Montana Brewers Association

News

House Joint Resolution 18 Dies on House Floor in 50 – 50 Vote

Posted On April 16, 2013

The House voted down HJ18 with a 50 to 50 vote with the full House on third reading today, showing the strength of the Montana Taverns Association and the Montana Gaming Industry Association lobbies. The bill, which would have provided for the study of licensing issues within the alcohol code had passed second reading on Monday, April 15, with a vote of 62-37.

Obviously there are those industry members who didn’t really want to  work together during the interim to develop proper, long-term solutions to licensing and retail issues which have been so controversial. Even though these industry members requested amendments to the Study Resolution, which were accepted in committee, they worked hard to kill the measure in the House and apparently never intended to work within the confines of the legislative interim process. Representative Christy Clark was surprised by the turn of votes in the House, and also surprised at how some do not want any daylight brought to the current outdated alcohol control laws.

The Montana Brewers Association and its members want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all Montana craft beer fans that have taken time out to let your voices be heard, and written to legislators or placed editorials in newspapers statewide. Your hard work and enthusiasm has set the stage for the Montana Brewers Association to continue working towards sensible solutions that meet the needs of Montanans, and to take advantage of the time provided.

Please stay tuned to our webpage and Facebook page for updates on next steps on important policy issues that will affect Montana brewers and all the craft beer fans in Montana!

House of Representatives Approves HJ18 62-37 on Second Reading

Posted On April 15, 2013

The Montana House of Representatives approved HJ18, the study resolution of the alcohol code relating to licensing, by a 62-37 vote on second reading. The vote was a strong bi-partisan vote with 32 Republicans and 30 Democrats in favor. Introduced by Rep. Christy Clark (R – Choteau), the study is intended to review issues relating to licensing, with some specific focus on retail licensing by manufacturers (breweries, distilleries and wineries).

Check out the comprehensive results of this vote here, and encourage your local representative to vote yes in third reading on HJ18 tomorrow.

The HJ18 study was introduced by the Montana Brewers Association.Amendments were agreed to with other industry representatives which were adopted previously in the House Business and Labor Committee. HJ18 will have a third reading on Tuesday, and will then proceed to the Senate for a hearing in a committee, presumably the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee.

As HJ18’s hearing schedule is determined, please keep your eye our for progress updates on the study resolution and specific Senators to contact in support of this much needed resolution.

A huge thanks to all our of patrons and supporters who have taken time to become engaged in this process. Our work here, in many ways, is just beginning, and we appreciate your continued support throughout this process!

Flathead Cruise with Charlie Papazian – August 10

Posted On April 1, 2013

Come join us on August for a special event–A Cruise with Charlie!!!! Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association and the father of home brewing in America, Charlie will cruise Flathead Lake out of Lakeside with members and guests of the Montana Brewers Association. The Far West boat is reserved from 6pm to 9pm, and it will be a unique opportunity to mingle with Charlie and many Montana brewers, enjoy the sites and your fill of Montana made beer paired with outstanding fare, and music by John Floridis.

Charlie Papazian

This Cruise will include plenty of delicious beers from 12 participating breweries, paired with heavy hors d’oeuvres, music by John Floridis, and a beautiful cruise around Flathead Lake. The boat departs at 6pm and returns to the dock at 9pm. Brewers and guest are invited to join together at the Tamarack Brewery located in Lakeside before and after the cruise.

Due to the size of the boat (149 guests) we are able to make only 75 tickets available for sale online in advance at the price of $150 per ticket (limit of 4 tickets per purchase). Buy your tickets right here and come join us for a fun filled night with the Montana brewers and an icon of the brewing world.


Number of Tickets



(a $5 processing fee will be added per ticket purchased)

The Far West Boat will depart Lakeside promptly at 6pm, so please arrive at least 15 minutes in advance.

Please print your Pay Pal receipt and bring it with you as proof of purchase.  Or bring it on your smart phone and save some paper.

 

We also have reserved some rooms in the area (see below), and will host a shuttle service to and from Lakeside and these hotels.

• Best Western Flathead Lake Inn and Suites – 4824 Highway 93 South – 406-857-2400 – 10 rooms call by July 10 – $189.99/night – Closest to Lakeside – shuttle will be available.

• Kalispell Econo-Lodge – 1680 U.S. 93 Kalispell, Mt 59901 – 406-752-3467 – 30 rooms call by July 10 – $109.99/night – shuttle will be available.

• Kalispell Hilton Garden Inn – 1840 U.S. 93 Kalispell, Mt 59901 – 406-756-4500 – 20 rooms call by July 20 – $159.99/night – shuttle will be available

CHARLIE PAPAZIAN

President, Brewers Association

Charlie Papazian is one of the most prominent and recognized names in the world of beer and brewing. His published commentaries provide insights into the industry, advice to homebrewers, and beer perspectives for beer drinkers. Since founding the American Homebrewers Association and Association of Brewers in 1978, he has helped guide the development of the association. He is currently the President of the Brewers Association, whose activities include:

In his worldwide travels, he has been both lecturer and presenter at such prestigious events as: The World Beer and Beverage Forum in Munich, National Press Club, Master Brewers Association of the Americas, American Society of Brewing Chemists, Institute of Brewing Asia-Pacific, BrewTec Tokyo, International Craft Beer Conference Japan, AHA National Conference, National Craft Brewers Conference, Chef des Chef International Trade Show, National Restaurant Association, Pizza Today Exposition, Great American Beer Festival, Nightclub and Bar Expo, Canadean’s International Beer Seminars, Amsterdam, Slow Food’s Salone del Gusto in Italy, BRAU Beviale Germany, Mondial de la Bière in Montreal, Rüdiger Ruoss’ Sommertage Workshops in Berlin, and many other professional and hobbyist events.

He is author of five best-selling books (1,200,000+ copies) published by HarperCollins Books: Microbrewed Adventures (2005), The Complete Joy of Home Brewing, 3rd Edition (2003), The Home Brewer’s Companion (1994), Home Brewer’s Gold (1997), The Best of Zymurgy (1998), and The Interactive New Complete Joy of Home Brewing CD-ROM. He is the National Beer Examiner for www.Examiner.com

He is founder of National Pie Day.

Member: Master Brewer Association of the Americas, American Society of Brewing Chemists, Institute of Brewing & Distilling, Slow Food International, Juror Slow Food Award, Slow USA, Bier Convent International, Honorary Member Asociación de Cerveceros Artesanales de la República Argentina and Honorary Member Asociación de Cervecerias Artesanales de Chile, New Member of the Class of 2011 Army War College & participant in 2011 National Security Seminars.

Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering, 1972 University of Virginia.

He lives in the Boulder, Colorado area with his wife Sandra and daughter Carla, where he avidly brews lagers, ales, and honey meads. For more information about the Brewers Association see www.brewersassociation.org, www.homebrewersassociation.org, www.craftbeer.com.

Tell the House Business and Labor Committee to VOTE NO on HB616

Posted On April 1, 2013

The House Business and Labor Committee is scheduled to take action on the 60/40 anti-brewery bill on Wednesday. This vote was supposed to have happened last Thursday, but was postponed because the bill didn’t have the votes needed to pass. The MTA has been using this extra time working to try to turn committee members’ votes in support of HB616.

Let the committee members know that they should VOTE NO ON HB616! Tell them that the study resolution, HJ18, that they passed unanimously, will provide the time and dialogue needed to develop the right solutions for everyone.

Tell them that the Department of Revenue’s recent legal opinion indicating that HB616 raises a significant risk of lawsuits in Federal Court is a great example of the many unattended consequences of a last minute bill like HB616, and just one more good reason to VOTE NO ON HB616!

 Now that HJ18 has unanimously passed the committee, HB616 makes even less sense (in addition to the bill’s legal issues). Email the committee below, call 444-4800, or leave an online message  here

   

Tom Berry [email protected]
Carlie Boland [email protected]
Christy Clark [email protected]
Amanda Curtis [email protected]
Steve Fitzpatrick [email protected]
Edward Greef [email protected]
Roger A Hagan [email protected]
Chuck Hunter [email protected]
Mike Lang [email protected]
Jonathan McNive [email protected]
David Moore [email protected]
Daniel Salomon [email protected]
Reilly Neill [email protected]
Rae Peppers [email protected]
Gordon Pierson [email protected]
Scott Reichner [email protected]
Cary Smith [email protected]
Carolyn Squires [email protected]
Tom Steenberg [email protected]
Jeffrey W Welborn [email protected]

 

Montana Brewers Association

Montana Brewers Association

P.O. Box 8591

Missoula, MT 59807

406-948-BREW (2739)