Tamarack Brewing, Missoula MT
28 July 2026
Tamarack was in an artsy area of Missoula and I would never have guessed there would be an area like this here, especially given the neighborhoods I drove through to get here from my hotel. But here it is, and I simply walked in the door and sat at the first spot at the bar!
They offer a flight of their eight flagship beers so I decided to get that rather than choose for a normal flight of four. Here they are, and I’ll describe them clockwise starting with the one to the right of the darkest:
Bear Bottom Blonde – Blonde Ale, 5% – I liked this! It was tasty and refreshing, a good beer for any season.
Wakeboard Wit – Witbier, 4.5% – With the orange slice, it was a dead giveaway that this was going to be similar to Blue Moon, and it was. I liked it but didn’t think it was unique enough to warrant more in spite of it being a very decent beer.
Rye Sally Rye – Rye IPA, 6.25% – I’ve never understood the appeal of rye in beer and still don’t. This was interesting, but it didn’t convert me to rye beers.
Hat Trick Hop – IPA, 7% – For a straight IPA, this was pretty good. I’d have it again with food, but not just to drink by itself.
Hi-Line Hazy – Hazy IPA, 6.6% – This was definitely one of my favorites out of the flight. It’s sort of funny because when you pick up each glass, there’s an identifier wood-burned into the flight tray. This one said “APA” but I wasn’t sure which of the flagship beers that matched to so I asked the bartender … she said she had no idea why it said APA but it was the Hazy IPA … I explained that APA = American Pale Ale and she made the connection. Anyway, it was a pretty good example of the style even if not good enough to take a crowler away with me for later.
Sip N’ Go Naked – Apricot Wheat Ale, 5.5% – This has to be a winner just from the name alone! It was pretty tasty as well, although it was better at first sip than at the last.
Yardsale – Amber Ale, 6.5% – I’m not a big fan of amber ales but I did like this. Enough to order more? Probably not, but it was certainly a good example of this style.
Switchback – Oatmeal Stout, 5.5% – For me, an oatmeal stout is either good or it isn’t. This was a good one but that doesn’t mean it was any better than any other oatmeal stout that’s also well made. Still, if you love this style, this is a good one.
I’d seen this sandwich, a Huckleberry Brie Chicken Sandwich, praised in online reviews so I ordered it with a side salad. The salad was excellent. The chicken was overcooked and dry and the flavors didn’t mesh for me. Totally meh although I admit it could be tastier if the chicken were done properly (i.e., tender and juicy).
My bottom line is that Tamarack brews very decent beers but not outstanding beers, and based on this one food selection I wouldn’t go there to eat although I might go back for more of the beers I particularly enjoyed.