On tap at Madison River

Are spring showers and cabin fever making you antsy? The Taproom at Madison River Brewing Company is open and happy to quench your thirst. With a huge variety of drafts available, the popular brewer surely has something for every palate. Beers now on tap include seasonal selections Stimulator Doppelbock, Elk Hair ESB, Golden Willie Cream Ale, and Baetis Belgium Orange. Coming soon: Parachute Pilsner and New Sessionable IPA. Year round drafts include The Juice Double IPA, Dropper IPA, Irresistible Amber Ale, Hopper Pale Ale, Copper John Scotch Ale, Salmon Fly Honey Rye, Black Ghost Oatmeal Stout, and Black Ghost Nitro Stout. The Taproom is open 7 days a week from 2-8pm. Situated in Southwestern Montana’s Gallatin Valley, Belgrade (home to Madison River Brewing Company) is an outdoorsman’s paradise. Within an hour, one can be skiing or biking in the Bridger Mountains or Big Sky area, enjoying a hike in one of seven mountain ranges, or fishing world-class rivers. The latter is where their name originated. The Madison River has earned the reputation as one of the best places to fly-fish in the world. Because the river is located in MRBC’s backyard, current Brewmaster/ President Howard McMurry chose Madison River for the name of the world-class brewery. Sticking with the theme, most MRBC beers carry the name of a fishing fly. Madison River Brewing Company, Inc. started in 2004 when Howard purchased the brewery and equipment from Moab Brewing. At that time, the brewers contract-brewed for Moab, Park City, and Big Hole breweries. In 2005, Madison River Brewing Company emerged when it received a state license to brew its own brands. Originally available only on draft, MRBC’s first beer was the Hopper Pale Ale, which came out in September of 2005. Salmon Fly Honey Rye, now their flagship beer, followed shortly thereafter. Copper John Scotch Ale, Irresistible ESB, and Yellow Humpy Hefeweizen emerged during the next year, completing the initial Madison River fleet (the Amber claimed the Irresistible moniker after a while, and Elk Hair ESB is now a rotating seasonal). Hopper Pale Ale and Salmon Fly Honey Rye bottles entered the market in September 2006, and MRBC started bottling Irresistible Amber and Copper John Scotch Ale in late 2007. Initially, Madison River Brewing distributed only in and around the Bozeman area, through Cardinal Distributing. Since the initial distribution push, they have slowly expanded their market to cover all of Montana and most of Wyoming, as well as parts of North Dakota, Idaho, and even Canada. As with most craft breweries, Madison River brews seasonal beers that offer patrons additional options. Over the years, and due to popular demand, some of these brews have earned a place on the list of year-round beers. Madison River Brewing Company is located 1/2 mile west of the airport at 20900 Frontage Road, Building B, in Belgrade. For more information, visit madisonriverbrewing.com/ or call (406) 388-0322. •