September is a great month for beer events in Montana. Here are a few that might catch your interest:
Missoula Mavericks Brewfest
Just like the Garden City Brewfest rings in the Caras Park event season each May in Missoula, the Maverick Brewfest is a sure sign that summer is winding down. The 14th Annual Missoula Maverick Brewfest takes place this year on Friday, September 7, from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include three drink tickets and a commemorative mug. Additional sample tickets are $1. More than 40 beers are expected for the event including plenty of Montana breweries like Flathead Lake, Bayern, Kettle House, Tamarack, Blacksmith, Blackfoot River, Bitter Root, Big Sky and Great Northern. For more information, head to the Missoula Mavericks’ website.
15th Annual Red Lodge Oktoberfest
The Red Lodge Oktoberfest is Saturday, September 8, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Special Events Center in Red Lodge behind Red Lodge Ales. It’s a family friendly celebration with kid’s games and other activities, the “Oktoberfest Olympics,” and, of course, great beer, German food and live music.
Draught Works Chain Reaction Fresh Hops Festival
On Saturday, September 8th, Missoula’s Draught Works Brewery will craft a “fresh” hopped beer with the help of Missoula bicycle enthusiasts. Hops for this craft beer will be harvested by volunteers at the Fais do-do Farms in Corvallis, MT which will be transported to Draught Works by teams of cyclists in a relay-style race. At the brewery, cyclists will work to power a custom-made, bike-operated grain mill to mill approximately 1000 lbs. of malted barley by the time the hops arrive via relay teams. Once the hops arrive and the milling concludes, Draught Works will brew a Chain Reaction Fresh Hopped Ale. Proceeds from the 15-barrel, 30-keg batch will be donated to participating nonprofit organizations dedicated to sustainable transportation in Missoula. The event also includes bike helmet giveaways, bike tune-ups, a fleet of wacky bikes, bike safety, bike Polo, raffles and live music. The fun gets started at the brewery at Noon.
Hop Swaps/Picks
Lewis and Clark Brewing Co, Helena: Bring your locally grown hops in TONIGHT, Wednesday, September 5, to be part of the Neighborhood IPA which L&C hopes to start brewing tomorrow.
Bozeman Brewing Co., Bozeman: Bring in your hops, or stop by to help pick them for Bozone Terroir Hop Harvest, Sunday, September 9 beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Red Lodge Ales, Red Lodge: Bring in your hops and help pick them during Red Lodge Ales’ Harvest Fest, September 10, 11 and 12.
Great Northern Brewing Co., Whitefish: Bring in your locally grown hops and swap them for vouchers during Great Northern’s Second Annual Hop Swap, Tuesday, September 18, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Wildwood Brewing Grand Opening
One of Montana’s newest breweries, Stevensville’s Wildwood Brewery has been open for a few months now, but is throwing a grand opening party on Saturday, September 15, 2012 from Noon until 8:00 p.m. There no charge to take part in the party which includes games and live music from Casey Schafer, Sheldon Scrivner and John Floridis to go with food and Wildwood’s organic beer. The brewery is just of Hwy. 93 about 1/2 mile north of the Stevensville cut off road.
Oktoberfest at Yellowstone Art Museum
The Yellowstone Art Museum in Billings hosts its 3rd Annual Oktoberfest at the Museum’s parking lot on Saturday, September 22, from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m, with more than 30 beers from regional breweries, an opportunity to meet local brewers and a chance to try YAM Ale, a beer made with sweet potatoes. Tickets are $30 and include unlimited sampling of beer. General admission tickets are $10 for those not partaking in the beer. Live music, food and a costume contest are also on tap.
The Great Northwest Oktoberfest
The Whitefish Chamber of Commerce hosts its annual Oktoberfest over two weekends, September 27-29 and October 4-6, 2012. The event is held in Depot Park under the “Oktoberfest Bigtop” across from the Whitefish Train Depot in the heart of downtown Whitefish. Admission is $3 per day for nonstop access to German food, music, souvenirs and beer (additional cost for everything but the music). Beer selections include three from Whitefish’s Great Northern Brewery (Oktoberfest, Frog Hop and Black Star) and three from Warsteiner (Pilsner, Dunkel and Oktoberfest).
12th Annual Ales for Trails
The 12th Annual Ales for Trails brewfest in Billings takes place on Friday, September 28, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Dehler Park. Over 50 local and regional microbrews and 15 wine selections will be on hand at BikeNet.org’s annual fundraiser in support of new trail construction, existing trail maintenance, and community outreach. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Music, food, and a new Trailhead Ale Community Brew (collaboration between eight breweries in Laurel, Billings, Redlodge and Sheridan) are part of the fun. Pay $5 more and get in an hour early to beat the crowds. For more info, head here.
Seeley Lake Brew Fest and Tamarack Festival
The Seeley Lake Brew Fest and Tamarack Festival will be held Sept 28-30. A “beer presentation and pub crawl” take place on Friday, September 28, followed by the Brew Fest on Saturday, September 29, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Oktoberfest in Uptown Butte
Quarry Brewing hosts this annual celebration in the heart of Irish country on September 29, 2012 from Noon to 7:00 p.m. which also happens to be the brewery’s 5th Anniversary.
Save the Date:
October 6, 2012: The 4th Annual Montana Brewers Festival featuring an all-Montana lineup of 60+ beers takes place this year in Missoula at Caras Park from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The MBA is also holding a fall conference in Missoula on October 7-8, 2012. We’ll have lots more information on the Brewers Festival and Conference as we get closer to the events.
Do you know of additional events that should be listed here? Let us know! (alan @ missoulabeerweek.com)
