Over Christmas I traveled to eastern Kansas, and one of the top destinations on my list was to visit Boulevard Brewing Company in Kansas City, Missouri. Boulevard has been brewing fresh, flavorful beers since 1989, making it one of the earlier craft breweries in the United States. Founded by John McDonald with a few kegs…
For Day 7 we’re staying local again with beer from Blacksmith Brewing Co. in Stevensville, MT. It had been a while since we’d taken the drive down from Missoula and a couple of extra days off to start the New Year’s Eve weekend seemed like the perfect time. As is common for Blacksmith, the place…
As a malt-head, I’m much more in tune with the wonderful variety of flavors a brewer can create from the infinite combinations of base malts and specialty grains. From biscuit and grain to caramel, toffee, coffee and nutty flavors, the world of malt awaits. When it comes to hops, it took me a while to…
The labels have all been approved. Now they just need to arrive at the brewery and Flathead Lake Brewing Co. will enter a new phase. Starting any day now, Flathead Lake Brewing will be putting their fine brews in 22 oz. bombers for retail sale. They’ll be starting with their IPA2 and eventually expanding to…
I had a few minutes to spare recently which pairs nicely with good fortune when you find yourself a few blocks from one of Montana’s fine breweries. This time it was Bitterroot Brewing Co. in Hamilton, a comfortable spot with a regular line up of six beers nearly always on tap plus two or three…
I’m a big fan of the trend popping up at a variety of breweries for using locally grown, fresh hops to make a seasonal brew – which means September here in the Northwestern U.S. Frog Hop Fresh Hopped Pale Ale is Great Northern Brewing Company’s version. This one is the 2009 brew. Great Northern’s website…
Found this one on draft downtown while searching for something new to try. Despite the name and the incredible amount of hops used to make it, the bitterness is not overpowering and overall nicely balanced. Great hop aroma and flavor. Very drinkable. Available only on draft from September through November, though I doubt this one…
As a general fan of most things made by Sierra Nevada I noticed the new Sierra Nevada Estate Ale on tap locally this weekend and then in bottles in a local store. I only remembered to take a picture once half of it was gone. It has quite a bit of hop bitterness – a…
Name: Southern Hemisphere Harvest Fresh Hop AleBrewery: Sierra Nevada, Chico, CA.Style: Pale Ale.Color: Deep golden/amber.Packaging: 24 oz. bottle.Stats: 6.7% abv, 66 IBU.Bought: local store.Ruling: Four out of Five Hops. An excellent, very drinkable pale ale.