Brewfest fundraiser planned for ski bowl

Beer drinkers will be able to taste microbrews from across Montana while raising money for a local community-operated ski slope.

Hill County Homebrewers and Snowdance Ski Association, a nonprofit that operates and promotes the Bear Paw Ski Bowl, will host the Winter Hi-Line Brewfest.

The event will take place Saturday in the Havre Central Gym at St. Jude Thaddeus School.

Proceeds will go to Snowdance.

Dave Martens, manager of the ski bowl, said the hill does not bring in much revenue, but it still needs money to cover overhead costs and maintainance of its equipment.

“If we want a community that has a ski area, we have to be able to afford it,” Martens said.

Warm winters in recent years have cut down on skiers coming to the bowl and strained the slope’s operating budget, he said. This year, snowfall was so scant the ski bowl didn’t even open.

Martens said it is the hope of organizers that the brewfest will help generate money needed to pay the ski bowl’s bills, while providing Snowdance with an opportunity to promote the ski area and recruit volunteers.

A second brewfest for the summer may be in the works, Martens said.

Martens said that he and Homebrewers hatched the idea for the brewfest in November.

At least 14 breweries from across the state, including Triple Dog Brewing Co. of Havre, will be there to showcase their microbrews and give out samples.

Admission is $10. Attendees will each receive a seven-ounce taster glass and two tickets entitling them to two samples. Additional tickets can be purchased at the event for $1 each.

The Crawford Brothers Band, a country music group from Heart Butte, will provide live entertainment. Martens said that either the St. Jude’s Booster Club or parish will have food available at the concession stands.

The event starts at 5 p.m.