Another week, another great brewfest in Montana.  Now up is the 11th Annual Ales for Trails Brewfest on Friday, September 23, 2011 from 5 pm to 10 pm at Dehler Park in Downtown Billings.  Tickets are $35 the day of the event or $30 in advance. A ticket gets you into the event and an unlimited number of samples from the 40 or so craft beers (pace yourself responsibly, people).

Even better, the brewfest features Trailhead Ales, a collaborative brew crafted by the brew masters of Red Lodge Ales, Montana Brewing Company, Angry Hanks, Carters, Yellowstone Valley Brewing, and Fat Jacks along with individual brewery versions.  Here’s the full details on this great project from the organizers:

Trailhead Ale is a light, refreshing ale to quench the fading summer thirst yet has some subtle malt complexity to usher in the fall. It is brewed with a majority of locally grown Montana 2-row malt. It also contains biscuit malt for a nice toasted bread character as well as some oats to round out a smooth creamy finish. We lightly hopped this ale with domestic grown hops to produce some subtle floral and citrus notes. Overall, this is a well-balanced smooth quenching ale with subtle flavor complexities. Enjoy!!

Angry Hank’s Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster – Tim Mohr. Angry Hanks brewed their version of Trailhead Ale with apricot, to leave a crisp yet flavorful finish. This very smooth ale is refreshing and well-balanced.

Carter’s Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster Michael Ulrich.  Just perfect for the Season . . . Carters created a mild version of Trailhead Ale with distinctive blends and spices and aged to perfection. Well balanced and crisp.

Fat Jack’s Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster Levi Bequette. This twisted version of Trailhead, offered by Fat Jacks, builds on the flavors of summer and contributes to very light ale, a smooth, refreshing ale that will cure your thirst.

Montana Brewing Company’s Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster Evan Taylor. Montana Brewing Company’s version of the Trailhead Ale is spiced with whole Tahitian vanilla beans and cinnamon for an added twist. The vanilla contributes a sweet and floral aroma and flavor and the cinnamon adds a nice element of spicy sweetness.

Red Lodge Ales’ Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster Justin Moore. Red Lodge Ales took this masterpiece one step further and aged the brew on Spanish cedar to offer a unique taste to a traditional favorite.

Yellowstone Valley Trailhead Ale – Brewmaster Ryan Koga. Yellowstone Valley Brewing’s twist on Trailhead Ale is an excellent mix of Wisconsin Door County cherries and American oak. This unique blend contributes to sweet, tart, biscuit, and vanilla flavors and aromas . . . a perfect end to summer!

For more information, see our original post here, or contact Robbie Carpenter, coordinator for Ales for Trails at [email protected], or check out the BikeNet website.