Page 8 - Helena Chamber Spring 2018 B2B

BREWERIES CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
LEWIS AND CLARK BREWERY
Max Pigman, owner of Lewis and Clark Brewery, has been part of the craft brewery business for 16 years, rst in the basement of the Brewhouse on Euclid, and for the past 7 years in their location on Dodge Avenue, south of the tracks and west of Montana Avenue.
That location has undergone a massive expansion in the past two years as they expand from a local brand to a regional one, with sales covering all of Montana and parts of Washington and Idaho.
Even with the regional expansion, Helena remains the anchor of the business. People’s interest in local products, made with local ingredients, and in local businesses committed to improving their communities continues. Expanding connections
with the larger Helena community is
central to Lewis and Clark’s business model.
The brewery
staff works to give the taproom a friendly feel, a place where people of all types, even people who
don’t even drink, can have a good time. The goal is to have a place where doctors and carpenters
can rub elbows and enjoy each other’s company. Keeping people interested by offering a wide variety of styles and tastes is also vital. In addition to the regularly offered beers, the brewery brews a wide variety of seasonal and experimental beers that are only available for a few weeks, until they are sold out.
The visual and performance arts are an important part of these connections. Local artists display and sell their work without fees
or commissions. This gives the brewery a rotating art display, and it gives artists exposure to a wider audience, who may never walk into a gallery. Two to three times a week, local, regional, and national musical acts appear, usually without a cover charge. Since 2011, over 700 different bands have
performed. Monday nights are open mic night, and Wednesday nights Cow Tipping Comedy performs improv comedy.
The community connections continue with raising money
for local organizations. Tuesday night’s Ales for Charity raises $250- $600 on average for a different charity every week. Each year, the brewery gives a total of $20,000- $25,000 to local groups.
8 |
BUSINESS TO BUSINESS CONNECTION
SNOW HOP BREWERY
The fermentation tanks are bubbling away at Snow Hop Brewery as Helena’s newest brewery prepares for a late
winter/early spring opening. Owners Barbie and Steve
Edwards and brew master Becky Peppelman have been busy for nearly
a year preparing their new brewery and
taproom. Located on Barney Drive, just north of Custer
off McHugh, it will be the
rst on Helena’s north side.
After 20 years of home brewing and selling brewing supplies at Rock Hand Hardware, Barbie and Steve decided to jump into the brewery business. They sold their house and started work on