photo by Michelle Gustafson
Beer Week Celebrates All Things Beer by Ryan Newhouse, MontanaBeerFinder.com This week marks the return of Missoula Craft Beer Week, a diverse collection of events celebrating craft beer in the Garden City. Last year, 25 events took place around Missoula over five days. This year, beer has been the central ingredient in a wide array of fun, food and even dance. Missoula Craft Beer Week kicked off last Sunday with the Draught Works “Bacon n’ Beer” breakfast, pairing a choice of eight breakfast-inspired beers (such as Bacon Oatmeal Gwin Du Stout, Cinnamon & Raisin Shadow Caster Amber Ale and Chocolate Milk Stout) with all-you-can-eat bacon and sausages (also made from Draught Works grain-fed pork) and other locally sourced breakfast goodies. Other events on tap included a showing of the 1983 comedy Strange Brew, starring Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas, presented by Big Sky Brewing and the Top Hat, as well as a special Run Wild Missoula beer run and a learn-to-brew event at Summer Sun Brew Supply. The Downtown Dance Collective hosted four nights of dance and movement classes, topped off with an after-hours beer social (the last class is Thursday evening. Call 541-7240 for more information). Also on Thursday is the Ninkasi “Iron Man” event at
the Rhino, where a Ninkasi rep will iron on a Ninkasi patch to whatever suitable item one brings in. Coming up on Friday is mechanical bull riding at the Iron Horse, a brewery bus tour and Kettlehouse’s Double Haul IPA—Four Ways—at the Rhino. Saturday’s events start with a beer brunch at the Old Post, followed by the raison d'être: the Garden City BrewFest at Caras Park. During the festival, participants can enter the inaugural “craft beerd” contest (for a suggested donation of canned food for the Missoula Food Bank), where the best “craft beerd” can win a year of growler fills, courtesy of Big Sky Brewing. Guest judges from Missoula’s Hair Headquarters for Men will crown the most worthy facial hair for this and other prizes. Missoula Craft Beer Week was created by two local beer bloggers, Alan McCormick (GrowlerFills.blogspot.com) and Ryan Newhouse (MontanaBeer Finder.com). The events would not be possible without the support from its title sponsors—Draught Works Brewery, Summer Sun Brew Supply and the Missoula Downtown Association. For a full list of events, visit www.MissoulaBeerWeek.com.
Photo by Cathrine L. Walters
Garden City BrewFest 2013 • Missoula Independent
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