Tamarack Brewing Company

seagoat

California

4.36/5  rDev +4.8%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

On a recent trip to Montana, we made a trip from Missoula up to Whitefish for the weekend. We made a stop at Blacktail Mountain to look around and came across a brewery called Tamarack Brewing in Lakeside.

We were still heading up to Whitefish for the rest of the day so we didn't stay at Tamarack long and were still full from a big breakfast, so we didn't eat at the brewery. The menu looked like it had a good selection of food, kind of the standard pub grub but leaning toward the higher end. There were a variety of appetizers, big salads, variety of burgers, and other restaurant style meals.

There is a large 'U' shaped bar with probably 15-20 seats, and then a nice open restaurant area surrounding that. There is also an upstairs level that may be for private parties or just extra seating. The staircase and beams all have the unfinished 'raw' metal look to it. I think there is also an outdoor patio for the warmer months.

Since we were not staying long, we just decided to try some of their sampler trays. There were 9-10 samples which included one guest beer but the rest of them were Tamarack beers. At the time, they had an amber, hefeweizen, a blueberry wheat ale (I think), ESP, an IPA, stout, porter, and a whisky barrel aged porter called Old 'Stache. All the beers were really nice, especially the IPA, stout, and both porters.

We wished this place was in Whitefish or was closer to our last stop in general so that we could have stayed longer and had some more. Some of their beers were on tap up at the Blacktail Mountain Lodge but we didn't have any there either. It's been a few weeks since we were there, but the brewery was just recently added to beerfly, so this is what I remember of the place. I will definitely go back and give it try again next time I'm in the area.

04-28-2008 16:52:14 | More by seagoat

Voonder

Alberta (Canada)

4.08/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $

We were there on Saturday night, and surprisingly it wasn't busy at all. Building is very nice looking and attractive. No doubt it's a highlight of the small town. Lots of open space inside, tables spread out nicely. Service is OK i guess. There were two guys helping us out, the waitress was allright, a bit slow, considering not that busy night, but another guy was really helpfull. Beer selection is allright, about 8 kinds of beer on tap, we tried kriek ale (which is brewed with sea salt and coriander) that was unbelievable, really different, I also tried the stout (wasn't that impressed) and ESB (this one was fantastic). And food was just amasing. Really good selection and quality.
may be it's just because I'm from Canada, but that was really cheap. And really nice growlers too.
Very well done! I'll try to be back.

09-23-2008 05:21:33 | More by Voonder

freeballard

Washington

4.05/5  rDev -2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

We went into the Tamarack on a Tuesday early afternoon. The ambience of the restaurant was fantastic... clearly some money was sunk into this place. The bar is comfortable, there is plenty of restaurant seating, and the patio is as good a place as any to enjoy a beer. The bar/restaurant is run as a separate business entity so it not subject to Montana's usual brewery tasting laws - the three pint limit in particular.
A sampler tray included 8 tastes that included a good variety of beers including one seasonal and the full range of NW style ales. The consensus of our group was that the IPA, the amber and the stout were the winners.
The service was a little slow but, to be fair, it was noon and the bartender was dealing with the opening of the bar. I assume that service would be better later in the day.
When all is said and done, I would be happy to return here the next time I am in the area.

06-16-2009 22:53:40 | More by freeballard