The 29th Annual Great American Beer Festival kicks off today in Denver, Colorado, hosting more than 520 breweries and 2,200 beers in dozens of styles.  Far more beers have been entered in the competition.  Tickets to the three-day event sold out five weeks ago and some 50,000 people are expected to attend.  I’ve never been to the festival and it is difficult to comprehend that many breweries and beers in one place.  I wouldn’t even know where to start, though I’d sure like to give it a try.

Five Montana breweries will be vying for a prized gold, silver or bronze medal in the competition and bringing great Montana beer to the throngs of beer lovers:  Carter’s Brewing Co. and Montana Brewing Co. in Billings, Red Lodge Ales Brewing Co. in Red Lodge, Kettlehouse Brewing Co. in Missoula and Great Northern Brewing Co. in Whitefish.  Our Montana breweries have had excellent success over the years in the competition.  In 2009, Montana Brewing Co. won gold in the Herb and Spice or Chocolate category for its Stillwater Rye and Kettlehouse’s Cold Smoke won Bronze in the Scottish Style Ale category.  Montana Brewing Company has been a perennial winner at the competition and won the small brewpub and brewer of the year award in 2007.

Good luck!