The times, they are a-changin'

The universe bestowed some monumental shifts in the way our world functions during the month of April.

First, the New Orleans Pelicans swept the higher-seeded Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA playoffs, right as star guard Damian Lillard was starting to garner some of the praise he’s been constantly demanding for what seems like a really long time now. Just as we thought he might be right, this happened.

Next, President Donald Trump called North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “very honorable based on what we are seeing.” If you told me you saw that one coming, I frankly probably wouldn’t believe you.

Finally, and more locally, Herberger’s in Kalispell closed the same week Sunrift Beer Company opened in a stunning reversal of which side of the train tracks in Kalispell is cooler. The era of the mall might be fading, but the era of the craft brewery is not. Now, you can have a couple pints at Sunrift, stroll across the tracks to peruse the racks at the liquidation sale, and then return for that last beer.

This month’s Fresh Pours features two brews from the Flathead Valley’s newest beer producer and one flagship perfectly suited for the warming weather (and climate) from Tamarack Brewing Company in Lakeside.

Blonde Bomber: 5.9 percent ABV, 23 IBU (A-)

This is a drinkable beer that gets a slight fruity flavor imparted from a bodacious, yeast-forward character. Also, it’s made on a set of brewing equipment that was all made in America. That applies to all the beers from Sunrift, and is really pretty cool. This beer isn’t bitter in the least bit, and the lack of hop taste allows the drinker to really enjoy the notes of all the grains of barley that gave their sugars to make it so wonderful. Rest in Peace.

Working Man’s Wheat: 4.7 percent ABV, 12 IBU (B)

First of all, this wheat beer has a pretty cool name. That doesn’t matter a lot, but it does matter a little bit. With hints of coriander and orange peel, this is a sort of Belgian White wheat beer that will definitely put most other Belgian White’s to shame. The flavors are subtle enough that they don’t kill your palate, and complex enough you can keep thinking about them the whole pint through. If you are in the habit of telling people you like Blue Moon, stop saying that and say you like this instead because it is definitely more respectable.

Sip N’ Go Naked Apricot Ale: 5.5 percent ABV, 15 IBU (B+)

The apricot flavor in really packed into this beer. That will not sound great to lots of people who generally don’t like fruity beers, but everyone else should rejoice.

The brewers in Lakeside use a fresh apricot puree to lend it that flavor, and the result really shines. The beer is quite sweet, but so is an actual apricot, so that makes sense. The real benefit of that attention to quality is the lack of distracting syrupy taste that so many fruity beers contain.