Changes happening at Bitter Root Brewing Co.

Courtesy of Bitter Root Brewing Co.

Just received this news from the folks over at Bitter Root Brewing:

Our good friend and brewer, Jake Talbot (THE Red Dread), is taking the next step in his brewing career and moving on to Ram Brewing in Boise Idaho. Jake has been a part of our family and your beer for the past eight years and will be missed, but never forgotten! We have a matted photo in the brewery for all to sign, come on down, thank him for all he’s done and leave him a going away note. Make sure to raise a toast to Jake’s continued success in the industry! Following Jake’s departure, Tony Wickham will continue his role as lead brewer, with Rob Curtis taking on the assistant brewer role….and recently hired Zac Tavel brings his previous industry experience into the cellarman position.

Best of luck to all.

- Matt Pritchard

Bitter Root Brewing events on tap for American Craft Beer Week

Bitter Root Brewing Co. in Hamilton is celebrating American Craft Beer Week with beer, music and food throughout the week. Here’s the lineup:

Tuesday, May 15

• All beers $3, $1 off growler fills
• Trivia Tuesday
• Shellfish and beer pairings on the grill

Wednesday, May 16

• One keg of Belgian Barley Wine
• Game night
• Shellfish and beer pairings on the grill

Thursday, May 17

• Music by John Floridis
• Door prizes
• Shellfish and beer pairings on the grill

Friday, May 18

• Belgian Trippel on tap
• ’80s night
• Shellfish and beer pairings on the grill

Saturday, May 19

• Steel Toe Floes to perform
• Select merchandise will be on sale
• Shellfish and beer pairings on the grill

Sunday, May 20

• Music by Joan Zen
• Montana A Capella Pint Night Fundraiser from 2 until 7 p.m.
• All beers $3, $1 off growler fills

- Matt Pritchard

Next Bitter Root Brewing Brewer’s Dinner set March 18

Bitter Root Brewing is hosting another Brewer’s Dinner on Sunday, March 18, at 5 p.m. Seats generally fill up pretty quickly, so if you’re thinking about going email Jason Goeltz at jason@bitterrootbrewing.com. Tickets are $55 per person, and that gets you six (what?) courses paired with the Root’s delicious beer over three hours. I haven’t seen what’s on the menu this time around, but to give you an idea, this was one dessert from a recent dinner:

Malted barley pudding with a cherry compote, pistachio butter and a dry hopped (yes..you read that right…dry hopped chocolate with Citra hops) ganache, paired with Red Dread Imperial Red Ale.

I’ve been itching to get over there for one of these shindigs. Not sure if this will be the one, but hopefully soon.

- Matt Pritchard

Visit to Higherground Brewing Co.

Higherground Brewing Co.

Finally got the chance to head over to the Bitterroot Valley’s newest brewery, Higherground Brewing Co., over the weekend. The brewery, located in Hamilton at 518 N. First St., opened about a month ago and has a bit of different feel. It seems more like a cafe with a brewery inside, with checkerboard floors and wooden tables throughout. On the Saturday afternoon that I was in there, plenty of families stopped by not to drink but to have some wood-fired pizza that’s available in the brewery. The pizza is pretty good, by the way.

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Higherground Brewing Co. close to opening in Hamilton

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

Black Friday at Bitter Root Brewing Co.

If you’re in Hamilton, or need a reason to go there, perhaps a keg of Black IPA at Bitter Root Brewing Co. will be enough to turn your Friday from good to great, or maybe from just OK to good – either way you win. From Bitter Root’s newsletter:

We’re tapping a keg of Black IPA that we’ve been hording like that neighbor kid you grew up with that horded Halloween candy.  We’ll tap the keg at 4 p.m. on Friday

- Matt Pritchard

Bitter Root Brewing’s Huckleberry Honey Ale heading to store shelves soon

Huckleberry Honey Ale – 2011 first bottling run! from Bitter Root Brewing on Vimeo.

Yum.

- Matt Pritchard

Bitter Root Brewing’s Beer Bailout kicks off Sunday

Beginning on Sunday, Bitter Root Brewing is putting on Beer Bailout days with $3 pints and $1 off glassware and growler fills. To kick things off, the brewery is holding a Bailout Bash from 4-7 p.m. with food and music by the Big Sky Mudflaps. If you can’t make it then don’t worry, Beer Bailout days will take place Tuesdays and Sundays thereafter.

- Matt Pritchard

16th Annual Bitterroot Brew Fest is this weekend

Live musical acts include Blue to the Bone and Cellar Door. Here’s some information and a link where you can purchase your tickets in advance.

Donate $15 which includes: Admission, your Commemorative Glass and 3 Drink Tickets. Event begins at 3:00pm and the fun goes until 10:00pm in the evening!

Don’t wait in line, get an advanced ticket that you can pick up at the gate. Just bring an ID and we’ll have your ticket(s) waiting for you.

There will be Brews — Wine — Meads — Music — Food — Choice Awards and a great time to be had by all. You will not want to miss our 16th Annual Micro Brew Festival on Saturday, July 24 on 2nd and Bedford in Hamilton.

Red Dread Imperial Red Ale from Bitterroot Brewing

Jake Talbot just might be the most recognizable brewer in Montana. I say might, because there’s no way to know for sure. But his ginger hair is unmistakable when cross his path inn Hamilton or elsewhere.

He keeps it shorter now, but there was a time when he had long, red dread locks, a testimony to his free-spirited ways. The fact that Bitterroot Brewing has named their Imperial Red Ale after Mr. Talbot is a testament to his big personality and his larger-than-life attitude about life.

Cheers Jake,

GG