Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean the craft beer fun takes a hiatus. Take a look at these upcoming beervents for your craft beer pleasure.
1. Cool Dog Ball and Microbrew Review. Friday, January 27, 2012, Helena Civic Center, Helena, MT. This annual fundraiser for the Race to the Sky dog sled race has been going on for as long as I can remember. I even helped pour beer at the first one back in the mid-90s. More than 30 craft brews from Montana and the northwest will be featured along with entrees and appetizers from Helena’s Bert & Ernie’s and Chili O’Brien’s Catering. The event begins at 6:00 p.m. and continues until 11:30 p.m.
Music is provided by the father/daughter combo of blues’ great Johnny and Destiny Rawls.Tickets are limited to 1,500 and are available at Bert & Ernie’s, Topper’s Cellar, The Overland Express, Staggering Ox, The Man Stores and the office of Downtown Helena Office. They are $18 in advance.
2. Black Star Barter/Whitefish Winter Carnival. Saturday, February 4, 2012, Whitefish, MT. The annual Black Star Barter takes place right after the Whitefish Winter Carnival Parade from 5 to 7 p.m. in front of the Great Northern Brewing Co. The Black Start Barter is an event where contestants barter to win a year’s supply of Black Star Beer (52 cases.) Contestants must register their submissions between 11 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For more information, head to Great Northern’s website.
Following the Black Start Barter, Great Northern Brewing Co. will celebrate it’s 17th Anniversary. Brewmaster Joe Barberis has brewed an Anniversary Black Lager which Great Northern describes as “a smooth brew with light roastiness and noble hop aroma.”
3. Bigfork Brewfest. Saturday, February 25, 2012, Bigfork, MT. The 3rd annual Bigfork Brewfest takes over a portion of Electric Avenue with music, food and great craft beer from 3 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $20 in advance. The weather for the first one was in the low 40s. Last year’s was a tad colder, reaching the single digits. What will this year bring?
4. SNOW Bus Brewfest. Saturday, March 3, 2012, Whitefish Mountain Resort, Whitefish, MT. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 on the day of the event.
Rumor has it that another Missoula Winter Brewfest is in the works and scheduled for February 11, 2012. Hopefully confirmation and additional information will arrive soon.
