If you’re not paying attention while driving down the no-longer-sleepy streets of Stevensville, Montana’s oldest community, you just might miss Blacksmith Brewing Company. And that would be a crying shame. This is a great place. I wish they would lay off the hops sometimes, but that’s nitpicking. And really, I’m not just talking about the…
Big beer. Really big beer. There’s no other way to describe this one. Tons of malt flavor with a strong alcoholic note and a syrupy mouth feel. That’s what you’re going to get when you’ve got a beer at 12.3% abv. I initially detected a slight hop bitterness finish, but wasn’t so sure after making…
I like having a reason to visit Red Lodge, a small Montana town in a great setting with some not-so-hidden gems of good food, beer and scenery. Unfortunately, I don’t get a reason very often and Red Lodge isn’t exactly “on the way” to very many places. Unless you’re from Belfry. Which I’m not. But…
Tamarack Brewing Co. in Lakeside, MT is doing some great things with beer. Sure, they’ve got a nice stable of always available beers, but that’s not what I like most about them. Rather, their quick rotation of small batches of creative beers means there’s almost always something new on tap, or just around the corner…
Wow. This is a freakishly good beer. And odds are by the time you’re reading this post it is long gone. As of yesterday, there were only 2 or 3 kegs left. I sampled this one at the brewery about three weeks ago and knew it was something special. On this return trip was I…
This is another fine example of Tamarack’s creativity and, you might say, courage. I got a sample of this one, but did not have time to try an entire pint. Dang. I’m reluctant to admit I’m not likely to get back up there before this one is sure to be gone. Aged three months or…
Sometimes through no fault of your own you manage to have good timing. That was the case with me when I stopped by Tamarack Brewing Co. recently on the way back from Kalispell. Just 30 minutes before I stopped for lunch, the fine folks at Tamarack had added this beer to their line up. A…
I’m a big fan of the trend popping up at a variety of breweries for using locally grown, fresh hops to make a seasonal brew – which means September here in the Northwestern U.S. Frog Hop Fresh Hopped Pale Ale is Great Northern Brewing Company’s version. This one is the 2009 brew. Great Northern’s website…
Definitely one of my current favorite beers, Pulaski Porter is a fantastic robust porter made at Montana’s one year old Blacksmith Brewery down in Stevensville. I like porters to pack a punch and this one does. Intense dark malt that avoids being sweet. I’m thinking this one would pair well with a slice of chocolate…
Found this one on draft downtown while searching for something new to try. Despite the name and the incredible amount of hops used to make it, the bitterness is not overpowering and overall nicely balanced. Great hop aroma and flavor. Very drinkable. Available only on draft from September through November, though I doubt this one…