GAG RIDE SHOWS THE CHARMING SIDE OF CYCLING

Most Motorists Courteous, Cautious, Helpful

My cycling buddies wanted me to write about what happened on this year's GAG Ride, which stands for Geezers Around Glacier, but I had decided not to do it.

Until I read all the recent negative news about the escalating conflict between cyclists and motorists on our roadways, that is.

MICROBREW MONTANA

Montana Brewing: More Medals Than Any Other Montana Brewery

As near as I can figure, after visiting 20 of Montana's 23 microbreweries, Montana Brewing is unique. The company's owners have offered craft beer fans something that comes about as close to a brewpub as possible under Montana's archaic liquor laws.

Instead of a small brewery with a small taproom, which is the case with most Montana breweries, Montana Brewing is three businesses in one--a microbrewery, restaurant and sports bar, all separated but connected, right in downtown Billings.

THE FORCE IS WITH YOU

Score One for the Brewmasters

If you know how government works (or doesn't) and followed last week's quick reversal of a Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) proposed rule to limit taproom hours, you might be as amazed as I am.

Government officials usually dig in deep and don't like to admit mistakes, but in less than a week, we saw a rapid and decisive turnaround by the DOR and even an admission that the agency hadn't properly thought out the proposed rule before throwing it out into the public arena.

You might be saying, "No Big Deal," but for me, this little skirmish has a big back story.

OVERWHELMED BY THE AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BREWERIES

Revenue Department Pulls Proposed Rule Restricting Taproom Hours

Following a meeting this morning with representatives of the Montana State Brewers Association (MSBA), Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) Director Dan Bucks pulled the proposed administrative rule which was due to be hotly contested tomorrow afternoon in an official public hearing.

Meeting with Bucks and his staff were Sam Hoffmann, owner of Red Lodge Ales of Red Lodge, and Brian Smith and Brad Simshaw, co-owners of Blackfoot River Brewing of Helena. Hoffmann is president and Smith vice-president of MSBA.

This means tomorrow's hearing is essentially meaningless. It will be held, but will only cover minor issues of little or no concern to brewers.

SOUTH DAKOTA'S WALLEYE FISHING DESERVES ITS REPUTATION

Video: The Eyes of Oahe

If you like to fish for walleyes--often called "eyes" because they need such big ones to gather as much light as possible down at the bottom of the lake where they almost always dwell--you're probably like me and dream about fishing South Dakota's Oahe Reservoir.

I finally had my chance this summer, and now, I'm already trying to figure out how to get back there for more.

PUNISH THE VIOLATORS, NOT THE INDUSTRY

Here’s Your Chance to Support Your Local Brewer

I've been on the Montana Beer Trail for six months now, visiting 19 of our 24 microbreweries so far and writing profiles of their business operations for the Microbrew Montana series currently running on NewWest.Net and the Travel Montana website.

Besides being constantly reminded of the passion the brewmasters have for their product, I've been amazed how well this micro-segment of our economy is faring in the face of today's economic downturn. All Montana microbreweries are all running profitably at capacity, experiencing double-digit growth, or doing major expansions. Three new breweries opened in 2007.

So why does the Montana Department of Revenue (DOR) want to knock down the microbrewing industry? Has it been too successful?

EXTORTION OF THE MASSES?

New Video Slams Forest Service for “Illegal” Mount Evans Fee Program

A new video produced by Aaron Johnnson, a long-time recreational user of Mount Evans in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest in Colorado, is creating quite a stir down in the Centennial State. Johnson takes no prisoners in its criticism of the Forest Service (FS), calling the program "scandalous and extortionist."

The video, almost 8 minutes long and titled "Mount Evans Illegal Fee Program," has been posted on YouTube.Com and already has a five-star rating.

Johnson works for summitpost.org has is a frequent hiker and climber in the Mount Evans area, and did the video at his own expense.

MICROBREW MONTANA

Blackfoot River Brewing: Real Good Beer Made by Real Good People

Of all Montana breweries, the taproom at Blackfoot River Brewing in Helena is one of the most popular, commonly crowded with devoted craft beer aficionados even on sweltering summer days when the inside temperatures climb so high the servers spray customers with plant misters to cool them off. But on a day soon to be determined, probably in the last week in August, Blackfoot's tiny tasting room will be rocking and stuffed with loyals for the last time because it will be the Grand Closing.

The thought of it might give the Helena microbrew faithful heart attacks, but fear not. The Blackfoot isn't closing. Not hardly. It's merely moving. For the owners, it's a big move, but not for customers because it's only fifteen feet to the south.

Some customers have joked that the new home of Blackfoot River Brewing, which is nearly completed, looks like a church, and co-owner Brian Smith agrees, sort of, because he calls it "The Temple of Malt."

"And did I mention we'll have A/C," he adds.

SASKATCHEWAN FISHING LODGES

Cree River Lodge: Home of the Monster Y Bones

If you like fishing for warm-water species, as I do, you probably dream about going to Canada where fish like the northern pike and walleye are revered, not considered an invasive pestilence, as they often are in trout country.

Over each of the past four years, I've been fortunate enough to travel to northern Saskatchewan (click here for those trips) and with the assistance of Tourism Saskatchewan, I had another opportunity to visit Pike Mecca after the recent conference of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, held in late June in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Read on because you might not believe what we caught.