Montana Brewers Association

News

Carry-out and delivery

Posted On March 23, 2020

Montana breweries offer carry-out and delivery options during COVID-19 stay-at-home order

Montana breweries are adjusting to the rapidly changing landscape created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Taprooms are closed for on-premises business, but breweries may continue to sell beer for carry-out, including curbside sales, and make home deliveries.

Closure orders in five Montana counties on Monday, March 16, were followed by Gov. Steve Bullock’s executive order on Friday, March 20, instituting a statewide closure. Then on Thursday, March 26, Gov. Bullock issued a stay-at-home order “to curtail the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Montana.”

Breweries that remain open are now relying on off-premises sales, utilizing privileges granted to brewers by existing law to sell packaged beer for off-premises consumption and deliver beer directly to the public. Gov. Bullock’s executive order maintains these privileges and temporarily allows and encourages breweries to offer “window service, walk-up service, drive-through service, or drive-up service.”

The Montana Brewers Association fully supports actions taken at the state and local levels to protect public health and slow the spread of COVID-19. Even before the closure orders from local health departments, local breweries were voluntarily closing their taprooms and otherwise adjusting their business activities to protect their staff, customers and the public.

“We are proud that our members are leading by example and putting public health first,” said Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association. “We are also very concerned about the impact this pandemic and the resulting economic crisis will have on these Main Street businesses that are so vital to our economy. It’s more important than ever for Montanans to support our local craft breweries.”

During the closure, Montana breweries are operating under the following guidelines:

  • Taprooms are closed other than for off-premises sales of packaged beer.
  • No more than five members of the public are allowed in the taproom at any time.
  • Taprooms open for off-premises sales must practice social distancing (at least six feet apart).
  • Beer orders may be placed by phone or electronically.
  • Breweries may bring orders out to customers on the sidewalk or in the parking lot.
  • Breweries may offer home delivery of packaged beer.

These Montana breweries are open and offering the following services (updated April 17, 2020):

Download a PDF file of the list.

We will be updating this list as new information is available.

For more information or to share updates, please email [email protected].

Winter Newsletter

Posted On February 25, 2020

Fall Newsletter

Posted On October 25, 2019

Fall Rendezvous Beer Awards

Posted On September 19, 2019

Once again at our annual Fall Rendezvous in Missoula, the Montana Brewers Association partnered with local homebrew club, Zoo City Zymurgists, to judge over 120 beers from 34 breweries across the state and present awards in 16 categories. Congratulations to Outlaw for winning Best of Fest and to the other nine breweries that took home awards. Here is the full list of winning beers.

 

Best of FestOutlaw, Oktoberfest

Best of Fest Runner UpGreat Northern, Jorts

 

Best BelgianMAP, Fully Lit Wit

Best FestbierOutlaw, Oktoberfest

Best Fruit/SpecialitySmelter City, Guava Gose with Lime

Best IPABitter Root Brewing, Last Cast

Best Imperial IPAConflux, Falcon Kidding Me

Best Kettle SourMountains Walking, Sour IPA

Best LagerGreat Northern, Jorts

Best Pale AleUnion Hall, Hay Shaker

Best PilsnerOutlaw, Pot Shot Pilsner

Best PorterBozeman Brewing, Plum St. Porter

Best Scotch AleKatabatic, Katabatic Scotch

Best StoutMAP, 80 Chain

Best Red AleConflux, Irish Red Ale

Best SaisonUnion Hall, Saddle Horn

Best WheatConflux, Spiced Strawberry Wheat

Best Wood AgedMAP, Speedy GoseZales

Montana Brewers Association

Montana Brewers Association

P.O. Box 8591

Missoula, MT 59807

406-948-BREW (2739)