Despite what the contents of some Montana Mixers will tell you, Big Sky Brewery produces half a dozen beers: Moose Drool Brown Ale, ScapeGoat Pale Ale, Big Sky India Pale Ale, Powder Hound Winter Ale, Summer Honey Seasonal Ale, and Trout Slayer Ale. I’m not sure whether you can find Trout Slayer Ale in Fairbanks but all the others are available.

The IPA is satisfactorily bitter and carries with it a little character that lets you know it’s not just some generic brand. Like all decent IPA’s, be careful with how you handle the bottle before opening it. The pale ale, Scape Goat, is just what it should be: a veritable little brother to the Big Sky IPA, not as strong but with a definite resemblance.

Moose Drool is the flagship beer of Big Sky Brewery. If you can get past the mental image that comes with the title, you’ll enjoy a fine brew. The aroma is of a smooth roasted something and the transparent dark brown color will either remind you of moose hair or soda or ‘pop,’ if you’re in Montana. This ale delivers plenty of flavors without overpowering the pallet. It’s also a great gateway beer to get someone interested in stouts, as it is lighter on the stomach and near to a stout in taste profile.

Be sure to look under the bottle cap for another kind of Montana flavor.