Happy Thanksgiving from GG
Photo by the Josh Mauser via the Associated Press
Wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Hope it’s full of delicious ales, lagers, friends and food!
- Matt Pritchard
Summit Beverage’s Winter Beer Survival Guide
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.
- Matt Pritchard
Top 10 Worst Things Overheard on St. Patrick’s Day
I was astounded to overhear these things in only two different bars last night. I won’t name the bars, for fear it would damage their reputation that such smart and attentive people are patrons.
Top 10 Worst Things Overheard on St. Patrick’s Day
- Hey, does that green beer taste like mint? (Not the best pickup line ever dude)
- How do you think they turn the beer green? (Well, see, this here is the magical work of Leprechauns)
- Do they brew it green like that? (Why yes, it’s brewed from green grains)
- I believe St. Patrick brewed the first green beer. (Yes, he must have, otherwise why would we drink it?)
- This is weird, this [green] beer tastes just like PBR. (Well, that’s just wrong, it’s obviously Bud Light)
- The non sequitur – The beer is green, because there are no snakes in Ireland. (No need for a comment)
- Kiss me…I’m not really Irish, but I love the Irish. (He then proceeded to hold up a green beer as some kind of evidence of his love for the Irish)
- The only time of year I ever drink green beer is on St. Patrick’s Day. (Really?)
- Is this [green] beer imported from Ireland like Guinness is? (No, this special beer comes all the way from St. Louis)
- I’m a Bud Light man, I don’t really like the taste of green beer. (Um, excuse me sir, that green beer you’re holding is Bud Light with tasteless, odorless food coloring in it)
Prost,
GG
Soak up your corned beef and cabbage with free stout at Tamarack Brewing Company
I’ll have a roundup of Montana St. Patty’s Day celebrations at area craft breweries soon, but this one is good enough to post all on its own.
From Tamarack Brewing Company’s Facebook page, check it:
We’re tapping a fresh keg of Stout at 6pm on March 17th and giving it away free until it’s gone! So do your part, and help us set a record! You can soak it up with some corned beef and cabbage after it’s all over! Join us at The ‘Rack on ST. PATRICK’S DAY for a little… or a lot… of Stout and good cheer!
Last year, it took us 79 minutes to drain a keg of Switchback Stout giving it away FREE ’til it’s gone… we can beat that, people, come on and lend a hand!
We’re tapping a fresh keg of Stout at 6pm and giving it away free until it’s gone! So do your part, and help us set a record! You can soak it up with some corned beef and cabbage after it’s all over!
See all you Lads and Lassies at The ‘Rack on St. Patty’s!/blockquote>
Prost,
GG
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It’s kind of creepy, but President’s Day and craft beer were made for each other
George Washington was said to have a taste for porter style beer, something which he brewed at his plantation before, during and after his terms as the first president of the United States of America. Well, I don’t know for sure if he brewed during his actual presidency, but that would be cool. I often wonder what a home brewing president might be like. I have a feeling that Obama probably doesn’t drink a lot of craft beer. In fact, when watching those television shows about the folks who serve the president, I’m often a little dismayed at the personal beer choices for Air Force 1 or White House state dinners.
But Washington brewed and drank great beer, as did many of the founding fathers.
In honor of the proud tradition of early brewers, my pick for a President’s Day beer is Stone Brewing Co.’s Old Guardian Barley Wine.
According to the Stone Brewing Co. blog, the 2010 release of this beer is today, so you won’t likely get any unless you live in Southern California, but if you see some, pick it up and put it away for next President’s Day.
Prost,
GG
Old Guardian
Video Blog – Belle Vue Kriek
Being Valentines Day, this video caught my attention. Have fun with it.
Prost,
GG
Merry Christmas beers and a holiday in Oregon
The Grizzly Growler will be Oregon bound for a week, which means I’ll be reporting about, and hopefully collecting, many good beers that might not be available in Montana. All the better to stretch my imagination. But look for posts about some really cool beer coming up in the next week. I’d like to wish all my readers a very happy holiday and a great New Year. I’m very grateful to you for your support and readership throughout the years. But 2009 is the best year yet. Readership is up this year, and craft beer in Montana is doing better than ever.
Merry Christmas,
GG
Traditional Christmas tree lighting at Bayern Brewing on Saturday
Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Bayern Brewing
Growing up in Austria, traditional Christmas celebrations happened almost daily through the Advent season. Christmas tree lightings and a visit from St. Nicholas as well as traditional Christmas hymns and special services dedicated to this or that are my greatest memories of my time there.
In our plastic American culture, it’s easy to make Christmas just another power shopping exercise or a feel-good reminder that we’re not all affected by the economy. But for many of us, the traditional things that surround Christmas are a reminder of giving back to your community, friends and family members.
So if you’re lacking a little tradition in your life, head on over to Bayern Brewing at 5 p.m. on Saturday for a traditional lighting of the the Christmas tree.
I can’t quite tell if those are candles on that tree, but growing up we put candles all over the tree and lit them and sang songs. Later, we used fire-proof sparklers. When we moved back to the United States, we continued the tradition for a few years until one fateful Christmas Eve, when our too-dry tree caught fire and our house burned to the ground. Call it stupid if you will, I’m sure my dad still kicks himself for that, but traditions are hard to kick. And besides, the community rallied around us, and by noon on Christmas Day, the floor of the living room where we stayed after the fire was two-feet deep in presents.
We eventually rebuilt the house, and though we’ve discontinued the practice of lighting the Christmas tree with fire, the traditions of the holiday season are very real to us.
So you just might catch me toasting the season with a Doppelbock on Saturday down at Bayern Brewing.
Prost and Happy Holidays,
GG
A Stille Nacht on St. Nicholas Day
A Stille Nacht every St. Nicholas Day
It is St. Nicholas Day, and I’m sitting next to the Christmas tree drinking a Stille Nacht and enjoying the atmosphere. The kids woke up at the crack of dawn to find out what St. Nicholas left in their shoes, and we’ve been snacking on chocolates and nuts throughout the day.
This is a tradition going back many many years for me and my family. If there was ever a beer that was more enjoyable to consume every year on the same night I have not found it. Stille Nacht tastes like Christmas with its Belgian fruity yeast characteristics and spicey nature.
In a few weeks I’ll depart for for Portland, Oregon and go in search of next year’s Stille Nacht, which will reside in my refrigerator for a full year. This particular vintage is 2006, and though the head doesn’t last long, the flavors are deep and complex, the way I seem to like things in my life right now.
Tonight I gave my wife a taste, and it looks like I’ll be buying two bottles of Stille Nacht for next year. But that’s good. What kind of traditions do you share with your friends and families.
Prost,
GG
Holiday Gift Guide for craft beer lovers
I’ll do my own list soon, but I really liked the list from DrinkCraftBeer.com.
Prost,
GG