Look out. The 63rd Session of the Montana Legislature convenes Monday, January 7, 2013. What it holds for the future of Montana is anyone’s guess. The Montana Legislature meets every other year and only for 90 days. While the short, biennial sessions helps maintain a “citizen legislature,” it also guarantees a whirlwind of frenzied action…
When we look back on 2012, no story will better define the year-in-beer from a big picture perspective better than the “craft versus crafty” debate. Though it reached a full boil in December, the story has been bubbling steadily throughout the year. In a nutshell, it is a story about distinctions. About distinguishing between craft…
Helena’s Blackfoot River Brewing Co. announced today that, beginning Wednesday Jan. 2, 2013, they will be serving their beers at the taproom in style specific glassware. This is a move that has been in the works for quite a while and represents a considerable investment to better showcase their already fantastic lineup. According to Blackfoot,…
Food industry consulting and research firm Technomic, Inc. recently released its top ten trends in adult beverages and beer makes the list in several spots. Technomic used its ongoing research and surveys, interviews and discussions with brand marketers, on-premise and retail operators, bartenders and consumers to determine the major developments influencing adult beverages for 2013.…
Blogging friend Rob Fulmer of Beer PHXation had an interesting post yesterday taking great issue with what he calls the “Two Ounce Culture.” Stan Hieronymus was so enamored with the phrase that he implored Rob to run out and protect it. The premise stems from an New Yorker article on art. More specifically, an article…
Hamilton’s Higherground Brewery hosted the first annual Yeti Homebrew competition yesterday in cooperation with Summer Sun Brew Supply. Forty beers were entered in the four categories, a great number for this inaugural event. I had the pleasure of serving as a guest judge and can attest to the quality of many of the brews. When…
Inkling, a flexible, interactive publishing platform for digital books online and though mobile apps, recently sent me a copy of Tasting Beer: An Insider’s Guide to the World’s Greatest Drink by Randy Mosher, a Chicago-based cicerone. It was my first time on Inkling and the first time I read through an extensive, well-rounded book on tasting beer.…
It’s one of the biggest stories in the beer world these days and it’s not going away any time soon. Big Beer can’t ignore craft beer anymore and is getting into the game. Last week we pointed to two articles, both from craft beer with – in some ways – opposite messages about related issues. …
Now is the time to get your entries in for the Higherground Brewery/Summer Sun Brew Supply Yeti Homebrew Competition! It’s easy to enter. Drop off three 12 ounce bottles of your best homebrew with a $5 entry fee at either Summer Sun Brew Supply location (310 1st St. in Hamilton, and 838 W. Spruce Street…
This month’s Session* topic is hosted by David J. Bascombe at Good Morning. A blog about beer, mostly. He raises the topic of beer hype and writes: Back in the summer, I shared a bottle of Westvleteren 12 with my brother and my father. Whilst I was aware of it’s reputation as “best beer in…