Hi-Line Living: Brew Fest success

Beer seemed to flow like water Saturday as microbrewers from across Montana and legions of beer enthusiasts flocked to the Havre Central Gym for the Hi-Line Winter Brew Fest.

Hill County Homebrewers and the nonprofit Snowdance Ski Association hosted the event to raise money for the Bear Paw Ski Bowl.

The ski bowl, nestled in the Bear Paw Mountains on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation land owned by the Chippewa Cree Tribe, is only a short drive from Havre.

Dave Martens Jr., who works with the association, said money, mostly generated from season passes, has been strained in recent years due to warmer weather.

"There have been dry winters, and bills do keep coming regardless," said Martens.

The association decided a brewfest seemed like something that was feasible and a good way to raise money to help the slope meet its expenses.

For $10, people received a 7-ounce glass and two tickets with which to purchase two glasses of beer. Additional drink tickets could be purchased for $1 each.

Martens' band, Swamp Goat, provided live entertainment, followed by the Crawford Brothers Band.

Brewers present included Triple Dog Brewing Co. from Havre along with others from around the state.

One of the brewers was Ben Boreson of Glasgow.

Boreson took his love of home brewing to a whole new level eight or nine months ago when he converted his two-stall gas station into Busted Knuckle Brewery.

Boreson said in recent years interest and the consumption of microbrews have "been growing pretty steady."

The size of the crowd was evidence of such interest, as people sat in bleachers eating pulled pork sandwiches, danced on the gym floor or stood in clusters talking.

Organizers did not know how many bought tickets, but they did, in fact, run out of glasses and started to hand plastic cups to those who came in.

Martens said Monday that the event brought in $11,050

He added that he hopes to hold a brew fest in the summer, and another next winter but earlier in the season.

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Triple Dog of Havre; The Front and Mighty Mo of Great Falls; Busted Knuckle of Glasgow; Madison River of Belgrade; Great Northern, Lewis and Clark, and Ten Mile Creek of Helena; Draught Works of Missoula; and Flathead of Kalispell were some of the microbreweries with beers on tap at the event along with microbreweries from Black Eagle, Big Sky and Red Lodge.