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…
Fans of Kettlehouse Brewing Co. in Missoula know they like to have fun with their beer and tend to create some exceptional seasonal brews. The streak continues with their new Poshed Porter, a moderately robust oatmeal porter brewed with cacao nibs from Missoula’s Posh Chocolat. It is a fantastic blend of two of Missoula’s best.…
It seems we’ve been busy getting out the beer news lately, but that doesn’t mean we haven’t tried a few new brews here and there. Here’s a couple of Russian Imperial Stouts for you from Widmer and Rogue. In 2005, Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. began a new “W” Brewmasters’ Release, brewing up a special one-time-only…
Hold a brewfest in Missoula and you’re sure of one thing: big crowds of beer lovers. Such was the case last Saturday at the Missoula Downtown Association’s Winter BrewFest, a fundraiser for Caras Park. Thousands turned out at the old Macy’s building to taste some of the 30 beers and listen to great music on…
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.’s new Hoptimum Whole-Cone Imperial IPA has hit the shelves and we popped open a bottle to check it out in celebration of the impending weekend. Hey, it doesn’t take much. Sierra Nevada has pours a lot of hops into this brew using German Magnum, Simcoe, Citra, Chinook and some “exclusive new…
I don’t get to Billings often enough to keep on top of the very good beer scene there, but occasionally the beer comes to us. Worden’s Market in downtown Missoula recently started carrying (again) three varieties of Yellowstone Valley Brewing’s beer, including my favorite, Black Widow Oatmeal Stout. Black Widow is solid black with a…
A business related matter took us to Montana’s Big Sky Resort this past weekend and that was good for a couple of reasons. We got to ski some of the 150 great runs at Big Sky Resort after an extended absence from skiing. And we got to pay a visit to Lone Peak Brewery. Lone…
At Livingston, Montana’s Neptune’s Brewery, they say “Don’t drink like a fish . . . drink like a god.” Unfortunately, we’ve not yet had an opportunity to visit the brewery. But thanks to a fortuitous meeting with new Growler Fills friend Andrew over in Bozeman, we got to try out a growler of their Stout.…
While enjoying a couple of pints at The Rhino in Missoula on new years eve, we came up with the idea of handing out a few 2010 Beer Awards to mark another great year in craft brewing. One of the primary purposes of this blog is to generate discussion and interest in craft beer. Whether…
For the final day of the Growler Fills 12 Days of Christmas Cheer we’re heading down Montana’s Bitterroot Valley to Hamilton’s Bitter Root Brewing Co. for their annual Winter Ale. It is a bit of a winter warmer style brew with some nice light spices added in. In Western Montana, there’s no question it’s winter…