Win a year’s supply of beer at 2013 Black Star Beer Barter
Whitefish is again hosting the annual Black Star Beer Barter, where thirsty fans can barter for a year’s supply of beer.
The bartering will take place after the Whitefish Winter Carnival parade at around 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2. The premise is fairly simple, “What would you do or trade for a year’s worth of beer?” Last year, a fire dancer, a guy with two Volkswagon buses and skaters impressively ollieing over beer kegs took home prizes (watch the video below).
The grand prize this year consists of 52 cases of Blackstar, Wheatfish Wheat Lager and Going to the Sun IPA, so you can check beer shopping off your list in 2013. If you’re interested in signing up, register at Great Northern Brewing by 3 p.m. on Feb. 2. If you’re going all out and have some grandiose idea requiring special arrangements, contact Jessica Lucey before Jan. 31 at (406) 863-1000 ext. 2.
- 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
Black Star Barter hits Whitefish on Feb. 4
Black Star is once again offering the chance to barter for a year’s supply of beer – 1,248 bottles. The Black Star Barter will take place during the Whitefish Winter Carnival in downtown Whitefish on Saturday, Feb. 4, and if you want to win a trip you can enter here before Jan. 15. Voting takes place from then until Jan. 22 with the winner being announced on Jan. 23. You can also enter at Great Northern Brewing starting at 11 a.m. on Feb. 4.
Judges basically will be looking for “creativity, awesomeness, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm.” Last year, two from Missoula won the barter by creating some radio ad spots for the beer. If you’re into Black Star, you’ve got a month to get creative, and if you win, a year to reap your reward.
- Matt Pritchard
Black Star tallboys out now in time for spring
Black Star Double-Hopped Golden Lager is now out in 24 ounce cans and available in beer stores throughout Montana. If you’re a fan then this is some good news, as spring and summer are (hopefully) around the corner. (more…)
Winter Brewfest slides into Whitefish on Saturday
Whitefish plays host to the latest western Montana brewfest on Saturday from 1-5 p.m in the Whitefish Mountain Resort Village. More than a dozen breweries will be there, including Bayern, Big Sky, Bitterroot, Blackfoot, Blacksmith, Deschutes, Great Northern, Madison River, New Belgium, Sierra Nevada, Tamarack and more. Tickets are $25 at the door, or $20 in advance and can be purchased at the Whitefish Mountain Resort Information Center or the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce. David Boone will perform, and at 4 p.m. the third annual Dummy Derby gets under way, where contestants strap skis or a snowboard onto their dummy creations and watch them slide and then fly through the air. A brewfest and a dummy derby? What more could you want?
- Matt Pritchard
Great Northern Brewing Co. shipping out 22 oz. bottles of Going to the Sun IPA
From Great Northern Brewing Co.’s Facebook page: “Going to the Sun IPA is now available for your enjoyment in 22 oz bottles. Just in time for the sunshine that we’ve been enjoying today in Whitefish!”
- Matt Pritchard
Weekend beer guide: Whitefish looks promising
This weekend Whitefish hosts its annual Whitefish Winter Carnival and beer will be playing a big role in the festivities.
On Thursday, Bayern Brewing is in town at Great Northern Brewing and will be holding a pint night from 6-10 p.m. with Face Plant specials and gear and glassware for sale. Then on Saturday, Bayern will be at Whitefish Mountain Resort sponsoring the Rail Jam and giving away gear.
Also on Saturday, Black Star presents the Black Star Beer Barter (as seen earlier), where contestants can barter for a year’s supply of Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager – 1,248 bottles (52 cases). Judges will rate the offers based on “creativity, awesomeness, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm,” and then pick a winner. Black Star also tapped beer writer/blogger the Beer Wench for the event as one of the judges. Those interested must enter between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday at Great Northern Brewing. The winner will be announced later in the evening.
I really wish I could go up to Whitefish this weekend, but work calls. To those who are taking part, please have fun for me.
- Matt Pritchard
Pro skier praises Whitefish Mountain Resort, cheap beer
I saw this post over at MontanaSnowSports.com, a sister blog and a great way to stay informed on all the winter happenings in western Montana.
Professional skier Cody Townsend recently took a trip to Whitefish to see if anything major has changed since the corporate takeover of Big Mountain in 2007. To Townsend’s surprise, he said it’s pretty much the same great mountain with reasonable prices, especially on beer.
The new owners hadn’t pulled the heart out of Big Mountain. The long-lasting powder stashes remained, duct tape is still in fashion, the beards are still long and the beer is still really, really cheap.
Read the full ESPN.com article here.
- Matt Pritchard
Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager on ‘Beers to Give’ list
Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager
Wondering what beers would make a good gift this year?
Draftmag.com recently came out with The 18 Best Beers to Give This Season and it includes Minott’s Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager, which has connections to Whitefish.
“FOR THE CRAFT-BEER NEWBIE: Reintroduced this spring after a seven-year hiatus, Black Star Double Hopped Golden Lager (a Euro-style, dry-hopped pilsner) zings virgin palates with Saaz and Mittelfruh hops.”
There’s been some talk in the past if canned Black Star really counts as a Montana craft beer. I’m not going to get into all of that. If you like it and want to pass it along as a gift, here’s a store locater.
- Matt Pritchard
Great Northern Brewing Co. ‘K9 Keg Pull,’ beer dinner
If you’re in the Whitefish area in December be sure to check out a couple of events on the horizon over at Great Northern Brewing Co.
The first is the inaugural “K9 Keg Pull,” where dogs in four different weight classes face off to see which one can pull their respective keg the fastest. It will be broken down into heats (they have a big bracket all set up) and winning dog owners walk away with beer. It takes place on Friday, Dec. 10, during the Whitefish Christmas Stroll. To sign up, click here.
The next is a beer dinner, which is the last of the year, and takes place on Friday, Dec. 17. Tickets are $68 and seating is limited. For more info, click here.
- Matt Pritchard