Gild Brewing

Classy, chill spot in an older building with a lot of character.

Just cross the river (and its surfing spot) from the main part of town. In a row of interesting stores, great street scene and vibe…”so Missoula” kind of place. Friendly staff, legit tasty boutique tacos, 12 of their own quality creations on tap, plus some worthy guest tap options….great place before or after a show, with a date or just for pints and a bite….gotta visit this spot if in Missoula.

We walked across the Beartracks Bridge (good story on that, read the plaques). A little more than halfway over, I think I, wait, is that, are those people surfing down there? Where? Like, right there! In the Clark Fork River! (Me, pointing) Yeah, they are, but they don’t seem to be getting anywhere (there’s a story to that one, too). Moving on. And lo and some behold, Gild was on the other side. In a strip just there and in…

At first blush, it’s seemingly an upscale cocktail bar that does not serve cocktails. Straight wood bar, wood panel base, and a foot bar. Seating for 4 on phat squared stools. Large ornate wood barback unit with a center 4x8 mirror. Cupboardy space to both sides with wines & glassware in panel glass front with slight stained glass green piece doors. Barbell tower below with 20 taps on, 12 of which are holding house logo handles. Crowl crimper aside and glassware shelved below.

Black hex tilings around the bar and wood slat floors beyond. Pressed tin ceiling and ductwork. Cool 2 bulb lamps above and opposite the bar, and a pair of 4 prongs forward. They hold yellow diamond filament spot bulbs (probably the coolest bulbs I’ve ever seen. They’re like glowing drill bits or something). White & green & dark colored walls? Can’t remember and/or can’t see shit. Logo piece front wall. Merch nook to the rear, and a 4x8 draft board above (beer, style, ABV, $). 3 rows of 17 small framed 6” x 8” prints on the far wall, each displaying a beer past with cool drawings, and then dozens more extending down the rear hallway to where the bathrooms be.

A single long shared hightop off the bar seating 10 (where we’re sitting), 2 low tables in a far wall nook, 3 raised roundies across the floor and 4 more forward on a shared hightop bench, + slight bar counter seating in the front below a roll up offering sick views of the hills.

13 house beers (Placebo Pils, American Pilsner, 5%; Gild Lite, Rice Lager, 3.2%; Little Red Song, Red Lager, 5.6%; Survey Says, Mexican Lager w/Lime Zest, 5%; Lord Bergamot, Earl Grey Bitter, 4.9%; Up Doc, Roasted Carrot Saison, 5.5%; Silverbow, Dry Irish Stout, 4.7%; Peachy Queen, Tart Peach Ale, 5%; Hot Tony, Brown Rye Ale, 5.4%; Squall Hammer, SMASH Nelson Pale Ale, 5.1%; Polybius, Juicy IPA, 6.2%; Great Dame, Hazy IPA, 6.8%; Nitro Great Dame, Hazy IPA, 6.8%) + guest taps, beer (Jester King Noble King Saison, Breakside Passionfruit Sour Ale, Left Hand Key Lime Pie), seltzer (Boulevard Quirk Raspberry Rocket Pop Seltzer), cider (Finn River Honey Meadow Cider), and 2 Kombuchas.

Pints are $5-$7. I got into some things (Up Doc, Roasted Carrot Saison, too fucking Carrotty strange even for a rabbit; Lord Bergamot, Earl Grey Bitter, lightly citrusy, tea, nice; Hot Tony, Brown Rye Ale, pleasant spiciness; Squall Hammer, SMASH Nelson Pale Ale, yeah, that’s pretty good, too). Lord Bergamot & Squall Hammer for the Wins.

On walkabout now, as one who is me does. Upstairs, a dozen tables across 2-tiers of seating, + a small bar & board games. And downstairs, the arcade, 30 something pinball & video games, and a bar.

I asked to see the brewery and was told to go out back and look through a window in the alley. Naturally, I did not go in to the Missoula murder alley (fool me once…), but I’ll take their word for it as the beer is coming from somewhere. Good little joint. Some solid beers. I kind of wish we’d gotten into the food menu, too.

 

 

 

great spot here in a neat little part of town. its apparently a pretty big place with three levels, but you wouldnt really know that just walking in and hanging out in the bar area, which feels humble and welcoming. thats where we hung out, but i guess there is a cool arcade in here too. neat look to the place, modern and minimal, but also old timey too, neat details, cozy without trying too hard. i did not see any brewing equipment, but i didnt really look for it either. they had an impressive list of beers on, over a dozen choices, with a hoppy red kolsch and a cool coffee stout catching my attention above the others, and both of them were very good. the beer quality was excellent, and everyone in our group enjoyed the beer they ordered. they have a walk up food line as well, and we had pretty tasty tacos that really hit the mark and were a nice with the beers, affordably priced too! the service was fast and professional, if a little impersonal, and overall i really enjoyed the place. i think the beer is modern and thoughtful and well executed, and i liked the food a lot. cool space, ill check out the rest of it next time, but a great place to catch up with old friends over a couple of inspired ales. worth checking out for sure!