn’t sound like it, I’m not even that into chocolate.

You can leave your comment with this story, on Facebook or email matt.pritchard@missoulian.com. If there’re enough responses, I’ll compile and post them.

Cheers.

- Matt Pritchard

Western Montana’s Summit Beverage has an excellent guide to decadent winter beer on its website. The guide has more than 30 beers, from Deschutes’ Stoic to Bayner’s Face Plant to Boston Beer’s Infinium Ale, to help keep you warm on these cold nights. There’s also food pairing recommendation with each brew. Now I assume these are all beers that Summit distributes, so it may be a little biased, but I can’t complain with the choices. You can pick up most these at Worden’s, Pattee Creek Market, Good Food Store, Orange Street and the like.

Check it out.

- Matt Pritchard

Jeremy Cowan, owner of San Francisco-based Shmaltz Brewing Co., returns to western Montana for the second year in a row to talk about and sign copies of his book “Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah: How It Took 13 Years, Extreme Jewish Brewing, and Circus Sideshow Freaks to Make Shmaltz Brewing Company an International Success.” Cowan will be in Missoula on Wednesday, Nov. 23, at Fact & Fiction, 220 North Higgins Ave., from 5 to 7 p.m. where he will read and host a beer tasting. An after-party is to follow at the Rhino where several of Schmaltz’s beers will be on tap.

It’s not every day you have the chance to rub elbows with the owner of one of the best breweries in world, at least one that’s not based in Missoula.

Here’s a little about his book:

In his small business memoir, Jeremy Cowan divulges how he took on the craft beer world and ultimately created one of the most respected niche brands in the country. Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah tracks Cowan’s evolution from the earliest days of hand squeezing pomegranates and delivering 100 cases of hand-bottled HE’BREW Beer to winning awards 13 years later at top U.S. craft beer festivals. This meaningful, insightful and often hilarious memoir takes readers on a wild ride with the head of today’s most successful and decorated Jewish Celebration Freak Show Craft Brewery.

- Matt Pritchard