Belt, you say? Yes, Belt. Montana, that is. Sitting 20 miles east of Great Falls, Belt could easily be 40 miles from the middle of nowhere. From the main highway a mile from town, you wouldn’t even know it was there, thanks to its location tucked down into a steeply banked river bottom. You can’t…
If you live in Helena and love good beer and wine then you already know this. If you don’t live there, but find yourself in Helena for a visit, head over to Topper’s Cellar for one of the best retail selections of wine and beer anywhere in Montana, and many places beyond. When I lived…
Is there a better way to figure out your Thanksgiving dinner menu that to kick back at your local brewery? I think not. So, we headed off to Blacksmith Brewing Co. in Stevensville, MT (again) on the Saturday before Thanksgiving to ponder the intricacies of stuffing recipes and turkey brines while enjoying some of our…
Back in late October I had the good fortune to stop in at Tamarack Brewing Co. and sample some of their Vanilla Bourbon Stout. I predicted it wouldn’t last long enough for me to get back there to enjoy more than just a sample, but I got lucky. I was able to make a return…
This winter warmer showed up at the Old Post pub in Missoula last Saturday and I had to give it a try. Crystal clear and a bright amber color, this is a very drinkable beer in a fairly classic winter warmer style. Which is to say that the malt has a fairly strong initial presence,…
Yes, you read that correctly. Along with Brick and Mortar Porter, High Gravity Bongwater is one of two beers Kettlehouse Brewing Co. brewed to celebrate the passage of Montana’s House Bill 400 which increased the amount of alcohol allowed in beer from 8.75% abv to 14% abv. Kettlehouse has long been famous for its Olde…
Beer is the ultimate beverage for gathering round and catching up on all the news of the day. That’s especially true if you’re a craft brew fan and enjoy discovering something new. I met my friend Dave at the Rhino in Missoula this past Sunday to get the scoop on his recent trip to Greece.…
Brick and Mortar Porter is one of two beers Kettlehouse Brewing Co. brewed to celebrate the Montana Legislature’s House Bill 400 which significantly increased the amount of alcohol allowed in beer, opening up a range of new beers for Montanans. Kettlehouse calls this one a Belgian Imperial Porter and serves it at the new Northside…
I found this one at Kettlehouse Brewing Co. in Missoula last weekend. The Myrtle Street location, that is. On nitro. This is the first time in my craft brew drinking history that I’ve ever seen a brown ale on nitro. Stouts and porters, yes. Even found an Imperial IPA on nitro once, though I can’t…
I’ve loved this stout for a long time. It is exactly what a robust stout should be. Strong roasted malt with a bit of a bite. Great dark chocolate aroma. Lots of coffee flavor like a good Italian or French roast with a bit of chocolate undertones. Deschutes Brewery in Bend, OR consistently brews some…