Grizzly Growler

A controversial blog post by a beverage distribution company has stirred up the craft beer world with a question about how many breweries/beers is too many. In this blogger’s opinion, it’s a very good question. Here’s why: There is a big difference between distributed beer and breweries that brew only for on-premise consumption.
The list of [...]

As far as I can tell, pumpkin ale goes back to the time of George Washington and perhaps farther. Particularly brewed around harvest, these so-called spiced ales reflected the need to use up as many resources as possible so that nothing was wasted. You see, pumpkin doesn’t actually add that much flavor to a beer. [...]

I’ve always said that if I were to wake up suddenly allergic to seafood, I’d go to Boston, gather up all the ingredients for a fine bouillabaisse and go out in style.
But if that were a hop allergy, I’d search out the best medical doctors, read up on the latest convergence of science and medicine, [...]

Utah became the 46th state to legalize homebrewing recently, according to the Brewer’s Association, along with other significant changes to the state’s alcohol policies.
This encourages me, because if a state like Utah, with a lot of religious interests mixed in with its government, can do it, it gives me hope for Montana.
But it also begs [...]

This just in from Bjorn Nabozney at Big Sky Brewing Co.:

House Bill 400 has passed out of committee on a 14-4 vote, and will be hitting the house floor later on this week or early next week.  So, we are one third of the way to being able to legally brew and sell [...]

One thing sounded really good to me during the long, 36-hour trip home from India this week – to bend an elbow at the Kettlehouse and relive the adventures with good friends.
I probably dreamed about it a little on the plane as I drank German beers and reveled in good bread and other solid foods [...]

We beer lovers can get to feeling pretty bad about our situation here in Montana, so it is good to sometimes walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, or, maybe, drink a beer in their state.
This little reminder from an Alabama reader brings the point home:
“antiquated beer laws”…Well, you don’t know how bad they can [...]

When I bought my 40-ounce, stainless-steel Kleen Kanteen with the Moose Drool logo on it from Big Sky Brewing Co., I had no idea I’d be walking into a controversy reminiscent of yestercentury.
“We don’t serve that type here,” came one reply from a hostile server at an Oregon brewery last week.
“What’s wrong with my bottle?” [...]

Actually, it’s older than that. I think this dates to the Eocene or something like that. Regardless, scientists, brewmasters and lawyers have worked together to form Fossil Fuels Brewing Co., based on the reintroduction of a yeast strain that is something like 45-million-years old.

Turns out quite a bit more than just, “Could I have a shot with my beer?”
The 4th Annual Great American Distillers Festival is happening right now in Portland, Oregon, and one of the things you can do at this festival is attend a tasting of three modern American craft whiskeys and the beers that inspired [...]