In a roundup of beer news, 13 breweries win Good Food Awards for sustainability; Colorado Trump protest beer gains additional support; Anheuser-Busch, MillerCoors cut back Montana barley contracts; and Michigan builds a biodigester to treat Founders wastewater.
When it opened in April 2015, The Dram Shop became Montana’s first standalone growler retailer. Today, its 40 taps pour brews from across the country, plus wine, cider, and kombucha.
Currently, over half of the malted grain used by Montana breweries is grown in state and Montana now ranks second in the US in breweries per capita. Missoula, a university town of 69,000, offers a healthy sampling.
KettleHouse Brewery pulls back on distribution in Montana; Alpine Beer Company takes action against illegal beer trading; Louisiana brewery changes name to avoid conflict; and new legislation brewing in New York, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Alabama.
Brewers and breweries have long done more to benefit society than harm it. In ages when drinking water was often contaminated, brewing was a practical science that provided townspeople with something safe to drink. Centuries later, brewers are still working hard to make a positive impact on their communities.
Based in Butte, Mont., Quarry Brewing Company and owner/brewmaster Chuck Schnabel draw on the area’s rich geological resources and history for the company’s slogan: “We dig beer.”
Idaho, Wyoming and Montana all boast some fantastic, overlooked winter destinations, offering more room on the slopes than their crowded, more-heralded neighbor to the south, as well as more elbow room at the bar.
