Montanans love their craft beer and turn out at their local tap rooms in great numbers. But when 8:00 p.m. hits we’ve got to set down the glass and head out. Why? Montana state law limits sales in tap rooms for on-premise consumption to between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

The Montana Brewers Association wants to do something about that and needs your help. They are supporting a bill to be introduced in the 2011 Montana legislative session to shift – and not increase – the tap room hours from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. To show your support, head over to the Montana Brewers Association’s website and sign the petition.

Montana’s breweries are a fantastic growing industry that uses Montana agricultural products, employs lots of Montanans, and makes damn fine beer.  All the tap rooms I’ve visited have been family friendly, wonderfully social places to gather and enjoy craft beer and good friends.  Sign the petition, spread the word and lend your support to Montanan’s great breweries.