Posted On June 15, 2016
BILLINGS — The Montana Brewers Association is coming to Billings on Friday, holding its Montana Brewers Solstice Rendezvous on Friday, June 17th at the Billings Depot. Craft beer lovers will have the opportunity to sample brews from more than 20 Montana breweries.
“It’s been three years since we held a brewfest in Billings and we’re excited to be back in town for this celebration of made-in-Montana craft beer,” said Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association.
“We hope to see Billings out in force Friday night, joining us at the Rendezvous after work for great tunes and some of the best craft beer in the world. What a perfect way enjoy a beautiful Friday summer evening.”
Since the last MBA event in Billings in 2013, Montana breweries have exploded, growing from 40 breweries in the state to more than 60.
“The growth in the Montana brewery scene has been marked by quality as well as quantity, with Montana breweries bringing home 36 medals from the North American Beer Awards earlier this month as well as a win at the World Beer Cup,” said Paul Morup with Überbrew.
“We are excited to share truly world class brews with beer lovers in Billings.”
Überbrew recently won two gold medals and a silver at the North American Beer Awards. Fifteen other Montana breweries also brought home medals from the North American Beer Awards and several of those award winning beers will be available at Friday’s event. Canyon Creek Brewing will be pouring One Night Stand (silver) and Cold Creek Scottish (bronze), Red Lodge Ales will be pouring Summer Daze (gold), and Philipsburg Brewing Company will be pouring Haybag (silver) and Otter Water (bronze). Haybag also won a silver medal at the World Beer Cup.
The Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous is unique event, serving beer only from Montana breweries with proceeds benefiting the work of the Montana Brewers Association. Craft beer enthusiasts are encouraged to sample beer from the far reaches of the state along with Billings’ hometown favorites, including Thirsty Street Brewing Company, one of Montana’s newest breweries.
Admission includes a collectable Solstice Rendezvous glass to enjoy free samples of the finest Montana craft beer. Attendees will be treated to live music by John Flordis Trio and Shakewell.
The John Floridis Trio features guitarist and singer-songwriter John Floridis along with bassist John Sporman and drummer Ed Stalling. Their most recent CD is “Live From 11th and Grant”, a soundtrack from their Emmy Award winning episode of the Montana PBS program of the same name. The trio recently performed with Grammy Award winner Robert Cray at Missoula’s Wilma Theater and have also opened for The Carolina Chocolate Drops. The trio combines a deep respect of well written songs with an adventurous jazz inspired spirit of improvisation, and the result is an energetic blend of groove based bluesy, folk-rock.
Shakewell will be headlining this year’s Rendezvous. Shakewell is tearing down venues with tectonic dance grooves radiating from their epicenter in Missoula, Montana. Born and bred in the Last Best Place on earth, Shakewell thumps out the funk, neo-soul, and rock’n’roll that gets everyone onto the dance floor. Fresh from Evergroove Studio in Evergreen, CO, Shakewell has recently recorded their full-length debut album produced by Alan Evans (Soulive, Karl Denson). The album is set for release in Fall 2016.
The Montana Brewers Solstice Rendezvous is Friday, June 17th at the Billings Depot. There will be a VIP hour from 4:00 to 5:00 pm with general admission from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickets will be available at the door at $40 for VIP and $30 for general admission. Presale tickets are $35 for VIP and $25 for general admission, and are available online through Thursday.
The 2016 Montana Brewers Solstice Rendezvous will feature brews from:
Beaver Creek Brewery
Black Eagle Brewery
Bozeman Brewing Company
Bridger Brewing
Canyon Creek Brewing
Draught Works
Highlander Beer
Kalispell Brewing Company
Katabatic Brewing Company
Lewis and Clark Brewing Company
Meadowlark Brewing
Mighty Mo Brewing Company
Muddy Creek Brewery
Neptune’s Brewery
Outlaw Brewing
Philipsburg Brewing Company
Red Lodge Ales
Tamarack Brewing Company
Ten Mile Creek Brewery
The Front Brewing Company
Thirsty Street Brewing Company
Überbrew
For more information about the Montana Brewers Solstice Rendezvous, visit www.montanabrewers.org.