Bitterroot Nut Brown (Bitterroot Brewery)

Bitterroot Brewery has a special place in my heart. Nestled in the heart of the beautiful Bitterroot Valley, in Western Montana, this is the first brewery I ever visited. I’m not even sure I really new what a brewery was at the time, or was aware that beer didn’t come in only 30 packs of cans or 40 ounce bottles. To be fair, I was only seventeen, but luckily I had a really shitty fake I.D., a great poker face, and an afternoon to kill when I stumbled upon The Bitterroot Brewery for the first time. And hey, when you’re thirty seven miles from home, probably don’t have care insurance and are under age, why the hell not experiment with some high octane beer you know nothing about? Seemed reasonable at the time. Hell, that idea still seems pretty decent, and I’m 32 now. Needless to say, I was able to order some beer. I’ll say it was part my charm and partly that the forty-something, white trash bartender woman didn’t really give a rats ass about her job. I’m sure it was interfering with a NASCAR event, or keeping her from raking the dirt driveway of her double wide trailer, anyway.


I really didn’t know what I was selecting, and I’m not sure why I chose the Bitterroot Nut Brown, but I will forever remember that day. Well, mostly… I mean, the next few hours are spotty, but you get what I’m saying. The beer itself was like nothing I’d ever tasted. It poured dark brown with a thick head that seemed to hold some secret flavor ring, just giving you a little hit of sweetness with each drink. The bold, nutty flavor notes were very apparent up front, and really continued to ease through the entire mouthful as the dark malts came out, too. There’s a slight honey malt you’ll find also, which gives it a little crisp, lighter middle, without losing the sweetness that the nutty character provides. If you like a good malt forward beer, with subtle toffee and nut notes, this beer is for you. And it’s worth the drive down to Hamilton Montana.


Available at the brewery, and locally in 22 ounce bottles at Total Wine and More, Rosauers Market, Huckleberry’s Market and more.


http://www.bitterrootbrewing.com/beers/

https://www.facebook.com/bitterrootbrewery