Montana Brewers Association Returns to Billings on Friday with Montana Brewers Solstice Rendezvous

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 17^th 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 17^th 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.

More than 30 Montana Breweries coming to Bozeman

Posted On May 3, 2016

For Immediate Release

May 3^rd, 2016

More than 30 Montana Breweries coming to Bozeman for the Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous

BOZEMAN — The Montana Brewers Association will be hosting their annual Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous on Thursday, May 5^th at the Haynes Pavilion in Bozeman. Craft beer lovers will have the opportunity to sample brews from more than 30 Montana breweries including six that have opened in the past year.

“With the Montana craft beer scene rapidly growing, the Spring Rendezvous is a celebration of made-in-Montana craft beer,” said Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association. “And there’s no better place to celebrate craft beer culture than Bozeman, a town that is now home to seven breweries.”

With several breweries joining the scene in the past few years, Bozeman is now tied with Missoula for the most breweries of any town in Montana. Bozeman’s newest breweries include MAP Brewing Co., White Dog Brewing Co. and Bunkhouse Brewing.

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 come taste beer from the far reaches of the state along with Bozeman’s hometown favorites. Breweries from as far away as Sydney (Meadowlark Brewing) and Havre (Triple Dog Brewing) are making the trip.

The Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous will take place on Thursday May 5^th in the Haynes Pavilion at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds. There will be a VIP hour from 4:00pm to 5:00pm with general admission going from 5:00pm until 9:00pm. Tickets will be available at the door at $40 for VIP and $30 for general admission. Attendees will be treated to live music by Solidarity Service and Shakewell, will receive a collectible glass and can enjoy unlimited samples of the finest Montana craft beer.

New breweries attending the MT Brewers Spring Rendezvous: Ten Mile Creek (Helena), Beehive Basin (Big Sky), Bunkhouse Brewery (Bozeman), MAP Brewing (Bozeman), White Dog Brewing Co. (Bozeman), Bridger Brewing (Bozeman)

For more information about the MT Brewers Spring Rendezvous or Montana Brewers Association, please visit www.montanabrewers.org

Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous will feature beer from the following Montana breweries!

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Buy Local Beer Campaign launches today

Posted On February 9, 2016

For Immediate Release 

February 9, 2016

Montana Breweries, Taverns and Restaurants Team up for Buy Local Beer Campaign

Beer Lovers Encouraged to Support Local Businesses, Enjoy Montana Craft Beer

Signs reading “Buy Local Beer Here” are showing up on the store fronts of Montana breweries, taverns and restaurants as part of a new campaign to promote Montana craft beer.

“Montana brewers are excited to see more taverns and restaurants getting on board with Montana craft beer. On a basic level it’s about responding to consumer demand, but it’s also about supporting local businesses and keeping more dollars in the local economy,” said Josh Townsley, President of the Montana Brewers Association.

The Montana Brewers Association, Montana Restaurant Association and Montana Tavern Association teamed up for the “Buy Local Beer” campaign.

“Montana taverns are excited to partner with Montana brewers to provide consumers exciting new craft products,” said Jim Johnson, President of the Montana Tavern Association.

With breweries now in over thirty cities and towns across Montana and demand for craft beer on the rise, more bars and restaurants are putting beer from local breweries on tap. What was once a niche market has now expanded into nearly every eatery and watering hole in the State.

“Montana’s restaurant owners are in the business of responding to consumer demand and Montana’s craft brews are very popular.  That’s why we are pleased to help promote the drink local campaign,” said Brad Anderson, Owner of Buffalo Wild Wings in Montana.

The “Buy Local Beer” campaign is also engaging the public and encouraging people to get involved on social media. Craft beer lovers can show their support for Montana craft beer with stickers that are available at taverns, restaurants and breweries participating in the campaign. Craft beer lovers are encouraged to post pictures of their “Buy Local Beer” stickers with the hashtags #BuyLocalBeer and #MTbeer.

“Look out for the ‘Buy Local Beer Here’ sign on store fronts and slap a sticker on your car, bike, skis or boat to show support for Montana craft beer,” said Townsley.

For more information, go to www.montanabrewers.org/buylocalbeer

For PDF images please click here Buy Local Beer images

Thirsty Street, Billings’ latest brewery, to open Feb. 18

Posted On February 9, 2016

Re-posted from Last Best News, by Ed Kemmick, January 31, 2016

Shea and Jill Dawson are planning a Feb. 18 grand opening for their Thirsty Street Brewing Co. 

Shea and Jill Dawson had been talking about opening a brewery for years.

Shea, who works in finance and public affairs at the Phillips 66 refinery, worked in a handful of places for Phillips, mostly recently New Orleans, before they arrived in Billings a year and a half ago.

They really liked what Billings had to offer, and with twin girls who are now a year old, Shea said, they told each other, “we’ve got to really start thinking of putting our roots down.”

Those roots are now planted at 3008 First Ave. N., home of the new Thirsty Street Brewing Co., which will have its grand opening on Thursday, Feb. 18.

The Dawsons had been prepared to build a brewery from scratch, but they couldn’t resist when their real estate agent, Chuck Platt, told them last summer that Himmelberger Brewing was up for sale. Brewing pioneer Dennis Himmelberger had worked long and hard to renovate the old brick building on First Avenue North, meaning the Dawsons wouldn’t have to do much to get their brewery going.

Himmelberger, who opened his brewery early in 2012, closed at the end of last November, shortly after which Shea started brewing beer to prepare for the opening of Thirsty Street.

“I’ve got 95 kegs back there ready to go,” he said, gesturing to the brewing equipment behind the bar.

The biggest change is that the Dawsons have converted what used to be a coffee shop on the east end of the brewery space into a game room with two dart boards, a shuffleboard table and a pool table. The game room wasn’t something they’d planned on from the start.

“But we’re both pretty into bar games, and that room is just perfect for it,” Shea said. They’re also into sports, so they installed two big-screen TVs, one in the tap room and another in the game room.

They also brought in new tables and stools and covered the long bar with a sheet of copper, topped with a layer of clear glaze. They’ve got a sizable sheet of copper left over. “So,” Jill said, “if you know anyone who needs 800 pounds of copper…”

Jill came up with the brewery’s name, based on its proximity to First Avenue and 30th Street. “If you combine 30th and First, you get ‘thirsty,’ kind of,” she said.

Thirsty Street Brewing also has a game room, with pool, darts and shuffleboard. 

Originally from New Mexico, both Dawsons have some experience working in bars, Shea as a bartender and Jill as a server. Shea also took a “brewing science” class in college and has been a home brewer for 10 years.

His favorite recipe is for a Belgian Dubbel-style ale that he’ll be serving under the name Dubbel Trubbel. Other beers he’s already got ready are Winterization Pale Ale, made with fresh spruce tips; Staycation IPA, “with tropical undertones”; Goud Times Belgian Blonde; Big Bison American Stout; and Rimrock’d Amber Ale.

He will rotate other beers in from time to time. Thirsty Street will charge $4 for a pint or $3 for a 12-ounce glass of beer, with a dollar off both sizes during a happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

The brewery will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon to 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon to 5 on Sunday. They will be serving hot dogs and sausages from Pioneer Meats in Big Timber, with buns from Grains of Montana.

There is a fenced-off patio in the brewery’s parking lot, which will be open as weather conditions (and some space heaters) allow. Thirsty Street is right next door to Angry Hank’s, one of Billings’ seven breweries.

The Dawsons said they’ve frequented all of the other establishments and enjoy the camaraderie in the brewing community, the sense of shared passion and the idea that lots of options is less about competition than building a bigger audience of people who like good beer.

They’ve already hired three bartenders and will be serving their beer for the first time next weekend during the Taste of Billings at the Billings Depot.

During the grand opening on Feb. 18, they will have happy-hour prices and will be raffling off five “Mug Club” memberships. The memberships, which normally will cost $30, give regulars a fancy mug that can be used every Wednesday for a $2 fill.

Details: For more information on Thirsty Street Brewing, checkout its Facebook page and website.