Rock'n M Brewing Company - Emigrant Red Märzen

Emigrant Red is a Märzen style beer brewed with a combination of Montana grown two row pale, Munich, Carastan, and Crystal malts. Northern Brewer hops are added up front during the 120 minute boil while tettnang hops are added next primarily for their bittering contributions. Hallertau hops are added last to add to Emigrant's aromatic Profile. A Bohemian Lager yeast strain is used and the beer is fremented in open tanks.

Immediately note a malty nose true to style with some caramel, hop characteristic and esters also evident. Look for good head retention in this amber, clear, medium-bodied beer. We found a very rich maltiness and a complex caramel flavor which ended slightly bitter. Overall, a very clean, flavorful interpretation of a great spring beer.

Located in Belgrade, Montana, the Rock'n M Brewing Company began offering its beers to the public just under 2 years ago. Founder/Brewmaster, Jennifer Ballard, educated as a Microbiologist and Pharmaceutical Engineer, delved into the world of microbrewing five years ago when she developed the recipe for Black Dog Ale at the Spanish Peaks Brewing Company. Jenny has actually been involved with starting up the first 3 ever microbreweries in the state of Montana, the third being her own, the Rock'n M. The Rock'n M is actually a livestock brand that has been registered in Jefferson County Montana since 1943. Its originator, Meredith "Bud" Ballard, used the brand to signify the ranch's prize winning cattle and horses.

The brewery's current capacity is 5000 Barrels per year. Jenny uses a 7 barrel brewhouse and (4) 7 barrel open fermentation tanks to produce her unusual product line. Other products produced at Rock'n M not featured this month include Double Tree Wheat, a traditional Bavarian "Ur-Wizen" styled Beer, Branding Iron Bitter, a classic English style amber bitter, Butte Beer, a light-bodied Pilsener, and Highlander Premium, an American Lager. The recipies for a Dortmund Export and a Belgian Wheat are in the works.

For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (406) 388-2007.