The Great American Ale Trail - Christian DeBenedetti [81]
Missoula and the Bitterroot Valley
Southwestern Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, a 100-mile stretch from Missoula in the north down to Lost Trail Pass (7,014 feet), straddling the Bitterroot River and flanked by the Bitterroot and Sapphire ranges, is not to be missed. With its world-class fishing holes and kayaking streams, jagged mountain vistas, easily accessible hot springs, swaths of cottonwood forest, historical attractions (Lewis and Clark paused in the area, and the Daly Mansion—a 24,000 square foot, 50-room palace—draw many visitors), it’s one of Montana’s prettiest corners. Missoula is home to a vibrant literary tradition (Norman Maclean, author of A River Runs Through It, was from here, and the yearly Festival of the Book is a major draw) and has a growing beer scene, nourished by the University of Montana, and featuring the Garden City Brewfest held every year on the first Saturday in May.
BITTER ROOT
BREWING CO.
101 Marcus St. • Hamilton, MT 59840 • (406) 363-7468
bitterrootbrewing.com • Established: 1998
SCENE & STORY
In what used to be an old apple warehouse, this brewery in the sleepy former copper mining capital of Hamilton is bright and cheerful, with high wooden tables and metal stools—something of a Montana brewpub standard—and interesting old historical artifacts and photos, chalkboards, even a few big peacock feathers for good measure. Owner Tim Bozik, a commercial furniture manufacturer who moved to the area fifteen years ago, saw a wide-open opportunity to serve a thirsty local clientele who had few local options for craft beer. He utilized old dairy tanks and other hand-built equipment and began winning over the locals, crank by crank. “Old timers would come by and ask me, ‘Are you gonna be brewing that dark sh—t?’ Yep, I said. And most of those guys are still regulars.” Bozik and his daughter, Nicol, are big music fans as well. There’s a stage in the corner for live music twice a week; Huey Lewis (of famed 80s rock band) lives nearby, so if you’re lucky you’ll catch one of his impromptu appearances.
“There’s such an eclectic crowd that comes in,” says Bozik. “Walk in at any given time and you’re bound to see the local pig farmer sitting next to the town judge and maybe a highway patrol guy.”
PHILOSOPHY
“We’re strictly about quality. I don’t want someone coming in here and ordering a porter or IPA and hearing them say, ‘You missed it,’” says Bozik. In other words, the brewing ethos is more or less directly to style, with an emphasis on clean, balanced beers. With the “whims,” or seasonals, and experiments though, expect to see some more innovative styles like India Black Ale, smoked beers, and other departures. “The whims allow our brewers to try new things, try something that excites them. Sometimes we have guest brewers. And we do the same thing with our kitchen,” says Nicol Bozik. Additionally, Bitter Root is one of the few breweries in Montana bottling at all, and what’s more, they utilize the very sociable twenty-two-ounce bottle, great for sharing on a quiet night at home (or by the campfire).
KEY BEER
The juicy 6.2% ABV IPA is the flagship, but look for what’s on the seasonal and whim list for a taste of what the brewery can really do. Additionally, the 5.1% ABV porter is especially interesting for its use of smoked malt, which gives it an almost leathery, earthy bite.
BIG SKY
BREWING CO.
5417 Trumpeter Way • Missoula, MT 59808
(406) 549-2777 • www.bigskybrew.com • Established: 1995
SCENE & STORY
Two good friends who spent all their spare time home brewing and visiting breweries moved to Missoula in 1990 and met a third friend who was working in a ski