KettleHouse Permanently Closes Northside Taproom

KettleHouse Brewing Co. announced today it will permanently close its Northside Taproom beginning May 3. The closure is in response to the Covid-19 global pandemic, according to a press release issued by the company. KettleHouse began operations in its Myrtle Street brewery in 1995 and expanded to the Northside location in 2009. The former fruit…

Governor Closes Taprooms, Relaxes Regulations on Alcohol Sales

Remember when arguing over extending the hours of operation for Montana breweries was the biggest issue facing the industry? Today Governor Bullock issued a Directive closing all taprooms, bars and restaurants throughout the state effective 8:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, March 20. The order remains in effect until 11:59 p.m. on March 27, though also notes…

Has Hell Frozen Over in Helena, Montana?

When are you going to start bottling Blackfoot IPA? It’s a question Blackfoot River Brewing has been asked a million times, though in recent years the subject has shifted to cans. The response never changed. With the exception of a comparatively few caged and corked special release bottles over the years, Blackfoot has never packaged…

Bill Introduced to Extend Brewery Taproom Hours

Montanans love their brewery taprooms and with 85 of them now dotting the state, they’ve become ubiquitous, unpretentious community centers where all walks of life gather to unwind in a celebration of small business, daily life, and tasty beverages. One thing Montanans have not loved about their brewery taprooms is the limitations imposed by the…

Winning Beers at the 2018 Montana Brewers Association’s Fall Rendezvous

Thousands of beer fans braved the crisp wind on a chilly afternoon Saturday to enjoy the Montana Brewers Association’s annual Fall Rendezvous in Missoula. The largest festival of its kind featuring only made-in-Montana beers,  the warmly-wrapped patrons were treated to 118 beers in a wide-variety of styles from breweries stretching from Hamilton to Sidney.  (That’s…

Montana Winners at the North American Beer Awards

Fifteen Montana breweries were awarded a combined twenty six medals at the North American Beer Awards on June 2, 2018. The competition is held in Idaho Falls each year in early June in conjunction with the Mountain Brewers Beer Fest.  Organized by the North American Brewers Association, this well regarded competition is conducted as a…

Montana Breweries Win Big at 2018 World Beer Cup

The Brewers Association announced the winners of the 2018 World Beer Cup Thursday at the conclusion of the Association’s annual Craft Brewers Conference, held this year in Nashville, TN.  It was the largest competition to date for the biennial event, with 8,234 beers entered in 101 beer style categories, a 25% increase over the 2016…