Like craft beer and baseball? Here’s a guide
If you’re like me, then you love baseball. And if you’re also like me, then you love drinking beer at baseball games. Problem is, usually what’s available is a Big Gulp-sized Bud Light for $14.
In Missoula, the Osprey have a pretty good selection of craft beer: Big Sky Brewing’s Summer Honey and IPA, Kettlehouse Brewing’s Cold Smoke, Eddy Out or Double Haul (it rotates) and Bayern Brewing’s Dump Truck and Dragon’s Breath. At least those were the beers available last week.
Unfortunately, while we do have the Osprey, there isn’t a major league team within about 500 miles. But if you find yourself catching a game at some point over the rest of the summer, check out CraftBeer.com’s Major League Baseball craft beer guide. It lists most of the craft beers available at major league parks. I say most because the comments seem to show the list isn’t complete. Plus, the Cubs and the Blue Jays are missing.
Judging by the list, it looks the the Pirates have about the best beer selection in majors. Surprising? Maybe. But not anymore than their season this year.
- Matt Pritchard
New Belgium Tart Lychee a refreshing, unique summer beer
I usually shy away from beer infused with any fruit puree, but I’m really glad I didn’t shy away from this one.
New Belgium’s Tart Lychee is an American Wild Ale that is part of the brewery’s Lips of Faith series. It’s been around for a few years, but this is the first time I’ve tried it. The beer is made with a combination of New Belgium’s barrel-aged sour beer, cinnamon sticks and lychee fruit, which is native to southeast Asia and, at least from what the Internet says, tastes kind of like a really sweet grape.
I had a pint recently at the Rhino and then bought a bottle at the Good Food Store. The beer is sweet and sour, to me it tastes a little bit like carbonated white grape juice, but it’s tart like lemonade. New Belgium describes it as “very fruity with earthy, nutty undertones. Both sour and sweet combined!” The beer is refreshing and clean and would be great on any of these hot days we’ve had in Missoula recently.
- Matt Pritchard
Beer from there: Noble Ale Works in Anaheim, Calif.
It’s been a hectic couple of weeks with a bachelor party in Los Angeles and a wedding in Denver, and both trips surely did not leave me wanting for beer (i.e. I’m taking several days to dry out before Wilco at Big Sky Brewing Co. - or at least trying to.)
Probably the best place I checked out was in Anaheim, Calif., before watching the Angels get shut out by the Diamondbacks. The brewery’s called Noble Ale Works and it’s a little hole in the wall in an industrial park less than a mile from Angel Stadium. (more…)
Vote for Missoula as best beer city
Voting is currently under way for the title of BeerCity USA 2012 and Missoula is again one of 31 cities in the running. Notorious beer city Asheville, N.C., has won three times and is probably the favorite again this time around, unless thirsty Missoulians see fit to do something about that.
The poll ends May 13 and you can only share your thoughts once.
Vote for Missoula here.
- Matt Pritchard
This is how robots pour beer in Tokyo
A family friend and lover of beer sent this video to my dad the other day. It’s from the United club at the Tokyo airport in Japan. Judging by the looks of it, and what I know about Japanese beer, it’s probably either Sapporo, Asahi or Kirin. The separate tube for foam is a little strange, don’t you think?
- Matt Pritchard
Sunday breakfast beer: Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout
It’s Sunday morning, so it’s as good a time as any for a breakfast beer. I picked up this Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout at one of my favorite places to buy beer, Pattee Creek Market. For me, coffee is second only to beer, so I was pretty excited by the prospects of this stout. Unfortunately, this one fell a little short of my expectations. I was looking for a bit more of a robust coffee flavor, which I didn’t really get. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not bad, but not great … and the bottle will be finished.
Happy Sunday.
- Matt Pritchard
Beerjobber.com ships beer directly from breweries, just not to Montana
With so many breweries sprouting up all across America, it’d be nice to buy beer that you normally can’t find at your local market. That’s where a relatively new service hopes to fill a void.
Beerjobber.com works with breweries and connects them with beer lovers. Users of the service can place orders from specific breweries over the site and then Beerjobber picks up the beer and ships it to your doorstep.
When I first saw this, I didn’t think it was legal. And in some states, like Montana, it isn’t. (When I asked them over Twitter they said, “Unfortunately no. MT has some of the strangest laws in the country!”)
Nonetheless, they do ship to some 38 states and they’re adding breweries all the time. So if you live outside the Big Sky, it’s worth a shot to see if they deliver to you. Prices are around $50 per case and shipping ranges from $6 to $20.
- Matt Pritchard
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
Video: Denver’s Beer Culture
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