Lewis and Clark Beverages

One of the more enjoyable things about my research is sampling the various wares to be found with Lewis and Clark themes. It's all pretty silly because the expedition did not have fancy chocolate bars and scented candles and soaps and lotions. But perhaps they had coffee and beer. We know they had whiskey--barrels and barrels of whiskey--so the Jack Daniels company's commemorative distillation a couple years ago made some sort of sense.

I recently came across a couple items that I saved for specifically posting on Trail Watch. The first is part of the package for "Expedition Blend," an organic coffee produced by Hunter Bay Coffee Roasters in Lolo, Montana. I bought it in the shop at Travelers' Rest. The coffee itself is long gone.


"Hit the Trail" with Expedition Blend, featuring a 1954 commemorative stamp. I actually have one of these stamps myself.

Next is a portion of the carton for Lewis and Clark Lager brewed by the Lewis and Clark Brewing Company in Helena. This product is not long gone--I'm not much of a beer drinker and I still have a couple bottles left. The company also produces a beer named for Sacagawea.


Side panel on a six-pack carton of Lewis and Clark Lager. This beer has its own website with even more merchandise, or perhaps we might call it meta-merchandise.

In the case of both these products, I especially like the design of the packaging. Those Montanans know what they're doing--at least, they saw me coming.