Whitefish, Montana and the Great Northern Brewing Company

Friday, August 15, 2014

Friday morning was overcast as we left McGillivray Campground and continued along the west side of Lake Koocanusa. The reservoir has the international border running across it so it got named for the Kootenai region (Koo), Canada (can), and the USA (usa). Clever...We drove north, crossed the bridge to the east side, before we reached Canada again, and then drove further east to Eureka. The sun was finally out and Greg was able to see the drumlins, small rounded hills of glacial debris left behind by the glacier passing over them, a geologic feature that geologists have been unable to explain, or agree on a single explanation. Sorry, no photos from the rig as we traveled through town. They were all on the driver's side.

Lake Koocanusa

We drove southeast from Eureka toward Whitefish. The closer we got, the more the sky threatened to dump rain, and as we arrived in Whitefish and hit the Glacier Park tourist crowds, it started. We found a place to park and sprinted through the rain to the Great Northern Brewing Company for lunch. At three stories, it is touted as the tallest building in Whitefish. Started in 1994 by the great, great-grandson of the famous brewer Henry Weinhard, all brewing is done in tanks on the premises in a “Gravity Flow” brewhouse. Lots of technical jargon for a good microbrew. Greg tried the Going To The Sun IPA, (India Pale Ale), and I had the Wild Huckleberry Wheat Lager. Greg goes for the IPA's and I have been trying all the girly fruit beers. Huckleberries grow wild in Northwestern Montana, so it was a good choice.

Welcome to Whitefish

Looking down at the lobby from the upstairs taproom

No need to rush out into the rain

Lower work floor

Classy decor- a Jackalope

Look at all the southern college banners!

Game loft overlooking the tanks

We had a good meal while we waited for the rain to subside, then walked past the tourist shops and back to the rig. Greg made a quick stop at a bike and coffee shop. Got a latte and checked out the fat tire bikes. They keep calling his name! Then we drove out of town toward Glacier National Park. We knew there was a good chance that we wouldn't be able to find a campsite on a Friday afternoon in August, but it was worth a try.

Bikes and coffee

Bike expert and barrista! Greg waits for latte and advice.

Greg is trying to justify one like this