As we switch over to 2014 this week, Jim Horan will head out on a quest to visit every operating brewery in Montana.  He’s not the first to do it and I’m guessing his goal is on many a Montana beer lover’s bucket list.

Yet Jim’s quest comes with a twist.  Dubbing it his “Great Montana Beer Trek,” Jim will hike and/or ski at least twelve miles before visiting any particular brewery in the evening following his trek. His plan mimics some of his hiking adventures from overseas trips, particularly while trekking across Scotland & Wales.  After a long day of hiking, Jim would find himself in a cozy pub, meeting locals and enjoying pints of beer. He hopes to find that same feeling here in Montana where Jim calls Livingston home. 

Jim has a history with beer, too.  He worked under Todd Scott, now the owner of Bozeman Brewing Co., as an assistant brewery for the old Spanish Peaks Brewing and later opened Hellroaring Homebrew Supply Store in Bozeman which he operated from 1994 to 1998.

Jim’s first stop will be Bozeman’s Bridger Brewing which he plans to hit on Thursday.  He hopes to have all the breweries bagged by May 1st when his job as a book distributor kick into full time.  

You can keep up with Jim and his Great Montana Beer Trek by staying tuned to his blog here or on his facebook page here.  Jim is using his trek as an opportunity to raise funds for the Montana Wilderness Association Continental Divide Trail (CDT) Project.