The game of politics is one filed with points and counterpoints. For 2013, the Montana Tavern Association stayed under the radar before launching an all out offensive against the craft brewing industry. When that effort was defeated, the various alcohol industry groups spent the next 1.5 years searching for common ground in Montana’s alcohol licensing…
This month’s Session asked what beer book we’d like to see published that hasn’t been written yet. I picked “What’s Really Going on in Craft Beer,” a comprehensive look at the entire system, warts and all. Lo and behold, while the book hasn’t been written yet, several articles hit the beer world this week which…
This month’s Session* topic doubles as my first post for 2015. If you’ve not yet read my 2014 year-end post highlighting the stories and discussion that appeared in Growler Fills during the past year, you’ll find it here. For January, the Session is hosted by Alan McLeod, long-time blogger at A Good Beer Blog and…
It may be nothing more than an arbitrary point on an arbitrary calendar, but the last week of the year always sets our minds toward reflection. A chance snowstorm brought a pleasant white Christmas to Missoula this year. A pending snowstorm has Montana’s doing pretty much what they always do before a snowstorm . .…
[Note: A version of this story first appeared in the October/November Issue of the Rocky Mountain Brewing News. Look for the Rocky Mountain Brewing News in breweries, bottle shops and select bars throughout the Rocky Mountain region. If you have story ideas or news items for future issues, send them to me at [email protected] ]…
[Note: A version of this story first appeared in the October/November Issue of the Rocky Mountain Brewing News. Look for the Rocky Mountain Brewing News in breweries, bottle shops and select bars throughout the Rocky Mountain region. If you have story ideas or news items for future issues, send them to me at [email protected] ]…
The Montana Beer and Wine Distributors Association (MBWDA) announced today it has withdrawn from a coalition of alcohol industry groups over a disagreement with the Montana Tavern Association’s and Montana Brewers Association’s plans to seek changes to alcohol licensing requirements during the 2015 Montana Legislative Session. For background on the proposed “license stacking” bill, see…
Year number three for the Gift Guide here. I haven’t changed much from last year. Added s couple of items and made some adjustment. In any event, if your favorite beer lover has everything on this list, I can’t help you. Odds are, you’ll find a gift or two that’s perfect. 1. Hydro Flask Growler…
An “historic coalition,” as its being billed, took center stage at the Montana Brewers Association Fall Conference in October in Missoula to discuss a proposed bill to allow license stacking in the alcohol industry. The bill, expected to be introduced at the 2015 Montana Legislative Session, would effectively allow breweries to directly purchase a retail…
This month’s Session* topic is hosted by Adrian Dingle at Ding’s Beer Blog. Adrian reflects a bit on how his role in the beer scene has evolved over time and asks the following questions: So, where do you see yourself? Are you simply a cog in the commercial machine if you work for a brewery, store…