The Brewhouse Pub and Grill, Helena, Montana

Shaking the water of Juneau from our feet, Nancy and I took a flight to Bozeman via Seattle. There we picked up another Turo rental car. Turo, by the way, is a company through which individuals rent out their spare or spare-able car. The cars are a whole lot cheaper than national rental companies which, in any event, tend not to have enough cars to meet a largely seasonal demand. We hot footed it north to Helena to spend the night there before our 50th and final AVA 10k state capital walk.

Before we left, I’d contacted my good friend Dan Kenney for advice on where to eat in Bozeman. Dan, of course, is the genius behind Coach4aDay and an organizer of the Annual Beer Snob Pig Picking which, alas, has been in hiatus since the COVID lockdowns. I contacted Dan because he has friends all over the country. He’d been in Helena a couple of years ago and his friend, the mayor, took him to the Brewhouse Pub and Grill. Dan gave it his seal of approval, and that was enough for me. Nancy and I went.

The Brewhouse sits at 939 1/2 Getchell Street at the edge of the newish Great Northern Town Center, right next to the old Carousel. Steps away are more restaurants, a cineplex, and the Exploration Works Science Center. Across the street is Carroll College. The Brewhouse is on two levels. The lower level seems, at least on a Friday night, to emphasize the “pub” while the upper is more “grill,” although both have a full menu. Nancy and I sat upstairs, which was pretty quiet, with the popular music kept at a good level.

I should note that we’d both caught bad colds in Juneau, and we both decided to eat light. I felt an obligation to Dan to try a beer. Once Dan blogged on a different beer every day for a year — 365 unique beers. At the Beer Snob Pig Picking Dan wears a t-shirt reading”I’m silently judging your beer choice.” I started with a Dirt Church Hazy IPA and, later, in further tribute to Dan, followed it with a Tumbleweed IPA, both brewed in Montana, and both very good.

Nancy ordered a pretty piece of “lightly blackened” salmon with slaw, and I think a cup of soup — or maybe a side salad — that I neglected to photograph.

Nancy noticed the difference between the local Salmon in Alaska and the Brewhouse version — or maybe that was her cold. She enjoyed it, however. She was very high on the slaw with its fresh and crisp ingredients and a light dressing.

I ordered a Balsamic Bleu Steak Salad (hold all traces of balsamic, please), a sirloin steak and bleu cheese atop romaine and diced tomatoes ($20). I chose bleu cheese dressing. I’ve loved bleu cheese from childhood.

The sirloin was cooked rare and free of all balsamic sauces and glazes, as requested. The meat had that beefy flavor you’re looking for and was surprisingly tender. Steak and bleu cheese complement each other beautifully, and this time was no exception. It also was well seasoned, so that I only added a pro forma dash of salt and pepper. Oh, and that piece bread in the upper left that’s not a slice and not quite a roll — it tasted good.

Also good — very good — was the service. Our server, as you have read, paid close attention and communicated effectively with the kitchen. The service also was friendly. Helena is a friendly place, with lots of smiles and even occasional laughter at my jokes. What more could you want?

What with our colds, I have to admit that our taste buds may not have been hitting on all cylinders. That said, I thought the Brewhouse kitchen did a good job. It’s a pleasant place, with a choice of downstairs or upstairs ambience, and they have an excellent selection of local craft brews. I’ll join Dan in giving it my seal of approval. If fate takes you to Helena, give the Brewhouse a try.

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