Draft Magazine’s 100 Best Beer Bars for 2012

This week Draft Magazine issued its annual list of America’s 100 Best Beer Bars. It’s a fun look at who is doing a great job with craft beer and a useful guide whenever heading to a new city. Although the 2012 list marks only one establishment in the western region as “new to the list”…

Notable 2011 Montana Craft Beer Stories

Throughout 2011, Montana’s craft breweries continued to capture new fans while giving long-time followers so much more to enjoy. On this final day of 2011, here’s a look back at some of the notable stories.   1. Turf Wars Alive and Well in Montana Alcohol Laws Beer is social. And I’m not talking about the…

Are Your Favorite Hops in Danger of Disappearing?

Here’s an interesting nugget that came across the beer wire today.  In Charlie Papazian’s latest column on examiner.com he discusses the value of hops to the innovation and creative flavors in American craft beer.  He notes this year’s excellent harvest of bittering hops will shove prices down due to the abundance of such hops.  On…

50 Beers in 50 Days Video Beer Tour at The Rhino

The Rhino in downtown Missoula is well known to local craft beer lovers and many from points far away.  Its 50 taps are most in Montana.  Though they don’t all rotate, most do and keep beer lovers happy with an ever changing selection.  The Rhino’s reputation and connections often tend to bring in beers you…

Win a Trip to the GABF

Whitefish, MT’s Great Northern Brewing Co. and Black Star Beer are hitching up the Black Star Airstream and headed to Denver, CO, for the Great American Beer Festival, September 29 to October 1, 2011.  The GABF is sold out, but you can enter Black Star’s Ambassador Contest for a chance to win a trip to…

Montana Ranked a Top Ten Beer State

Recognizing the increasing local pride in the craft beer world, The Street magazine set out to determine what states can “legitimately call themselves ‘beer states.’” Using statistics provided by the Brewers Association and Beer Institute, they created a top 10 beer state list for 2011 based on four criteria: production, consumption, breweries and breweries per…

Madison River Adding to their Bottle Lineup

Among the various newly approved beer labels that arrived in my in-box this morning was this one from Madison River Brewing Co. of Belgrade.  Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout has frequently been available at Madison River’s tap room and now it looks like you’ll be able to pick up a 22 oz bomber to take with…

The Good News About Beer Calories

Holy crap, this is interesting news. I admit I’m the kind of person who shies away from looking at the calorie count of my favorite foods while simultaneously feeling guilty for not paying closer attention.  Occasionally I’ll look up some information on the web when I need a boost to my resistance. Sometimes actually seeing…