Missoula Winter BrewFest hits Caras Park on Feb. 15
The third annual Winter BrewFest is once again on the move this year with its sights set on Caras Park in downtown Missoula. You may recall that the brewfest was held in the old Safeway building last year and the Missoula Mercantile building (old Macy’s building) the previous year.
On tap this year are more than 30 beers, a wine bar, food and music. Festivities are poised to get under way on Friday, Feb. 15, at 5 p.m and last until 10. Cost of entry is $10 for a 7-ounce glass and two tokens. Extra beers are the usual $1.
This should be a welcome divergence from the florescent lights of years past. Although I guess we can only hope it won’t be too frigid that night.
- Matt Pritchard
Roundup: Lists of best beers of 2012
I’m a sucker for end of the year lists, especially when it comes to music. LargeheartedBoy.com has an exhaustive tally going of links to music lists by blogs, newspapers and other sites that’s worth checking out if you have some time to kill. For what it’s worth, my favorite album this year is, without question, Fear Fun by Father John Misty (click here to hear the whole album). They also put on my favorite show this year, along with Youth Lagoon.
Anyway, getting back to beer, I decided to try and compile links to lists of the best beers of 2012. If anyone wants to contribute, be it your own picks or picks from any other sites, email GrizGrowler@gmail.com. I personally don’t have a full list, but the best beer I had this year was Zombie Dust by Three Floyds Brewing Co. out of Munster, Ind. It lived up to its billing as a “gushing undead pale ale.” My sister’s boyfriend brought it back from Chicago over the Fourth of July and it definitely sticks out in my mind.
Here’s the list with links. The No. 1 beer from the site and the brewery are listed to the side:
- Rate Beer (top 50) Westvleteren 12 by Westvleteren Abdij St. Sixtus
- Homebrewers Association (top 50) Pliny the Elder by Russian River Brewing
- Beer Advocate (top 100) Pliny the Younger by Russian River Brewing
- First We Feast (best beer in each state) Montana: Ivan the Terrible by Big Sky Brewing
- Draft Magazine (best 25)
- Draft Magazine (100 best beer bars)
- Esquire (best 24)
- Wine Enthusiast (top 25) Saison Rue by The Bruery
- Beer Advocate community thread (best 5 new beers)
- Willamette Week (president of beers) Beaverbear Barleywine by Tom Roan and Nancy Bowser
- World Beer Awards Red Chair NWPA by Deschutes Brewery
- Great American Beer Awards
- World Beer Cup
- North American Brewers Association
- Montana Brewers Festival Red Ale by Lewis and Clark Brewing
- Matt Pritchard
Draught Works celebrates first birthday with Community Appreciation Day
It’s hard to imagine that Draught Works is already a year old. To celebrate, the brewery is holding a Community Appreciation Day on Saturday, Oct. 20, from noon until 9 p.m.
There will be a pig roast featuring three brewer’s grain-fed pigs, door prizes and a cask of Vanilla Bean Gwin Du Oatmeal Stout. The Best Westerns will also be on hand playing music from 6 until 8 p.m.
One thing I’ve been impressed with at Draught Works is they always seem to have something going on, whether it’s cheap pizza from Zimorino’s, barbecue from Kind Swine or live music. Here’s to hoping for more years to come.
- Matt Pritchard
FLBC of Missoula undergoing changes after water line break
FLBC of Missoula will be closed for a couple of weeks after a water line break caused “several hundred thousand dollars worth of damage.” When the pub reopens expect to see some changes. Sapore, the restaurant below FLBC of Missoula, will be no more. FLBC will be taking over and the space will be made to look more like it does upstairs, with a new menu for the building.
The biggest benefit when FLBC reopens? You’ll be able to walk between the floors with your beer of choice.
Check out the Indy Blog for more details.
- Matt Pritchard
Huckleberry Cold Smoke alert
Kettlehouse Brewing Co. will have a firkin of Huckleberry Cold Smoke at the Rhino on the night of Oct. 5, a day before the 4th annual Montana Brewers Festival at Caras Park. I tried the Cold Smoke infused with cherries that was available at the south Kettle a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised, so I can only imagine that huckleberries and Cold Smoke will be, well, sweet.
- Matt Pritchard
Great Northwest Oktoberfest, Seeley Lake Brewfest on tap this weekend
Two beer drinking opportunities await this weekend for those in, or thinking about traveling to, Whitefish or Seeley Lake.
First is the Great Northwest Oktoberfest in Whitefish, and they’re not screwing around with the festivities, either. The event takes place under the “Oktoberfest Bigtop” in Depot Park over two weekends as follows:
- Thursday, Sept. 27: 5 to 11 pm
- Friday, Sep. 28: 5 to 11 pm
- Saturday, Sept. 29: noon to 11 pm
- Thursday, Oct. 4: 5 to 11 pm
- Friday, Oct. 5: 5 to 11 pm
- Saturday, Oct. 6: 12 noon to 11 pm
There will be beer from Great Northern Brewing, including Great Northern Oktoberfest, Frog Hop and Black Star, plus beer from Warsteiner: a Pilsner, a Dunkel and an Oktoberfest. German fare will also be available, plus music and contests. The festival will set you back $3 per day to get in.
If you’re up in Seeley Lake or planning on going this weekend, it’ll be hard to miss the annual Seeley Lake Brewfest. On Friday, Sept. 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Double Arrow Lodge, Joe Petrilli of Big Sky Brewing Co. will lead a “Brew Master Presentation” and profile some of the beers on tap at the festival. Afterward is a Pub Crawl, if that’s something your into … in Seeley lake.
The actual festival takes place “On the Green” adjacent to the Seeley Lake One Stop Convenience Store on Highway 83 beginning Saturday from 11 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Sunday’s portion of the beer fest will be a bit more limited. There’s said to be at least 10 breweries on hand and the cost is $15, which buys a commemorative pint glass and two tokens. Additional tokens and $2.
- Matt Pritchard
Tour beers from around Flathead Lake, eat some barbecue in Polson on Saturday
As part of the fourth annual Smokin’ on the Water BBQ Cook-Off in Polson on Saturday, those looking for delicious smoky meat can also enjoy beers from around the Flathead Valley. In what’s being dubbed a “Brew Tour” rather than a “Brewfest,” the event will feature beer from Tamarack, Great Northern, Flathead Lake Brewing and Glacier Brewing. The Brew Tour starts at 11 a.m. and lasts until 8 p.m. at the KwaTaqNuk Resort, where $3 will get you a cup of beer or $7 will get you a souvenir glass pint with a fill.
The Smokin’ on the Water BBQ Cook-Off will take place from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the following categories being featured:
- 2:00 pm – Sauce
- 2:30 pm – Beef
- 3:00 pm – Pork
- 3:30 pm – Chicken
- 4:00 pm – Open category (anything that is “edible and grilled”)
Awards for the food are slated to be presented around 4:30 p.m.
- Matt Pritchard
Like craft beer and baseball? Here’s a guide
If you’re like me, then you love baseball. And if you’re also like me, then you love drinking beer at baseball games. Problem is, usually what’s available is a Big Gulp-sized Bud Light for $14.
In Missoula, the Osprey have a pretty good selection of craft beer: Big Sky Brewing’s Summer Honey and IPA, Kettlehouse Brewing’s Cold Smoke, Eddy Out or Double Haul (it rotates) and Bayern Brewing’s Dump Truck and Dragon’s Breath. At least those were the beers available last week.
Unfortunately, while we do have the Osprey, there isn’t a major league team within about 500 miles. But if you find yourself catching a game at some point over the rest of the summer, check out CraftBeer.com’s Major League Baseball craft beer guide. It lists most of the craft beers available at major league parks. I say most because the comments seem to show the list isn’t complete. Plus, the Cubs and the Blue Jays are missing.
Judging by the list, it looks the the Pirates have about the best beer selection in majors. Surprising? Maybe. But not anymore than their season this year.
- 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
What’s your craft beer personality?
I recently ran across this article by George Lenker breaking down 5 craft beer personality types: the beer geek, the beer populist, the beer gourmand, the know-it-all and the beer snob. Here’s a quick snippet of how Lenker describes each type:
The Beer Geek: They delight in talking about their favorite beers and rarely feel they need to come off (as) the smartest monkey in the brew zoo (even though they often are).
Beer Populists: While we are not obsessive, we really enjoy all types and styles of beer. Like beer geeks, we like to share our passion, but we do so by making craft beer seem accessible, which it is.
Beer Gourmands: These folks are casual craft beer drinkers (and) might even be seen enjoying a Michelob or a Budweiser once (in) a while.
The Know-It-All: These types are beer geeks with a flaw: They share their knowledge, but with an attitude that doesn’t encourage discussion.
Beer Snobs: Not only do they make beer aficionados like myself roll our eyes, they also turn off potential new craft beer lovers by their incessant need to dominate conversations.
I personally think labels like these are pretty lame, but Lenker does a pretty good job rounding them up. Where do you think you fall?
Read the full article here.
- Matt Pritchard