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

Not much to do about craft beer, but beer news nonetheless.

Missoula-based Zip Beverage Co. recently completed its purchase of Butte’s Thompson Distributing Inc., which has been in business since 1976. The Montana Standard reports the Thompson family decided to sell after seeing the trend of small distributors being bought up by larger companies in the wake of InBev’s acquisition of Anheuser-Busch in 2008. With the sale, Zip will expand to Dillon, Twin Bridges, Three Forks and Butte, and projects to have annual sales of 2 million cases of beer per year.

Read the full story here.

- 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

A few weeks ago, I asked readers to share their most memorable beers of 2011. Here’s a selection of what you said:

Sean Essen – Had to be Southern Tier’s Creme Brulee Stout, ridiculous stuff, dessert in a glass. … Actually, scratch that – ’96 Sam Adams Triple Bock.

Andy Baker – About three weeks ago I had the Autumn Maple from The Brewery. There was so many flavors, it was just like my thanksgiving dinner. Incredible!

Joey Petrilli – Savor Flowers, best no, but most memorable.

JW Robinson – My most memorable beer was a pint of Bayern’s Maibock from the wood keg that was tapped at the brewery. Maibock out of a bottle is good enough to stand alone, Bayern’s medals prove that. But when you drink it from the wood keg, it has this distinct, unknown flavor that you can’t get unless you visit Bavaria. We are lucky to have such great brewmasters in our own backyard. I make sure to plan my life around the wood keg Maibock every spring. What made the beer experience even better was that I was sharing, and discussing how great it was, with my very close friends and family. You can’t ask for much more.

Johnny Bevins – Kona Blend from brew fest

Mark Molvig – Galaxy Pale Ale- Flathead Lake Brewing Co.

Feel free to add more to the comments.

- 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

Dubbed “Movember,” the men of Big Sky Brewing are putting away their upper-lip razors to get mustachioed in an effort to raise awareness and money for cancers that affect men.
This is second year the guys over at the brewery have taken on this hairy challenge.

On Nov. 1, the generally bearded crew shows up clean shaven. The Movember team will spend the following 30 days growing, grooming, and pridefully sporting their new mustaches for cancer. The event’s official rules prohibit beards and goatees.

To donate to the cause, check out www.threesevenseventyseven.com.

May the stache be with you.

- Matt Pritchard

Spokesman.com has a short piece by features writer Paul Turner that takes a look at Montana’s brewing past.

In what Turner calls “Know your Montana beer history?” the author complied some links to beers such as Great Falls Select, Butte Special, Billings Tap, Kessler and Highlander. Of note is that two of these beers, Great Falls Select and Highlander, have been recreated and are now available in cans and bottles, respectively.

Might be a trip down memory lane for some.

- Matt Pritchard

I grew up in LaGrange, Ill., a suburb outside of Chicago, and one of my best friends back then was Craig Frymark, who lived three houses down from me. When I moved to Missoula in 1995 at age 13 with my family, we lost touch, as is bound to happen. Recently, through my parents and the wonders of Facebook, I’ve learned that my old pal Craig is now co-owner and co-brewer, along with Evan Klein, of Barrier Brewing Co. in Oceanside, N.Y. The brewery was recently featured on the Brewery Show and, in just more than a year, sounds like it’s taking off.

Having only been around for a year, Barrier Brewing Company is a young and powerful two man team, developing a vast portfolio of stylistic beers available in the New York City metropolitan area. With a strong focus on providing a unique approach to the craft beer industry, they are on the cutting edge of the craft beer wave. Visit with us as we find out what’s going on, and what the future may bring.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Wish Craig and and Evan all the best, cheers.

- Matt Pritchard

Every first Monday of the month Scotty’s Table in Missoula hosts a special burger, fries and beer night, appropriately called First Monday. For $15 you get a locally produced burger, or a veggie burger if you prefer, as well as fries and a beer from Big Sky Brewing Co.

Now you might be saying, “Whoa there Matt, that’s a little much to put down for a burger, fries and a beer.” Well, first off, it’s Scotty’s Table so you’re not getting some generic hamburger with stale fries. And second, proceeds from First Monday go to a different charity or organization each month, this month being Youth Homes.

The event lasts from 5 to 8:30 p.m., but you’ll probably want to get there early if you want to take part. Katie Gill of Scotty’s says they serve around 150 burgers and it’s “first come, first serve.”

- Matt Pritchard