I admit I have a thing for Starbucks. I like the burnt bite of espresso in my mocha. I frequent local coffee joints too. If they produce a similar deep, rich espresso bite, I’ll be a repeat customer. Where Starbucks excels is consistency. My favorite independent joints share this trait and add quality atmosphere to…
We love to feature great places to find beer here at Growler Fills. It provides a shout-out to those in the business while helping you discover new places. What is a great place to find beer? It could be a brewery, a restaurant, a bar, a grocery store, a bottle shop, a tap room, your…
Last year, Missoula’s Big Sky Brewing Co. began a series of limited release beers available only in Montana, to the dismay of fans in the 23 other states where Big Sky is distributed. The latest release, just in time for this week’s St. Patrick’s Day, is Irish Stout. Here’s Big Sky’s description: Butte American once…
Sure, I’ll admit it. I’ve had a few glasses of green beer in my days. Well, thin plastic cups are more the order of the day for the crowded streets of Butte or the packed bars of Missoula during the rollicking celebrations of St. Patrick’s Day. Guinness Draught will certainly be the choice of many,…
Montana Senate Bill 203, allowing on-premise beer retailers to fill growlers for off premise consumption, sailed through the House of Representatives on an 86-12 vote last week and is now headed to the Governor. As with any bill, the Governor has four options. He can sign it, recommend amendments and send it back, veto it,…
Bitter Root Brewing brought a keg of Red Dread Imperial Red Ale to Missoula’s Winter BrewFest last month and it was the first beer to run out. There’s a good reason for that. It is a great brew. Red Dread Imperial Red Ale is a spring seasonal first brewed last year, but being bottled in…
Flathead Lake Brewing Co. of Missoula unofficially opened last November to the great delight of beer drinkers in Missoula. In a flash, it has become a favored destination for craft beer lovers seeking great beer in a lively atmosphere and some darn good food, too. Now, FLBC of Missoula is ready to make things official…
Back in 2007, Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, OR) released the first of its new LTD series of seasonal beers. LTD 01 was a medium bodied, copper colored bock. LTD 02 was a light bodied helles bock. LTD 03 was a crisp, medium bodied pilsner-style lager. I had the impression when the series started…
Red Lodge Ales has a nice IPA that makes for good summer drinking called Bent Nail IPA. It’s bigger brother, a double IPA, is creatively named Broken Nail. This one pours a very clear medium gold color with a rather thick white head. The aroma is sharp with citrus hops and perhaps a touch of…
Today marks the 46th day of the 2011 Montana legislative session and follows the four day “transmittal break.” Montana has one 90-day legislative session every other year and the transmittal deadline is an important benchmark. General bills must be passed by the house/senate and sent to the other chamber on or before the 45th day…