Missoula Winter Brewfest 2012

By RYAN NEWHOUSE

This Saturday, February 11, from 2:00 – 8:00 p.m., the Missoula Downtown Association is hosting the second annual Winter Brewfest at the old Safeway building on Broadway.

This year’s lineup of beers and music promise to be at least as fun and festive as last year, which was held at the vacated Macy’s building.

Sponsored by Kettlehouse Brewing, All Souls Missoula, and St. Patrick Hospital, tickets for the event run $10 for a 7-ounce signature tasting glass and two drink tokens. Additional tokens can be purchased for $1 each.

The 2012 Winter Brewfest will feature more than 30 beers on tap, a wine bar, food from Thomas Cuisine, El Cazador, and Mackenzie River Pizza, and live music by Tom Catmull and the Clerics and Cash for Junkers.

Unique to this event is a chance to win a $25 Missoula downtown gift card just by tweeting to #MslaBrewFest. During the event, participants can tweet about their experience at the brewfest – what beers they like, what brewery impresses them, or what fun they’re having – and include the hash tag, #MslaBrewFest. Those unable to make the event can also tweet what they’re missing out on.

Alan McCormick from Growler Fills and I will choose the “best tweet” from the event and that person will win a $25 MDA gift card!

Now on to the beers! The lineup of the 36+ beers expected to appear at the Winter Brewfest are:

1. Bud Light – Anheuser Busch, St. Louis, MO
2. Bobo’s Robust Porter – Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula
3. Powder Hound Winter Ale – Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula
4. BRRR Seasonal Ale – Widmer Brothers Brewing Co., Portland, OR
5. Drop Top Amber Ale – Widmer Brothers Brewing Co, Portland, OR
6. Snow Day Winter Ale – New Belgium Brewing Co., Ft. Collins, CO
7. Belgo IPA – New Belgium Brewing Co., Ft. Collins, CO
8. Going to the Sun IPA – Great Northern Brewing Co., Whitefish
9. Snow Ghost Winter Lager – Great Northern Brewing Co., Whitefish
10. Pig’s Ass Porter – Harvest Moon Brewing Co., Belt
11. Nut Brown Ale – Harvest Moon Brewing Co., Belt
12. Highlander Beer – Missoula Brewing Co., Missoula
13. Open Cab Copper Irish Ale – Quarry Brewery, Butte
14. Shale Pale Ale – Quarry Brewery, Butte
15. Cask- IPA, then Dopple – Kettlehouse Brewing, Missoula
16. Barrel-aged Poshed-Porter, then Joe’s Bongwater Coffee Porter – Kettlehouse Brewery, Missoula
17. Winter Warmer – Blackfoot River, Helena
18. Single Malt IPA – Blackfoot River, Helena
19. Face Plant Doppelweizen – Bayern Brewing, Missoula
20. Groomer – Bayern Brewing, Missoula
21. Nut Brown Ale – Bitter Root Brewery, Hamilton
22. Red Dread Imperial Red Ale – Bitter Root Brewery, Hamilton
23. Nordic Blonde – Lone Peak Brewery, Big Sky
24. Flathead Cherry Ale – Glacier Brewing, Polson
25. Salmon Fly Honey Rye – Madison River Brewing, Belgrade
26. Imperial IPA – Flathead Lake Brewing, Bigfork
27. Bufflehead Brown Ale – Flathead Lake Brewing, Bigfork
28. Hop Henge Experimental IPA – Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR
29. Sip & Go Naked Apricot Ale – Tamarack Brewery, Lakeside
30. Hat Trick Hop IPA – Tamarack Brewery, Lakeside
31. Pulaksi Porter – Blacksmith Brewing, Stevensville
32. Zythos Single Hop IPA – Blacksmith Brewing, Stevensville
33. Quill Pig Czech Pilsner – Missoula Draught Works, Missoula
34. Shadow Caster Alt Ale – Missoula Draught Works, Missoula
35. All Souls Saison Ale – All Souls & Big Sky Brewing, Missoula
36. All Souls Imperial Saison – All Souls & Big Sky Brewing, Missoula

You must be 21 years old to attend, so please bring your ID. And, as always, please drink responsibly.

Tell us, which beer will you “bee line” for at the Missoula Winter Brewfest? Remember, it pays to come early for the best selection!