Grizzly Growler

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 stronger [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Philip McClary posted this: A little diddy for the cause http://www.whenweplayed.com/AB%20&%20Inbev%20by%20Phillip%20McClary.mp3 I would have saved it for the 4th of July, but it’s too good to hold on to. “Have a drink with Mother Freedom and tell InBev to kiss your glass.” GG

Betty’s for Beer almost wasn’t. Turns out my little feature article on the upcoming beer class for women caught the attention of the bureau chief for the Montana Department of Revenue, who directed a member of his staff to remind the brewery that under 16-3-213, they cannot serve other beer on the premises. In other [...]

Though he doesn’t address the hops or water specifically, I thought this comment from Brad Simshaw, a co-owner of Blackfoot River Brewing Co., is fairly informational about what it takes to become certified organic. There is much more to an organic beer than just ingredients. In a truly organic beer not only must all ingredients [...]

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. That’s the line I get most often here in Missoula. We have three great breweries, lots of good beer from all over the world in our stores and plenty of choices when it comes to styles. Life is good. But can it be better? For the last nine [...]