Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company - Mountain Man

This Scotch Ale is Jeremiah Johnson’s flagship beer, and pours quite dark – even for a Scotch Ale – a deep brown with reddish flashes when held to the light, topped by a cap of beige to light brown foam. In the aroma, look for deep-down caramelization boasting hints of toffee, plus cocoa powder, brown sugar, and touches of evergreen woodsiness. It’s in the flavor, though, that things really get going as the aroma notes amplify and cascade across the palate in a super smooth arc. Those toffee and caramel notes really shine here, shot through with hints of dark rum and esters of dark, dried, and candied fruits conjuring fig, raisin, and citrus peel. There’s a satisfying vinous quality too, which is larger than we usually see at 6.5% ABV, and a touch of cherry smoke evokes the lightly smoky, peaty notes often found in Scottish Wee Heavy. Look for a dollop of residual sweetness to be nicely countered by the moderate hop bitterness flowing along a woody-herbal, minty edge. For pairing options, roasted meats – especially with a fruity sauce – are a great call. Additional stick-to-your-ribs fare and comfort foods like beef or venison stew and shepherd’s pie are great options, too. On the sweeter side, cherries jubilee, apple flambé, or even wine poached pears could provide intriguing options. Cheers!

Born and raised in Montana and named after the famous mountain man, Jeremiah Johnson had always had an adventurous spirit and dreamed about starting his own business. Initially, as a recent graduate of Montana State University, he didn’t have the means to jump into entrepreneurship, so he ended up embarking on a career of sales and marketing, followed by economic and real estate development. Finally, in 2018, an opportunity arose for him and his wife Katie to make their dream a reality while embracing their passion for craft beer. The duo acquired Great Falls’ struggling The Front Brewing Company, which had opened in 2012, and transformed it into Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Company. During the transition, they introduced Golden Bobcat Pale Ale in partnership with Montana State University, brewed with locally sourced ingredients to highlight the region’s agricultural industry. It’s a theme that continues to this day, as the brewery stands as a highlight for Montana’s agricultural Golden Triangle region.

Since launching the brewery, Jeremiah Johnson has opened two brewpub locations: one in downtown Coeur d'Alene, Idaho – serendipitously adjacent to Montana Ave – and a second in Whitefish in northwestern Montana’s Flathead Valley where they acquired the former Great Northern Brewery location at the Blackstar building and overhauled it into a gleaming brewery restaurant. There, brewers can create and test small batch experimental recipes, picking the best to move up to full-scale production at their main Great Falls facility. Today, the brewery offers seven year-round and seasonal beers in addition to their smaller-batch offerings, and they are the official beer of the Big Sky athletic conference. For more info about the brewery and their ID and MT locations, check them out at jjbrew.com.