Posted On October 18, 2011
Senator’s Small Brewers Caucus Highlights Economic Impact of Local Breweries
(Washington, D.C.) – Montana’s senior U.S. Senator and co-chair of the Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus, Max Baucus congratulated three Montana breweries for landing top awards at the 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival last weekend.
“These highly coveted awards show Montana’s small brewers mean business. I applaud Carter’s, Kettlehouse and Montana Brewing Company for representing our state so well at this national competition. Montana’s small brewers support good-paying jobs and these awards will help draw even more attention to this important business in our state,” said Baucus.
526 breweries representing 48 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico entered the 2011 competition. Awards from the professional judge panel at the festival are recognized around the world as symbols of brewing excellence.
Baucus led the formation of the Bipartisan Small Brewers Caucus to highlight the economic impact of small brewers in Montana.
Montana has the second-highest number of small breweries per capita in the nation, with 28 registered breweries. Small brewers use over 5.6 million pounds of malted grain, approximately half of which is grown in Montana. They employ more than 250 Montanans.
Facts about the Montana brewing industry:
· Small brewers utilize over 5000 retailers, and sell their products in 24 states.
· Small brewers manufacture and package over 88,000 barrels (2,728,000 gallons) of fine handcrafted beer in pints, bottles, cans, and kegs each year.
· Small brewers experienced 10% growth in barrels of beer produced in 2010, and had sales over $24,000,000.
For a full list of award winners from last weekend’s Great American Beer Festival click HERE.
Contact: Kate Downen 406-224-5056/Jenny Donohue 202-224-2651/Kathy Weber 406-329-3123
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