News
Montana Brewers Get Green Light for Growth
Posted On April 13, 2017
HB 541 Clears Final Hurdle on 94-6 Vote
HELENA – This morning, 
the Montana House concurred with Senate amendments on HB 541 with a vote of 94-6. The bill allows
Montana breweries to grow past 10,000 barrels of annual production without losing their taproom by raising the production cap to 60,000 barrels.
“HB 541 is the most important legislation we’ve seen for Montana’s craft brewing industry in 18 years. The Legislature has signaled a green light for Montana breweries to grow, giving breweries the confidence to make investments to expand their production. That means more jobs, increased demand for Montana-grown barley and greater access to Montana craft beer,” said Matt Leow, executive director of the Montana Brewers Association.
HB 541 is sponsored by Rep. Adam Hertz (R-Missoula) and co-sponsored by Rep. Ellie Hill (D-Missoula) and Rep. Greg Hertz (R-Polson). The bill faced a tough road in the Senate where it was amended in committee to set the production cap at 12,000 barrels and include a tax increase for breweries producing between 10,000 and 20,000 barrels annually. The 60,000 barrel limit was restored on the Senate floor along with new regulations for taprooms, limiting breweries to no more than three taprooms and a total of 2,000 barrels of on premises sales. The Montana Tavern Association withdrew their opposition to the bill with the inclusion of the taproom limitations.
“Rep. Hertz brought a great bill that was turned on its head in the Senate Business and Labor committee. We are pleased that the Senate restored the bill to 60,000 barrels. While we would prefer a clean bill without the new taproom limitations, the limits are set high enough that they will not impact what any breweries are currently doing,” said Leow.
Senate committee amendments sparked controversy last week when KettleHouse Brewing realized the changes, if they became law, would force the Missoula brewery to close its popular Northside taproom. The Senate resolved that issue with the amendment to restore the bill to 60,000 barrels.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride for HB 541 over the past week, but we ended up in a good place. Raising the production cap to 60,000 barrels clears the way for Montana breweries to compete in the regional marketplace. Montana is known for producing high quality beer, with our brewers winning national awards. This legislation will enable Montana brewers to pursue export opportunities and provide beer lovers in other states a taste of Montana,” said Leow.
With the House vote approving the Senate amendments, HB 541 is now heading to Governor Bullock’s desk to be signed into law.
Continuing Economic Impact of Craft Brewing in MT 2016
Posted On February 17, 2017
Craft brewing represents a sizable, grass-roots industry to the Montana economy. It provides local jobs and incomes, completes purchases from regional merchants, as well as producing a made in Montana product. Craft breweries are playing an increasingly important role within the state, invigorating neighborhoods and bringing communities together over a beverage.
Furthermore, brewpubs often appear in historically industrial neighborhoods, reinvigorating and reimagining properties left vacant by passing industry. This study builds on previous work completed in 2012 and 2014, separately, to further the publics understanding of the scope of craft brewing’s contributions to the Montana economy. In total, beer production has increased 87 percent from 2010, or at roughly at 13 percent per year. The industry does not seem to be slowing down either – we find production to have grown by 15 percent in 2015, with seven additional breweries in development yet to start production.
In this study we survey Montana craft brewers to ascertain their production, revenues, employment, payroll and other information. This survey is unique in that we collect data only on Montana based craft brewers, while federal statistics lump all brewing into a single category.
The survey results from this study indicate rapid and continuing growth in Montana’s brewing sector. From 2010 to 2015, Montana craft beer production increased by 87 percent, while sales have increased by 111 percent and employment by 204 percent. Expenditures increased by 140 percent and payrolls by 154 percent
Check out the latest 2016 The Continuing Economic Impact of Craft Brewing in Montana
2016 Fall Rendezvous Winners
Posted On September 27, 2016
The 2016 MT Brewers Fall Rendezvous featured more than 170 Montana-made beers from across the state. Missoula’s local homebrewing club, the Zoo City Zmurgists, judged the beers using the BJCP style guidelines in a blind-judging format.
Best of Show: Ten Mile Creek – Queen City Pale Ale
Best of Festival: Ten Mile Creek – Surefire Saison
Here are the winning beers from this fabulous showcase of Montana beer:
Amber: Cabinet Mountain Brewing – Ross Creek
Festbier: Great Northern Brewing Company – Oktoberfest
Fruit Specialty: Mighty Mo Brewing Company – Coconut Brown
IPA: Bonsai Brewing Project – Session IPA
IIPA: Tamarack Brewing – Headwall
Irish/Scottish: Triple Dog Brewing Co. – Aberdeen
Lager: Great Northern Brewing Company – Helles
Pale Ale: Ten Mile Creek – Queen City
Porter: Beaverhead Brewing Co. – Pioneer Porter
Saison: Ten Mile Creek – Surefire Saison
Sour: Bozeman Brewing Co. – Andsoit Gose
Stout: Bandit Brewing Co. – Bliss Stout
Wheat: Wildwood Brewing– White Bark
Wood Aged: Lewis and Clark Brewing – Weizenbock
Congratulations to the winning breweries and thank you to all the breweries that helped make this Rendezvous such a success!
Note: Best of Show was chosen by a five-judge panel from among the highest scoring beers. Best of Festival was chosen as the highest scoring beer among those first released for the festival during the preliminary judging rounds.
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 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.