Missoula breweries, Tavern Association team up to distribute special brews
Missoula breweries and the Missoula County Tavern Owner’s Association are joining forces to brew up and distribute specialty beers twice a year with proceeds going toward Missoula charities.
The Garden City Community Brew project features all four of Missoula’s breweries, Bayern, Kettlehouse, Big Sky and Draught Works, and the unique brews will be available in about 20 bars. The first installment is a Black IPA brewed at Draught Works. Brewing will begin on Dec. 5 and the beer is scheduled to be available Friday, Dec. 21.
The Tavern Owner’s Association members and Missoula breweries have already donated about $4,000 that will go to help the Missoula Food Bank. It’s nice to see our breweries and bars coming together for a worthy cause.
You can grab a pint at:
- Al’s & Vic’s
- Bodega
- Brooks & Browns
- The Depot
- Double Front Lounge
- Eagles
- Elbow Room
- Iron Horse Brew Pub
- James Bar
- Joker’s Wild
- The Keep
- Montana Club (both locations)
- Mo Club
- Paradise Falls
- Red’s Bar
- The Rhino
- Rowdy’s Cabin
- Sean Kelly’s
- Stone of Accord
- Matt Pritchard
Kettlehouse Brewing Co. hosts 4th annual Hop Pickin’ Party
It’s the season for hop picking around Montana, where those floral cones mature and prepare to add flavor to your favorite beer. Montana is a pretty good place to grow those pungent buds, and from what I saw in my parents’ neighbor’s yard the turnout appears to be decent this year, as opposed to 2011.
If you’re in Missoula and have some extra hops that you won’t be using in a beer of your own, join the party at the Northside Kettlehouse on Monday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m. There’s free beer to be had at the 4th annual Hop Pickin’ Party, and those donated hops will, hopefully, go toward a killer Garden City Pale Ale.
Interested in growing hops of your own? It’s too late this year, but hear’s a guide to get you going in 2013.
- Matt Pritchard
Kettlehouse Brewing’s Fresh Bong Water filtered with orange peels
Alas, summer is nearing its demise. The days are getting noticeably shorter, the nights a little cooler and the rivers a tad shallower. My girlfriend even had to go back to work today for pre-school year meetings. Yikes. Not that I’m complaining too much though, football is right around the corner.
But if you love summer and don’t want to see it go away, there’s a bit of a reprieve over at Kettlehouse Brewing on Myrtle Street. On tap is Kettlehouse’s usual Fresh Bong Water Pale Ale, but now it’s infused with fresh orange peels through the Randall. The Randall, pioneered by Dogfish Head, is a filter that takes beer from the tap and flows it through a capsule that’s generally filled with hops. In Kettlehouse’s case, they’ve filled the Randall with orange peels to impart just a little something extra into Fresh Bong Water.
I had my fair share of pints of this over the weekend and it makes for a great summer beer, even as the days grow shorter.
- Matt Pritchard
Introducing Cold Honey; aka the Missoula Black & Tan
Missoula in known for a number of greats: scenery, people, fishing and (of course) microbrews.
Two of my favorite local beers are Cold Smoke and Summer Honey, from Kettlehouse Brewing Co. and Big Sky Brewing Co., respectively. Both are great for different reasons, and in case you’ve been living in the cave above Mount Sentinel, here’s a quick breakdown:
• Cold Smoke is a dark Scotch Ale imbued with roasted barley, giving it a “smoky” flavor.
• Summer Honey is of lighter fare, combining Northwest hops and Montana honey.
Being a notorious tinkerer, I decided to mix the two one night while barbecuing with the fam. The result? Quite possibly the best beer I’ve ever experienced. The two brews balance each other perfectly, dancing on the palate before smoothly slipping away.
I highly recommend that you stop reading this and immediately make your own. … But be warned: The blend is so fantastic that you may have a hard time drinking anything else. Seriously.
The tentative name for this delightful mix is Cold Honey, but here are some alternatives for your enjoyment:
• Summer Smoke – Depending on our fire season, this one may take the top slot.
• Missoula Black & Tan – Not as smooth on the tongue, but has the potential to unite the clans.
• Austin Ale – Shameless promo for the inventor, but clever use of the “AA” abbreviation.
Whatever you call it, please enjoy responsibly. And fret not, Jürgen, as I am sure there will be a Bayern blend very soon!
- Rod Austin is a Missoula native and local beer enthusiast. Reach him at rod.austin (at) gmail.com
20th annual Garden City Brewfest takes over Caras Park on May 5
The 20th annual Garden City Brewfest will once again set up shop in Caras Park on Saturday, May 5, from noon until 8 p.m. There will be more than 60 beers available, including brews from new breweries around Montana such as Higherground Brewing Co., Bowser Brewing Co. and Wildwood Brewing Co. A 7-ounce glass is $10 and comes with two drink tokens, each extra token is $1. Music will be courtesy of Russ Nasset, Lil Smokies and Sick Kids XOXO.
Hit the jump for a partial listing of beers courtesy of the Missoula Downtown Association: (more…)
Kettlehouse Kolledge classes begin Feb. 20
I’m back in college now and I can tell you it’s not as fun of a time as Kettlehouse Kolledge looks to be.
Kettlehouse Brewing Co. is starting up classes at the Northside on Mondays and Tuesdays from 6-7 p.m. beginning Feb. 20 and lasting until March 20. There are four sessions: a brewery tour (with a free pint), a tasting with a Kettlehouse brewer, one homework assignment and a flight special. You can sign up at either the Northside or Myrtle Street location beginning at noon on Feb. 20. Space is limited so if you’re thinking about doing this you’d better be proactive.
Unlike real school, tuition is FREE. Plus, if you complete Kolledge, there’s graduation party at the Union Club on March 29.
- Matt Pritchard
Northside Kettlehouse adds bigger tanks, expands
Kettlehouse Brewing Co. on the Northside of Missoula has swapped smaller tanks for some bigger ones. Kettle replaced a conditioning tank and a fermentation tank, which each held 40 barrels, with tanks that can hold up to 90 barrels. Owner Tim O’Leary told the Missoulian:
“This is primarily to give us some relief at high-production times and free up our scheduling so our days aren’t so long.”
As for the expansion, O’Leary goes on to say:
“We don’t have much space in here. We picked this (Northside) building to get up to 10,000 barrels because that’s what the law says we can have. Now we’re kind of there and built out.”
Read the full story here.
- Matt Pritchard
Note: To clarify the Kettlehouse story in the Missoulian, Big Sky Brewing isn’t the only brewery that can exceed the 10,000 barrel limit, any brewery could exceed that number. But the law states that if a brewery wants to sell beer to be consumed inside the taproom, then they can’t exceed the 10,000 barrel limit. That’s why Big Sky has free samples. Complicated much?
Kettlehouse Brewing Co.’s Barrel Aged Cold Smoke
I finally made it into the Northside Kettlehouse to check out their Barrel Aged Cold Smoke, and I’m sure glad I did.
It took a year of aging in bourbon barrels before the beer made it to tap, and the result is a 9 percent alcohol by volume Cold Smoke that has the sting of bourbon but finishes smooth like the scotch ale you know and love, with hints of black liquorice and chocolate.
Usually I’m more of a Double Haul guy, so you’ll rarely see me ordering a Cold Smoke, but this beer is definitely worth a try no matter which you prefer. There’s about two barrels (four kegs) of it left and it’s going fast, so don’t dawdle if your interested.
- Matt Pritchard
Kettlehouse to host 3rd annual ‘Hop Picking Party’
If you have hops and friends, then Kettlehouse Brewing needs you. Read on:
We at Kettlehouse Brewing Co are hosting the 3rd annual “Hop Picking Party” on Tuesday, Sept. 27, at 6 p.m. at 817 Grant, one block west of the North Tap room. Our usual hop supply was severely damaged in a wind storm and is not yielding hops this year. We need any and all hops you can muster. Bring hops and friends. A keg will be provided … come on over!
- Matt Pritchard
Kettlehouse’s Community UNite to benefit your ticker tonight
Need a reason to drink tonight? Here’s one:
Love Kettlehouse beer and your HEART? YOU ARE INVITED! … Come to the Wednesday “Community Unite” at Kettlehouse, August 17th, Northside Tap Room at 313 North 1st Street from 5-8 pm. Enjoy fresh Kettlehouse beer, support the American Heart Association and this year’s HeartWalk & Heart5KRun in Missoula. A portion of the proceeds from every pint sold between 5-8pm goes to this great Missoula organization.
It’s the dog days of summer and you will be leaving from work TODAY a little parched….well you know what to do! I hope to see you all there.
- Matt Pritchard