2013 Montana Brewers Trail Map

Posted On May 23, 2013

This is the 2013 Montana Brewers Trail map which shows our current member breweries throughout the state. Be on the lookout for our 2014 Map, coming soon!  This is the 4th version of a very popular map and can be found in breweries and visitor centers around Montana.  Pick one up so you are sure to stay on the Brewery Trail!

Download the full map here

Montana Brewers Spring Festival is May 31st

Posted On May 17, 2013

Join The Montana Brewers Association in Billings, Montana on Friday, May 31st, for our First Annual Montana Brewers Spring Festival!

We will have over 20 Montana Brewers boasting over 70 Craft Brews for your judgement and enjoyment! This will be the largest collection of Montana-made beer ever gathered in eastern Montana. Come make history and enjoy one-stop access to unique Montana brewers and their beers. A variety of music will be heard throughout the day and delicious food will be served. Come join us and relax with your friends at this annual marquee celebration of Montana-made beer at a great venue in Billings. Stay tuned for a list of all the great beverages we’ll be serving up cold on tap!

Where: The Depot Downtown, Billings Montana

2013 MBA Billings Spring Brewfest

When: May 31st

VIP Brewer Hour: 4pm-5pm
General Admission: 5pm-10pm

Spring Brewfest VIP: $30 in Advance, $35 at the gate
General Brewfest Admission: $20 in Advance, $25 at the gate
Cost includes your 9oz bottomless (no joke…it really is bottomless) glass!

Music Lineup:
John Floridis (Missoula, MT) for VIP HOUR – 4:00 to 5:00
Downtime (Billings, MT) – 5:30 to 7:30
Keegan Smith and the Fam (Portland, OR) – 8:00 to 10:00

Craft Beer Week on Tap May 13-19

Posted On May 10, 2013

As craft beer continues to capture the imaginations and palates of millions of Americans, the Montana Brewers Association is excited to toast the eighth annual American Craft Beer Week (ACBW) from May 13-19 as celebrations are expected to be held across all 50 states. With the tagline “Big Week, Small Breweries”, ACBW is an opportunity to celebrate the more than 2,400 small and independent American brewers who continue to make the U.S. the world’s most diverse brewing destination.

“The popularity of American Craft Beer Week is indicative of the craft beer renaissance that continues to captivate the US,” said Julia Herz, publisher of CraftBeer.com and Craft Beer program director at the Brewers Association. “This week is about uniting for a common cause: support and celebration of our nation’s small and independent brewers and the millions of beer lovers who have helped evolve an industry and put the U.S. on the brewing map.”

Celebrate Montana’s fine craft beer with a pint of the cold stuff at your local watering hole! To find more local celebrations, events or promotions, visit the ACBW events page.

For all of our friends in the Helena area, every Monday Blackfoot River Brewing hosts a fund-raising event in their taproom for local community organizations. This Monday, May 13th, the Montana Brewers Association will be the non-profit partner on tap. The Blackfoot will contribute $1.00 from every glass of beer sold on Monday night to the MBA. If you liked the work the MBA did this legislative session to protect Montana’s craft brewing industry, please come out and show your support with a glass of great beer that has been brewed from the ground up!

63rd Legislature Adjourns and the Beer Still Flows

Posted On April 25, 2013

The 63rd Legislature adjourned yesterday a few days before their scheduled 90th day, wrapping up all the major pieces of legislation including the state’s budget, pay plans, tax bills, etc. Importantly, there was no attempt in the waning days to resurrect the dreaded anti-brewery 60/40 bill, HB616. Fortunately, no brewery legislation passed this session after a hard fought effort by the Montana Brewers Association and by craft beer fans statewide. HB616 was tabled in committee after the sponsor realized he couldn’t muster the votes to get it out of committee.

However, HJ18, the Joint Study Resolution designed to study the alcohol licensing system was killed on the House floor. HJ18 left the House Business and Labor Committee with a unanimous 19-0 vote, but suddenly ran into trouble in the House when on second reading it received only 37 favorable votes. The Montana Tavern Association and the Montana Gaming Association worked to defeat this bill even though we had earlier agreed to amendments they had proposed in committee. When 3rd reading came up the next day, it died on a 50 – 50 vote (8 House Business Committee and Labor Members changed their votes).  The Montana Tavern Association, Montana Gaming Association, and others evidently don’t want “sunlight” shed on our current broken system, which was a primary goal that the study resolution would have achieved.

So we now head into the interim with a great amount of work ahead of us. The Montana Brewers Association is committed to working with our members and our patrons to develop a sound solution to these issues.  We intend to key a sharp eye towards maintaining a strong and growing craft beer industry with open entry into the marketplace, and will continue working with industry partners in the development of workable solutions. We still need your help in this regard, so please stay tuned to our Newsletters, website, our Facebook posts, and join us at our festivals in Billings (May 31) and Missoula (September 28) to show your support of Montana-made beer. Thanks again for all the support you have provided to the craft beer industry during this legislative session.

The Beer Still Flows!