The adventure continued at Lost Cabin Beer in Rapid City, SD. They opened in 2016 and expanded this summer to Hill City, SD with a beer garden.
While there, Hoppy enjoyed a Double SoDank IPA. This is a hopped-up, imperial take on their SoDank IPA. It is described as loaded to the brim with all the fruity, tropical notes that they could fit in a glass courtesy of a stupid amount of Mosaic and Hellertau Blanc dry hops. The lupulin filled beauty rounds out with an assertive bitterness balanced by a smooth malt bill. 10.3% ABV, 108 IBU.
The next visit on “The Back Home Again” trip was in Sheridan, Wyoming at Black Tooth Brewing. They began as a ten-barrel brewery in November 2010 and have since expanded to become Wyoming’s largest brewery with a thirty-barrel brewhouse. They also opened a new location in Cheyenne, WY in 2020 and a third location in Casper, WY in 2021.
During his visit, Hoppy quaffed a Hot Streak IPA. It is described as bringing you back to the night that you went on a hot streak, reveling in the glory of tropical fruit and western pine scents, making this IPA definitely worth the gamble. Its juicy mouthfeel and clean finish allow you to walk away on top. 6.1% ABV, 65 IBU.
Images follow:
ExteriorExteriorLogoOutdoor BenchTaproomSignageTapsBeer MenuHot Streak IPASmall Brewing AreaBarrel-Aging and Sneak Peek of BreweryMerchandiseRestroom Sign
MOUNTAINS WALKING & NEW HOKKAIDO BREWING – BOZEMAN, MT
The next stop for Hoppy was in Bozeman at Mountains Walking Brewing which also brews for their subsidiary, New Hokkaido Brewing. They opened in 2017, have over fifteen house brewed beers on tap and serve scratched made food.
As well as a couple of brews, Hoppy also enjoyed their wood fired pizza which was made with dough that has a 48-hour cold fermentation process.
The beers that he imbibed were as follows:
New HokkaidoYabaiTanuki Cold IPA – Described as using big rice additions of Hokkaido rice and jasmine rice in the grain bill to accentuate a clean canvas concept. Hopped with new New Zealand variety Kohai and Galaxy hops, expect big aroma and flavor notes of papaya, kiwi and mixed berry. Pours very pale in color and bone dry in the finish, each sip welcomes the next. 6.9% ABV, 65 IBU.
Mountains Walking Twisted Karma MT Huckleberry Sour – Described as a sour golden ale brewed with 100% local Gallatin Valley Malt and fermented with huckleberry and natural flavors. Pours vibrant fuchsia in color with upfront tartness and exciting berry flavor and aromas. 5.3% ABV.
Pictures from the visit follow:
ExteriorLogoBarSeatingSeatingWood Fired OvenTapsBeer MenuDraft ListRemainder of Beer ListNew Hokkaido Yabai Tanuki Cold IPAGiving Tree to Support HavenMerchandise
Hoppy’s first stop on his “Back Home Again” trip was at Daft Badger Brewing in Coeur d’Alene. They are a neighborhood ten-barrel brewpub that opened in 2015 that is committed to excellent food and carefully brewed beer. Having been here before, he was not only looking for a good beer, but also their pulled pork nachos!
While there, Hoppy enjoyed an Experimental Fresh Hop IPA which uses an experimental hop, HBC 586, from Perrault Farms in the Yakima area. It is described as a bit of a sweet fruit aroma with that big hop bite most are looking for in a fresh hop beer. It is 5% ABV, 40 IBU.
Pictures from his visit follow:
ExteriorExterior SignageBarWall DecorSeating AreaClose-Up Seating AreaTapsDraft Boards with Brewery in BackgroundTap ListDaft Badger ExperimentalFresh Hop IPAPersonal Size Pulled Pork Nachos with Jalapeno Sour Cream and Salsa (not pictured) – Easily Serves Two!Merchandise AreaExterior Seating
While in Moses Lake, Hoppy was able to make a few visits to the Moses Lake Taproom. They opened in March of this year in the former home of Squirrel Fight Artisan Brewery. While having only 12 taps, they offer a varied selection of craft beers with an emphasis on breweries from the region. The business is locally owned and operated by a family that is knowledgeable on beer styles and breweries and thus able to offer reliable recommendations. They are community oriented and offer friendly, excellent service.
Beers that Hoppy enjoyed during his visits included the following:
Georgetown Brewing Fresh Hop Bodhizafa IPA (Seattle, WA) – described as using their base recipe for Bodhizafa IPA and adding an additional 1,800 lbs. of fresh Mosaic hops from Double R Ranch to give this beer an extra fresh kick that can only come from fresh hop goodness. 6.9% ABV.
Lumberbeard Brewing What Once Was Imperial IPA (Spokane, WA) – described as reminding you of the IPAs that you first fell in love with, but with a fruitier punch and a cleaner mouthfeel. 8.3% ABV.
Bellwether Brewing It’s Pumpkin Saison (Spokane, WA) – 9.4% ABV
Varietal Beer Sup Cuz New England IPA (Sunnyside, WA) – described as a collaboration with Loza Farms. A hazy IPA brewed with Amarillo, Comet and Citra hops. 6.7% ABV
Two Beers Brewing Wonderland Trail IPA (Seattle, WA) – described as complemented by 2-Row Vienna and Munich malts while featuring a seamless blend of Washington-grown Amarillo, Citra, Mosaic and Cascade hops, you’ll notice a slightly sweet aroma of tangerine that is followed by a wave of citrus and passion fruit. 7.1% ABV, 84 IBU.
Monkless Belgian Ales The Trinity Belgian Tripel (Bend, OR) – described as having a soft malt character with a slightly spicy hop influence and moderate bitterness. The finish is peppery due to the clove-like phenols produced by the yeast. Mild esters reminiscent of pineapple and tropical fruit can be detected. 8.1% ABV, 36 IBU.
YaYa Brewing Barrel-Aged Fireside Imperial Stout (Spokane Valley, WA) – described as a chocolate milk stout barrel-aged in triticale barrels for nearly one year. 8.5% ABV, 25 IBU.
Maui Brewing Big Swell IPA (Kihei, HI) – described as an American dry-hopped IPA is bursting with tropical citrus hops. 6.8%, 70 IBU.
Pictures follow:
ExteriorTaps/Tin TackersTin TackersBar with Jon White Performing in BackgroundSeatingGeorgetown Brewing Fresh Hop BodhizafaDraft Selection on VisitDraft Selection on Another VisitDraft Selection 11/10Restroom Partition StickersSnow Geese Over Moses Lake
Follow Hoppy on his next adventures as he returns “Back Home Again in Indiana!”
Next stop? Whistle Punk Brewing in Spokane. What does Whistle Punk mean, you ask? It is an obsolete term for a beginner lumberjack from the early days of North American logging. (See here.)
They were established in 2015 and opened their taproom in 2017. They state that they, “craft traditional ales and lagers inspired by the Pacific Northwest.”
While there Hoppy enjoyed a Whistle Punk Fernhopper IPA – described as a West Coast IPA brewed with LINC Malts and hopped with El Dorado, Mosaic, and Chinook hops. Prominent bitterness, with a juicy finish. Notes of orange peel, pineapple, and pine. 7.2% ABV.
Photos follow:
ExteriorLogo SignBar2nd Bar AreaSeating AreaTaps Including Cask Conditioned TapsDraft BoardFernhopper IPAHoppy’s Here!
