No fishing today, but I'm sitting at a picnic table under a cloudless sky, watching the last rays of light climb the peaks to the east. And I'm enjoying one of my favorite things from Montana: local beer.
Tonight's write-up features a couple of my favorites: Yardsale Amber Ale from Tamarack Brewing Company, and Cold Smoke Scotch Ale from Kettle House Brewing Company. I love it that they come in pint cans.
The Yardsale (named for the downhill skiing phenomenon of wiping out in such a way that your gear gets scatter around, as if you were holding a yard sale) amber is a dark amber. It's tasty, but has a bit too much hoppiness for me to fall in love with. If you like IPAs, this will be mild and enjoyable if you like a little bit of malt, too. Tamarack is located in Lakeside, MT.
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| Red solo cup, I'll fill you up! x2 |
Cold Smoke is one of the most popular beers in western Montana. It is a dark Scotch Ale that doesn't taste dark. It looks like a porter but is much lighter in flavor than a porter. It's smoother, slightly sweet, and a great balance of malt and hop flavors. This is my drink of choice when I cross the continental divide. Kettle House is located in Missoula, a town I used to call home.
Tomorrow (Tuesday), we visit Glacier National Park again. We haven't been there since 2004. My son was 3 and my daughter was 14 months old. There will, of course, be photos. My next scheduled fishing slot is Friday, and perhaps a short stop on Thursday if we make it to the North Fork of the Blackfoot early enough. Most of southwestern Montana is under "Hoot Owl" fishing restrictions: no angling from 2 PM to Midnight every day. Fortunately, Rock Creek is not on the restricted list yet, so I might have a shot at a guided day of fishing there.
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| "Hoot Owl" fishing restrictions on the Blackfoot & most tributaries, Clark Fork, Bitterroot, Big Hole, Madison, and many more rivers. No angling after 2 PM. |
The Cold Smoke sounds similar to Murphy's. Can't go wrong with beer......just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed a Murphy's or two. It's a nitrogen beer, correct? This is carbonated, so not quite as smooth, but not near as much "fizz" as your normal beer. Still good.
DeleteAw hell, sit it out and have a beer!
ReplyDeleteSometimes a member of the Royal (PITA) order of Fading Anglers needs a day or two to recover. Today is an example. We did a ten hour day on Rock Creek yesterday. I'm stiff, sore, and feel like I took a few falls, even though I remained vertical the entire time. Ow! It hurts to lift my coffee cup...
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