Showed up to a pleasant surprise when I showed up at the local taproom today. The return of the Lightfoot Pilsner was augmented by a first ever Rye PA. It is essentially their single malt IPA with 5% of the malt replaced by rye.
New Brews at Blackfoot!
August 18th, 2010
Blackfoot Brewers Lunch
August 17th, 2010
Once again Blackfoot Brewing Company is holding a Brewers Lunch. This Thursday starting at noon, the brewers at Blackfoot will be discussing Brewer’s Yeast – The Magic of Beer.
We will discuss brewing yeast: its biology, history, use in beer, and particularly its impact to flavors and beer styles. Bring your lunch, beer is available for purchase.
Wouldn’t it be weird if the Lightfoot Pilser came on tap just in time for lunch?
The Art and Science of Beer
August 5th, 2010
Very exciting news here! Two of my favorite Helena institutions are teaming up to bring two hours or beer history, science, and art education to the Queen City. Exploration Works is teaming up with Brian Smith and Brad Simshaw, owners of Blackfoot River Brewing Company, to bring back an evening of “The Art and Science of Beer.”
This event was held at Exploration Works a few years ago, and I remember showing up a few minutes late to find no seating available, so I plan on not missing it this time! The event is next Thursday, August 12, 2010. It kicks off at 6:00pm and is slated to go until 8:00.
Blackfoot Brewer’s Lunch
June 14th, 2010
This Thursday, June 17, Blackfoot River Brewery will be hosting a Brewer’s Lunch. It is from noon till 1pm. I imagine the doors will be opening about 15 minutes early to give people time to get a pint before lunch. This lunch’s topic is German Lagers: styles, history, ingredients, process, and flavors. Beer will be for sale during the lunch(don’t forget it counts towards your constitutional three). So grab your brown bag lunch and head down to the tap room for some great lunch time company and an enlightening conversation on German Lagers!
Brewers Lunch at Blackfoot
May 20th, 2010
Sean and Trevor from the Blackfoot River Brewery.
Head down to the Blackfoot today at noon and join the brewers for a discussion on cask-conditioned ales. Doors open at 11:45, and don’t worry if you forget your lunch, they will be serving lunch from the taps! Although probably not the best idea if you plan on putting in a full day at work.
Community Monday at the Blackfoot
May 17th, 2010
In celebration of American Craft Beer Week, the Blackfoot River Brewery will be hosting a Community Monday this evening to promote the Montana Brewers Association. For $12 you can help support a great non-profit from Montana and receive a pint and a piece of local gourmet pizza (two slices for 15)! So strap on your man-pants and head down to the Blackfoot taproom between 5:00pm and 7:00pm for some good fun, good food, and good brews. They will also be having a special firkin tonight with big beers starting tomorrow!
American Craft Beer Week
May 14th, 2010
Well folks, American Craft Beer Week is right around the corner, and when I say corner, I mean weekend. May 17th through the 23rd are the official dates for American Craft Beer Week, and there are a lot of exciting events happening not only here in Big Sky country, but around the nation. The Clintons will be playing on the 20th at Beaver Creek Brewing in Wilbaux. Pints at Bitter Root Brewing will be $1.00 off all week! And the Blackfoot River Brewing Company will be hosting events all week including a Community Monday for the Montana Brewers Association, a sack lunch on Thursday (they are opening at 11:45), and firkins as well as special batch beers everyday!
Unfortunately, the BarBEERians will miss it all! Its a double edged sword however, as we will be celebrating in New York City and Washington D.C. so stay tuned to find out all the exciting events we are attending, and let us know how everything is out here!
Its Firkin Thursday, and its Firkin Good!
May 13th, 2010
Just sitting down for a pint of the Cask-Conditioned Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Ale (say that ten times fast) at the Blackfoot. We’ve all tried the IPA on the firkin, and well most of the others too. But if you made it down a few weeks ago for some of the Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish and enjoyed it, be sure to make it down today for some of the firkin. I will attest, its firkin great!
Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Ale
April 27th, 2010
I got off work this afternoon, and after a trying day at work, it only seemed appropriate to head down to my favorite watering hole and grab a quick pint before heading out to a round of folf. I walked in the door to discover they had thrown on some Bourbon Barrel Aged Scottish Ale! What a delightful surprise. Although this wont be a full review, I’ll give some highlights to give a general idea of how it is. The picture isn’t great and I apologize for that, but trust me when I say it looks fabulous in person, having a dark brown, almost black color with a small light caramel colored head.
Rising off the pint glass is a hefty nose of sweet whiskey, and I really can’t emphasize the whiskey part enough. There is also a bit of vanilla coming out in the nose and some earthy oak. The taste is fairly dominated by flavor from the barrel, mostly bourbon, but with some vanilla coming out at the end. It actually reminds me a lot of a whiskey and vanilla coke, which I know may sound odd, but with the sweetness of Scottish mixed with the bourbon flavor and vanilla tones, it bears an odd resemblance. The mouthfeel doesn’t quite match though, unless of course you make your drinks with almost flat coke, then it might be a bit closer.
Overall I’m fairly pleased with this brew, although the price tag is a bit hefty, but can you really put a price on specialty limited release brews? I’m not sure how much of this was brewed and how long it will be tap, but if you are a fan of the Scottish or just want to expand your level of beer experience, stop and down and grab a cold one, but don’t forget to let it warm up a bit to truly experience the magic!
Its Firkin Thursday!
April 22nd, 2010
Phew, finally getting back to doing some posting. Sorry loyal readers, but the nice spring weather had lured me into playing disc golf (more commonly known as folf) instead of sitting in front of the screen, but I’m back! And so is Firkin Thursday. This week at the Blackfoot taproom we can expect some Cask Conditioned Tartanic Scottish Ale. It has been aging in bourbon barrels for quite some time now, I’m guessing over two months, so it should have some good bourbon and oak kick to it!
