Is Costco’s New Beer Good Enough for Montana?

Here’s a head-scratcher I hadn’t anticipated: Costco’s house beer, which comes under the Kirkland label, just racked up a bunch of serious awards, and not fake internet trophies. We’re talking silver at the World Beer Cup and medals from the Great American Beer Festival. Their new Helles Lager sounds like the real thing. And no, it isn’t brewed in a warehouse with a forklift. It comes from Deschutes Brewing out of Oregon.

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I have not seen it yet here in Montana. But if it is in our local Costco, I’ll confess: I am intrigued. Not when it comes to beer around these parts. We’ve got Big Sky, Bayern, KettleHouse, Highlander, Meadowlark, Lewis & Clark, Montana Brewing Company… and that’s barely even scratching the surface. The beer scene here ranges from smoky stouts to light pilsners.

And it’s not only local pride speaking. Our nuggets have won their medals at the same festivals that Costco brewers have. Cold Smoke scored bronze, and Lewis & Clark’s Custer’s Last Stout? Pure gold. So yeah, we’ve got standards.

That’s why this Kirkland Lager thing is kind of a wild card. It’s supposed to be smooth, easy to drink, nothing special. That sounds more like a beer for lawnmower mowing work, not a sit-by-the-fire ale. But if it’s that good, I’ll try it.

Until then, I’ll keep keeping it real: Montana-made, full-flavored, and brewed by people who don’t require a subscription to load up on gallon jugs of mayo. However, I am open to FREE samples.