Missoula Montana, home of Big Sky Brewery, maker of Moose Drool Brown Ale.
Drove into Missoula and made camp at Jellystone Park. Yes, with Yogi, Boo Boo, Cindi and the rest of the gang. Then went into town to locate the brewery. Stopped in for some sampling and a couple of souvenirs.
Tuesday, I went downtown to walk around for a couple of hours and do a little window shopping. About lunch time I decided to circle one last block and grab lunch near where I parked the car. Passed a little hole in the wall on my way by and decided to dine there instead.
The Missoula Club has been in existence since 1890. Think about that. Missoula Montana 118 years ago was probably not much more than a cowboy town. The walls are decorated with UM Missoula football photos including several pros. One played in Detroit in the 1930’s.
Met a gentleman at lunch that has been around nearly that long. Fred turns 90 in November. He is currently writing his memoirs. Should be an interesting read don’t you think?!? He and the fellas get together every day at the club for lunch. The eat the same thing and drink the same thing. Shane the bartender just serves them without asking what they would like.
By the way, the menu was quite limited. Hamburger or Cheeseburger. Six different kinds of chips. Drink of your choice. I went with the Drool.
Missoula has a somewhat unique landmark in a park downtown on the shores of the Clark Branch of the Columbia River. It is a homegrown Carousel. Horses all carved by a local cabinet maker or by locals that he had trained. He offered to build it if they would pledge that it would stay there forever. The city council agreed, and the local citizens jumped in to help build it, erect a structure to protect it and a giant playground right next door.
