8 minute read
SWEET TREATS
Top Sweet Treats
When you’re on vacation, there’s no better time to treat yourself. For inspiration, here are some of Missoula’s finest sweet treats.
LOCAL ICE CREAM: SWEET PEAKS AND BIG DIPPER Ice cream classics and uniquely delicious recipes create a world of flavor completely devoted to making your taste buds happy regardless of the season.
BERNICE’S BAKERY CUPCAKES From a sumptuous white wine cake with smooth buttercream frosting to a mouthwatering, wheat-free, vegan chocolate and mint concoction, Bernice’s Bakery cupcakes are pure decadence and utterly enjoyable no matter your dietary preferences.
BLACK CAT BAKE SHOP There’s no better way to start the day than with a breakfast pastry from Black Cat. Black Cat crafts baked goods like works of art, and they taste even better than they look.
ARTISANAL CHOCOLATE: POSH CHOCOLATE & DUCREY CHOCOLATE MAKER Indulge in the rich and inventive flavors created in Missoula’s local chocolate shops, both located in downtown Missoula and sure to impress any true chocolate lover.
MUSTARD SEED DESSERTS Delectable morsels designed to entice any palate, these desserts are perfectly sized to sample and share with friends.
VEERA DONUTS Vegan or not, the sweet and savory donuts of Veera will satisfy your sweet tooth—and your curiosity. What does the flavor Bruce Banner or Sweet Leaf taste like? You’ll have to find out for yourself.
MARY’S MOUNTAIN COOKIES Edible cookie dough, quarter-pound cookies and even your very own ice cream-filled cookie creations await at Mary’s Mountain Cookies. Simply follow the aroma of freshly-baked treats next time you’re strolling through downtown Missoula.
LOLO CREEK DISTILLERY. TAYLAR ROBBINS
DRINK UP. DRINK LOCAL.
Cheers! You’re in Missoula.
From signature cocktails and local craft brews to an enticing selection of wine, expertly distilled spirits, and locally roasted coffee, there’s plenty to drink in Missoula morning, noon, and night. Brewed-to-perfection espresso; masterbrew craft beers from traditional to cutting-edge; must-try distilled liquors that will take your breath away; and ciders pressed from local apples. You’ll discover that Missoula is equally good at wildlife and nightlife. Check out some historic watering holes for old-school dive-bar lovers, e.g., Charlie B’s, The Missoula Club, Stockman’s Bar and The Oxford. Breweries in downtown Missoula are landmark venues and family-friendly to boot. Plus, there’s the sleek-yet-welcoming Montgomery Distillery, acclaimed for the “best gin in the world.” There’s the Top Hat (with its triple-arch Brunswick backbar) and The Dram Shop (with its everchanging and supremely astonishing variety). When it comes to mixology, you can be an ‘A’ student in Missoula.
“Missoula has long been a four-season outdoor recreation destination, offering river rafting, fly-fishing, hiking, biking, and Nordic skiing—with quality beer to wash down all those adventures.”
Thrillist Travel
Smart Asset
FIRST CANNED BEER IN THE LAST BEST PLACE
When in Montana, drink like a Montanan. That’s easy with breweries like KettleHouse that model their beer, and business, after the Montana outdoor way of life. Now nearly 26 years old, KettleHouse Brewing was the second brewery to open and the first to start canning craft beer in Montana. What started as a small spot for growler fills has evolved into one of Montana’s best-known breweries, with two killer locations, the renowned KettleHouse Amphitheater and their canned craft beer reaching every corner of Montana and beyond.
The origins of KettleHouse are anything but ordinary. The owners, Tim O’Leary and Suzy Rizza, began brewing beer in their garage back in the 90s, and graduated from the garage years later when Tim traded a motorcycle—yes, you read that right— for the 15-barrel brewhouse we now know as their Southside location. From there, they worked tirelessly to legalize on-site consumption of their beer and grow with their community, and the early work put into KettleHouse paved the way for Missoula’s now booming craft beer scene.
KettleHouse’s mission has always been to “match the quality of their beer to the quality of the Montana outdoor experience,” because the two are undoubtedly intertwined. Zach Nelson, their head brewer, puts it perfectly: “Craft beer does go hand in hand, I believe, with outdoor activities. I love to fly-fish and have a craft beer, I love to kayak and have a craft beer, I love to hike and have a craft beer—it’s just part of what this area is all about.”
You can experience the original KettleHouse at their Southside location, near Missoula’s Hip Strip, or head to their taproom in Bonner to sip a pint along the banks of the Blackfoot River—a true taste of the great outdoors their beer is brewed for. Either way, you’re guaranteed some good company and delicious beer.
DRINKS DRINKS
COCKTAIL, PANGEA BAR & RESTAURANT. TAYLAR ROBBINS GILD. TAYLAR ROBBINS RYE OF THE TIGER, MONTGOMERY DISTILLERY. TAYLAR ROBBINS
DRINK LIKE A LOCAL
Take a tour of some of Missoula’s best drinks.
ZEITGEIST, IMAGINE NATION BREWING. TAYLAR ROBBINS
Missoula, Montana: An Underrated Booze City in America
Whiskey Tango Globetrot
PLONK. TAYLAR ROBBINS
THE CAMINO. TAYLAR ROBBINS
CIDER FLIGHT, WESTERN CIDER. TAYLAR ROBBINS KETTLEHOUSE BREWERY. TAYLAR ROBBINS
HUCKLEBERRY LEMON DROP, FINN. TAYLAR ROBBINS BLOODY MARY, PARADISE FALLS. TAYLAR ROBBINS
DRAUGHT WORKS. TAYLAR ROBBINS
DRINKS BREWERIES
BAYERN BREWING Love a lager at Bayern, where you’ll find a wide selection of Bavarian masterbrews at Montana’s oldest—and only German—brewery. Located upstairs is the Edelweiss Bistro serving traditional German food. NOT TO BE MISSED: Montana Original Lager 1507 Montana St., 406.721.1482 www.bayernbrewery.com
BIG SKY BREWING COMPANY Big Sky Brewing strives to produce balanced, world-class beers, while having as much fun as possible. NOT TO BE MISSED: Moose Drool Brown Ale 5417 Trumpeter Way, 406.549.2777 www.bigskybrew.com
CONFLUX BREWING COMPANY One of Missoula’s newest breweries is all about gathering for good—blending good beer, good food and good folks with environmentally sustainable and community-driven practices. NOT TO BE MISSED: Velvet Danger Hazelnut Brown 200 E. Main St., 406.926.3589 www.confluxbrewing.com
CRANKY SAM PUBLIC HOUSE Cranky Sam Public House is brewery, craft beer bar and wine bar all in one downtown location. NOT TO BE MISSED: Pearl River Pilsner 233 W. Main St., 406.540.4325 www.crankysam.com
CYMATIC FERMENTATION PROJECT Cymatic is new to the west side of Missoula, and they offer eight taps of delicious, small batch craft beers and hard seltzers. NOT TO BE MISSED: Chromatic Sunrise New England IPA 5646 W. Harrier Dr, 406.926.1107 www.cymaticfermentation project.com
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DRAUGHT WORKS BREWERY A Westside taproom, Draught Works has a cool, industrial feel with a huge patio out front, ideal for warm-weather tasting. NOT TO BE MISSED: That’s What She Said Cream Ale 915 Toole Ave., 406.541.1592 www.draughtworksbrewery.com GILD BREWING Missoula’s hip strip recently upped its cool factor with craft beer, Mexican street food and a basement arcade. Get the goods at Gild. NOT TO BE MISSED: Gildabeast 515 S. Higgins Ave. www.gildbrewing.com
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GREAT BURN BREWING Locally owned, fun, family-friendly brewery featuring traditional ales brewed with a West Coast flair. NOT TO BE MISSED: Smoke Chaser Porter 2230 McDonald Ave., 406.317.1557 www.greatburnbrewing.com
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HIGHLANDER BEER – MISSOULA BREWING COMPANY Missoula Brewing Company features a full line of traditional beer styles as well as some cuttingedge, knock-out, crazy-hopped and barrel-aged recipes of this modern age of craft brewing. NOT TO BE MISSED: Devil’s Hump Red Ale 200 International Dr., 406.549.8193 www.highlanderbeer.com
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IMAGINE NATION BREWING CO. A community-oriented and community-based Missoula microbrewery grounded in the world’s great brewing traditions. NOT TO BE MISSED: Freedom Fighter IPA 1151 W. Broadway St., 406.926.1251 www.imaginenationbrewing.com
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KETTLEHOUSE BREWING CO. The KettleHouse Brewing Company is a local favorite with two locations, and it’s known as the birthplace of the award-winning Cold Smoke Scotch Ale®, just one of the musthave brews at KettleHouse. (ALSO) NOT TO BE MISSED: Eddy Out Pale Ale 602 Myrtle St., 406.830.3162 605 Cold Smoke Ave., Bonner, MT 406.728.1660 www.kettlehouse.com
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LOLO PEAK BREWERY Venture just outside of Missoula to Lolo Peak Brewery, where you’ll find a rustic taproom serving up unique dishes and an impressive list of craft brews. NOT TO BE MISSED: No Salmon Pale Ale 6201 Brewery Way, Lolo, MT www.lolopeakbrewery.com ODDPITCH BREWING Find a rotating line up of experimental, traditional and barrel-aged brews at OddPitch, an exciting new addition to Missoula’s brewery scene. NOT TO BE MISSED: The latest sour on tap 1200 W. Kent Ave Suite 103 406.541.1007, www.oddpitch.com
DISTILLERIES
LOLO CREEK DISTILLERY Next to Lolo Creek Steakhouse is Missoula County’s newest distillery. Enjoy a cocktail on the patio by the firepit with a view of the mountains. NOT TO BE MISSED: Huckleberry Lemonade 6610 US-12, Lolo, MT, 406.926.2803
MONTGOMERY DISTILLERY The distillery opened its doors to sippers and swillers in 2012. Offering signature cocktails made with the distillery’s Quicksilver Vodka and Whyte Laydie Gin, Montgomery also makes its own syrups and limited edition spirits. NOT TO BE MISSED: Greenough Park 129 W. Front St., 406.926.1725 www.montgomerydistillery.com
RATTLESNAKE CREEK DISTILLERS Born in the Missoula’s Rattlesnake Valley, RCD creates the finest of craft spirits including whiskey, gin and vodka. NOT TO BE MISSED: Mount Sentinel Sage 2120 Dixon Ave., 406.239.5050 www.rattlesnakecreekdistillers.com TAMARACK BREWING CO. With a bar and restaurant downstairs and upstairs, and flat-screen televisions galore, Tamarack is a great place to catch a game, taste some brews and chow down. NOT TO BE MISSED: Sip N’ Go Naked Apricot Ale 231 W. Front St., 406.830.3113 www.tamarackbrewing.com/ missoula
CIDERIES
WESTERN CIDER It’s Missoula’s first (and beloved) cidery, and offers a unique lineup of ciders. NOT TO BE MISSED: Poor Farmer Classic 501 N. California St., 406.540.4477 www.westerncider.com
WINERIES
TEN SPOON VINEYARD AND WINERY Ten Spoon is located in the Rattlesnake on a gorgeous piece of land with killer views. The winery crafts organic regional wines free of synthetic chemicals. NOT TO BE MISSED: Saint Pepin White 4175 Rattlesnake Dr., 406.549.8703 www.tenspoon.com
Best Cities for Beer Drinkers: Missoula, Montana
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