All Souls Ale from Big Sky Brewing to be Released

On Thursday March 29, 2012 Big Sky Brewing will release the first bottles of the 2012 All Souls Ale, a dark Tripel brewed as a fundraiser for Imagine Missoula. The release party will take place at the Big Sky Brewing Taproom in Missoula from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

If you plan on attending the event, please RSVP to Christian Cryder (christian.cryder@gmail.com), as they will need to plan for food. While the release party is free to attend, bottles of All Souls Ale (750 ml.) can be purchased for $14 each. This is one of the most limited bottle offerings Big Sky Brewing produces, with only 100 cases available.

The description of this Ale (which was previewed at the Missoula Winter Brewfest) comes from the event's Facebook page:

 a daring Dark Tripel that marries Belgian yeast with bold American hops to create a truly stunning Easter Ale, loaded with hints of citrus fruit. It's a 10.8% wonder will amaze you!

Missoula Craft Beer Week May 1-5, 2012

...more details coming, stay tuned! This event is presented by the Missoula Downtown Association, Growler Fills and Montana Beer Finder.

In the meantime, check out Missoula Craft Beer Week on Facebook.

Lagunitas Wilco Tango Foxtrot spotted at Eastgate Albertsons in Missoula

Lagunitas has released their Wilco Tango Foxtrot for the year. I had this beer last year, and if memory serves me correct, it was yummy. You can pick it up for $3.79 for a 22oz bottle. It is described as a malty, robust, jobless recovery ale. It rings in at 7.85 ABV and 59 IBU. When it was spotted on Wednesday afternoon, there were plenty left.

Montana Beer Finder Gets New Look Thanks to Apexdesign and Marketing

You may have noticed (unless you've had one too many beers today) that Montana Beer Finder now has a new logo, thanks to the talented efforts of John Knutson at Apexdesign and Marketing in Missoula, Montana. John's work accurately portrays the tone and scope of the Montana Beer Finder website - we're here to find the best craft beers in Montana and tell you where they are.

Apexdesign and Marketing is an associate member of a Montana Brewers Association, which highlights John's passion for craft beer.

So if you have a project that needs design, especially a beer-related project, contact John Knutson today at johnk@apexdesign-marketing.com. 

St. Patty's Series: Bones Brewing Pub & Eatery in Billings

On St. Patrick's Day, the Bones Brewing Pub & Eatery in Billings will be hosting live music by Big Caboose, serving up helpings of Corned Beef Cabbage & Irish Stew and pouring a variety of drink specials. Those drink specials include:
$2 Green Beer

$2.50 Guinness Bottles
$3 Irish Red Pints
$4 Irish Whiskey Shots
$5 Irish Carbomb

The live music will begin at 9:00 p.m. with a $5 cover. 

St. Patty's Series: Bayern Brewing Unleashes Killarney All Over Missoula

On St. Patrick's Day, Bayern Brewing will be sponsoring the tappings of multiple firkins and wooden barrels of their beloved Kilarney. It's the last offering of Killarney this year, so it's now or never if you want this beer. From Bayern's most recent newsletter, the Killarney is described like this:

Brewed to honor the Irish contributions to Montana’s culture (especially in the mining town of Butte), this was the first “Irish Red” offered by an American microbrewery. 

Here are all the times and places you can find tappings on St. Patrick's Day:

• 2:00 - Firkin tapping at Stone of Accord
• 4:00 - Wooden barrel tapping at Sean Kelly's
• 5:00 - Wooden barrel tapping at Tap Room (pictured above)
• 6:00 - Firkin tapping at Brooks and Brown

St. Patty's Series: Quarry Brewing Serving Up Two Unique Beers in Butte

On St. Patrick's Day, in the heart of one of the world's premiere St. Patty's Day celebrations - Butte, Montana - Quarry Brewing will be serving up two unique brews: Emerald Isle Green Beer and Sandstone Stout. That day they will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The brewery is encouraging patrons to enter from the back alley door that day.

And like every day, Quarry Brewing is offering free Wi-Fi and free popcorn!

St. Patty's Series: Bitter Root Brewing Serving Up Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef, Green Beers

On St. Patrick's Day, Bitter Root Brewing in Hamilton will be serving up Whiskey Glazed Corned Beef and cabbage, and they will be pairing it with a live music collaboration with Tom Catmull and The One Offs.

For those who prefer to partake in the tradition of "greenness" of the holiday the staff will serve up green beers upon request. According to the brewery's website, the current selection of seasonal beers are Honey Citra NW Pale Ale, Belgian Golden Ale, and CTZ Single Hop.

St. Patty's Series: Lewis and Clark Brewing in Helena Celebrates 10th Anniversary, features The Clintons

On St. Patrick's Day, Lewis & Clark Brewing Company will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary, tapping two new beers and featuring live music by The Clintons. 

The event starts at 5:00 p.m. with live music, and there will be an $8 cover at the door. During the day's celebration, the brewery will be giving away some cool Lewis & Clark swag and tapping two new beers:

• Superweed Imperial IPA
• Double Dry-Hopped Anniversary IPA (to celebrate the brewery's 10th Anniversary)

Other special beers expected to make an appearance are the Portage Porter, Big Belt Weizenbock, and Annie's Olde Ale. 

St. Patty’s Day Shenanigans at Draught Works Brewery in Missoula

On St. Patrick's Day, Draught Works in Missoula will be opening its doors at 10:00 a.m. and the first 50 to buy a pint of beer will get a one-of-a-kind St. Patty's Day Draught Works t-shirt. The brewery will also be filled with live music all day, including acts by:

• John Floridis (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
• Mudslide Charlie (5:00 - 8:00 p.m.)
• and sometime during the day the Celtic Dragon Bagpipers will make an appearance

Both Vanilla Bean Stout and Coffee Stout will be served on cask that day. And if you're hungry, authentic Irish dishes will be available for purchase from Florence-based, Cafe Firenze. The brewery also plans different prize giveaways throughout the day. 

St. Patty's Series: Madison River Brewing Company

On St. Patrick's Day, Madison River Brewing Company will be selling its famous Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout bombers (22 oz.) out of the tasting room for only $2.50 each. The Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout is a big-bodied yet smooth and balanced stout brewed year-round due to its popularity. The Belgrade brewery will also be putting out Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout on nitro and selling pints in the tasting room for $2.50. The brewery will be open from 3:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Saturday.

Ninkasi Has Landed at Orange St. Food Farm in Missoula

It's been rumored that Ninkasi Brewing Co. would make an appearance in Montana (per a recent ad in the Missoula Independent), and today they were spotted at Orange St. Food Farm in Missoula. The offerings come in 22 oz. bombers on sale for $3.29 and six-packs on sale for $7.99. In bombers, the Believes Double Red Ale, Oatis Oatmeal Stout, Spring Reign Ale, and Total Domination IPA. In six-packs, Total Domination IPA and Spring Reign.

Big Sky Old Bluehair Barleywine at Worden's in Missoula

It has taken some time, but Big Sky Brewing's barrel aged barleywine Olde Bluehair has hit Worden's in Missoula.

They are asking $12.95 for this one.  The bottle count this year is 3000, and many of those go to other states.  Best not to wait on this one if you're interested.

2008 Sierra Nevada Bigfoot on Cask at the Rhino in Missoula

It isn't every day you get to have cask-conditioned beer (just Wednesdays).  It also isn't every day you get to have the barleywines of yesteryear on tap (just in February).  And it isn't most years that you get to have a barleywine from 2008 on cask, but that's exactly what's happening at the Rhino in Missoula right now.

In honor of First Friday in March, for a very limited time try some cask-conditioned Sierra Nevada Bigfoot barleywine from 2008.  This beer is five years old at this point, and while the draft version that's still on tap there has rounded away some harsher flavors, this cask of it has made the body something supremely drinkable.  Our $4 pints disappeared quickly.

Also, there are leftovers from the barleywine fest still on tap.  If you haven't tried it yet, the 2008 Alaskan Barleywine they have on tap is outstanding.

Do what most of the Montana Beer Finder crew did tonight and hurry down to the Rhino now to catch these tasty aged beers at eminently reasonable prices while they still last.

Bozeman Brewing Company Creates Triple Layer Cake Beer Cocktail

Head Brewer at Bozeman Brewing Company, Bill Hyland, took the "Black and Tan" to new heights this week by creating the "Triple Layer Cake," a blend (from top to bottom) of Nitro Dry Irish Stout, Hopzone IPA, and a very rich Baltic Porter.

"The concept behind the Triple Layer Cake is the same as that of a Black and Tan; a beer with less density will float on top of a beer with greater density (or specific gravity)," says Hyland. "The first few sips are just roasty, 'chocolatey' stout, then the IPA creeps in with a bitter blast. Finally, after half the glass is finished, the Baltic Porter blends in with the Hopzone and you experience a resurgence of malt body and flavor."

It takes the staff about 15 minutes to produce one of these, and only three have been made so far (and none offered to the public - "but they may change due to the positive response we've received so far," says Hyland). The price of this beer cocktail is $4.00.

*Photo courtesy Bozeman Brewing Co.