Brewers Association Meets With Montana Senator Baucus

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Boulder, CO • April 13, 2012—A representative from The Brewers Association— the trade association representing small and independent brewers—met yesterday with Montana’s Senior U.S. Senator, Max Baucus, to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing small craft brewers in the state of Montana. The meeting took place at the Draught Works Brewery in Missoula, and other meeting attendees included Jeff Grant and Paul Marshall, co-owners of Draught Works, Tony Herbert, Executive Director of the Montana Brewers Association, and Josh Townsley, Vice-President of the Montana Brewers Association and owner of Tamarack Brewing Company. All parties are working together to elevate the economic opportunities presented by local small brewers, especially as craft beer sales continue to increase market share of the national beer market.

“Senator Baucus—who chairs the Senate Bi-partisan Small Brewers Caucus—is, and always has been, a tremendous champion for small businesses, economic growth and job creation in Montana,” said Bob Pease, Chief Operating Officer of the Brewers Association. “We are proud that he is such a strong advocate for Montana brewers and small brewers nationally, and we are looking forward to working with him on Congressional legislative efforts that will ensure America’s small brewers continue to thrive and contribute to our nation’s economy and job growth.”

“Small breweries are engines for our economy and use Montana’s world-class grains to create delicious beer and good-paying jobs.” said Baucus, Co-Chairman of the Senate’s Bi-partisan Small Brewers Caucus. “In Montana, we’re home to more small breweries per capita than almost anywhere in the nation, and it’s important to make sure they have the tools they need to thrive.  Montana’s small brewers make great beer while contributing to their local communities and we’ll keep working together to support these important jobs.”

Currently, Montana has the second-highest number of small breweries per capita in the nation, with 34 registered breweries, and at least two more breweries are expected to open in 2012.  Small brewers use over 5.6 million pounds of malted grain, approximately half of which is grown in Montana. They employ more than 240 Montanans.

Contact:

Abby Berman (on behalf of the Brewers Association)
abby@rosengrouppr.com
(646) 695-7044

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About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®, Great American Beer Festival®, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America®, SAVOR?: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.