The Missoula Winter BrewFest returns for its second year on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 2 to 8 p.m., this time at the old Safeway building on West Broadway next to St. Patrick Hospital. Cost is $10 for a 7-ounce glass and two tokens, and $1 per token thereafter. The Missoula Downtown Association expects more than 30 beers to be on hand with wine, food and live music available.

If this year’s event is anything like last year, I recommend heading to the BrewFest early to avoid the likely packed house. I don’t think I even received a glass last year, pretty sure it was a plastic cup.

- Matt Pritchard

Missoula’s Draught Works is gearing up to host the first official Frosters Anonymous party on Friday, Jan. 27., in an effort to bring a little warmth to our neck of the woods.

So what is Frosters Anonymous?  Well … it’s “a new thing where you pretend to act like the weather is nice (and) take a photo of yourself.” (Read more here.)

On Friday from noon to 8 p.m., Draught Works will make its patio look like a beach and is asking everyone to take part by dressing up like it’s summer and displaying their favorites summer activities. Those who do will get their picture taken and a free pint to boot.

Sweet, now I can dust off my Speedo.

- Matt Pritchard

The 18th annual Micro Brew Review and Cool Dog Ball heads to the Helena Civic Center Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 27, as part of a fundraiser for the Race to the Sky sled dog race. Seventeen breweries will be on hand, including Blackfoot River Brewing, Lewis & Clark Brewery, Big Sky, Bayern, Bitter Root Brewing, Harvest Moon, Beaver Creek and more. Tickets are $18 in advance and can be purchased in Helena at Bert & Ernie’s, Topper’s Cellar, The Overland Express, Staggering Ox, The Man Stores and the Downtown Helena Office, or they are $20 at the door. Music will be courtesy of Destiny and Johnny Rawls and festivities get started at 6 p.m. and last until 11:30 p.m..

And just a note, the dog above has decided not to compete in the race.

- Matt Pritchard

Looking for a last-minute weekend getaway near the Crown of the Continent?

The Belton Chalet in West Glacier is holding a dinner paired with Tamarack Brewing beers on Friday beginning at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $50 for the dinner or $185 per couple for dinner and a room, which seems like a pretty decent deal. There’s limited seating, so to make a reservation call (406) 888-5000.

- Matt Pritchard

Black Star is once again offering the chance to barter for a year’s supply of beer – 1,248 bottles. The Black Star Barter will take place during the Whitefish Winter Carnival in downtown Whitefish on Saturday, Feb. 4, and if you want to win a trip you can enter here before Jan. 15. Voting takes place from then until Jan. 22 with the winner being announced on Jan. 23. You can also enter at Great Northern Brewing starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4.

Judges basically will be looking for “creativity, awesomeness, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.” Last year, two from Missoula won the barter by creating some radio ad spots for the beer. If you’re into Black Star, you’ve got a month to get creative, and if you win, a year to reap your reward.

- Matt Pritchard

Hey all,

Grizzly Growler will have some slight changes in the works over the next couple of weeks starting with a new email address, GrizGrowler@gmail.com. I am moving on from my job at the Missoulian to go back to school (accounting of things), but will be maintaining the blog and Facebook page. Check out the updated Montana breweries map on the left-hand side, which is up now, and look for an updated list of Montana craft breweries and a list of 2012 Montana beer festivals and events.

- Matt Pritchard

Draught Works is quickly becoming one of my go-to places to grab a quick beer in the late afternoon or on a Sunday. I’ve worked my way through their mainstay beers and tried out their first seasonal (I’m going to say ever), called Half-Nuts Rye, the other day.

What is it: Rye Brown with Hazelnut

Color: Dark Brown

ABV: 6.5 percent

Taste: Very smooth and very drinkable with a slight hint of hazelnut, but not sweet. Maybe a little light on flavor, which can be good or bad depending on your taste.

Another pint: Yes, please.

- Matt Pritchard

The brewery boom continues, almost to the point where it’s tough to keep track of what’s going up where and when. Higherground Brewing Co. is preparing to open at 518 N. First St. in Hamilton, according to its Facebook page, bringing to three the number of Bitterroot Valley breweries.

Coming December 2011!!!
Handcrafted beers and wood fired pizzas.
Locally owned and operated by Fenn Nelson and Jasper Miller.

- 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

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