Montana should foster home-grown breweries

Posted On April 19, 2013

Throughout the 63rd legislative session, members of both parties have touted their efforts to create jobs and strengthen Montana’s economy. Whether it is reducing tax burdens on small business or making new investments in education, there is good news coming out of the legislature.

But occasionally ideas emerge that are contrary to the goal of economic development. Case in point is the recent legislative attempt to stifle Montana’s flourishing brewery industry. A bill was introduced that would impose an additional $100,000 tax on all existing breweries and cap the creation of new breweries. The obvious aim of this bill was to shut down existing breweries and prevent future expansion.

To appreciate how strange this legislation is, you must understand the history of Montana’s brewing industry and the extremely restrictive rules under which it operates. In 1999, the legislature permitted breweries to operate under some of the most restrictive regulations in the country. These rules require that breweries serve no person more than 48 ounces of beer, close their doors at 8 p.m., and sell only beers they create on their premises. Unlike most bars and casinos, breweries are prohibited from serving liquor or allowing gambling.

Given these tight regulations and the high cost of brewing equipment, which can exceed $500,000, the breweries initially limped along. In recent years, however, breweries around Montana have miraculously innovated, despite the confines of the law, to create thriving small businesses with unique ambiances and high quality beers which are sold on site and distributed to stores and bars.

Thirty-eight breweries now exist in Montana and many more would like to open. Beer manufacturers have created over 450 jobs and generated more than $50 million in Montana-made products. Breweries utilize wheat and barley from Montana farmers and create value-added products which are sold locally. This is precisely the model of manufacturing our state needs to follow in order to expand its economy.

Many bar owners appreciate the opportunity to serve Montana-made brews their patrons enjoy. However, other bar owners feel threatened by the success of these taprooms. For these owners, several lobbyists were hired in Helena to try to effectively write breweries out of the law and tax them out of existence with a new $100,000 fee.

When the brewers purchased their equipment and invested in their buildings, they had no way of knowing that that the legislature would attempt to arbitrarily saddle them with a $100,000 tax. The threat of this legislation even delayed the opening of a brewery in downtown Great Falls and would prevent the opening of many more across the state.

We understand that some tavern owners invested heavily in their licenses and are unsure how their business may fit in with local breweries. However, the solution is not to use governmental regulation to destroy the breweries. Thankfully, a bipartisan group of legislators ended a law that would do just that. As an alternative, we proposed a study resolution which aims to equitably resolve the concerns of the tavern owners while creating a clear path forward for Montana’s brewing industry. Unfortunately, this resolution was killed on the House floor Tuesday.

Both Democrats and Republicans value the new and thriving craft beer industry. As we seek to find ways to expand Montana’s economy, add value to our agriculture products, and grow local jobs, we prefer to nurture this burgeoning industry in our state – not burden it with more licensing and regulation.

Christy Clark is a Republican State Representative from Choteau. Anders Blewett is a Democratic State Senator from Great Falls.

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

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.

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.

(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

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, 3^rd 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.