Big Sky Resort’s Brewfest is becoming one of the biggest brew festivals in Montana. The eighth annual Brewfest at Big Sky Resort is the largest Brewfest they’ve hosted with 27 brewers and over 50 different kinds of beers. The Brewfest is Saturday, July 13, 2013 from 3 pm to 9 pm in the Lone Peak Pavilion located in the Mountain Village Plaza. The headlining live music act will be Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers with opening acts by Two Bit Franks and The Congress, starting at 3 pm. A Brewery’s After Party at Whiskey Jack’s starts at 9:30 pm with music again by The Congress.

The headline brewer, Ninkasi Brewery (Eugene, Oregon) is bringing their flagship beer Total Domination IPA and Oatis Oatmeal Stout. Seven newcomers this year are Stone Brewing (San Diego), Sam Adams (Boston), Goose Island (Chicago), Elysian Brewing (Seattle), and new Montana brewers, Carter’s, BitterRoot, and Bridger Brewing. Local returning brewers are Lone Peak Brewery, Bozeman Brewing, and Madison River Brewery along with other Montana beers from Red Lodge, Big Sky Brewing and more (see www.bigskyresort.com/brewfest for complete list).
The Brewfest is open to all ages and will take place rain or shine. Admission is free for those not partaking in the beer tasting. Beer tasting admission is $20 and includes 12 tasting tickets, must be 21 and over. Additional tasting tickets are $1.00 each. Delicious bbq bratwurst, spectacular Montana Wagyu Cattle Company brisket, and a burger bar will all be available for purchase.

Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers (nickibluhm.com), a San Francisco Bay Area band, blend pop-rock with alt-country and other Americana flavors, to headline Brewfest with their popular songs “Toby’s Song” and “Little Too Late.” With a viral following of their video series “Van Sessions,” their cover of Hall and Oats, “I Can’t Go For That” has over 2 million views.

The Congress (thecongressmusic.com) from Denver, via Virginia, “…draw comparisons to Little Feat, The Rolling Stones, and The Black Crowes…,” according to Listen Up Denver. Two Bit Franks (twobitfranks.com) from Montana, bring creative solos, driving rhythm, hot vocals and interesting arrangements of homegrown original music and classic Bluegrass.

Brewfest lodging promotion at the Huntley Lodge has rooms starting at $159/night, based on availability from July 13 through July 15, 2013. Book online or call 800-548-4486 and ask for the Brewfest promotion.

For more information, go to www.bigskyresort.com/brewfest.