Missoula-area breweries celebrate America's 250th birthday with locally sourced beer

Each of the breweries came up with their own special beer, made with Montana ingredients, for the annual Peaks to Prairies collaboration with the Montana Brewers Association. This year, the Association worked with the Montana 250th Commission, which was established by the Montana Legislature, to coordinate efforts to commemorate America's semiquincentennial.

"Peaks to Prairies is an annual collaboration that highlights Montana’s unique position as a leading producer of quality brewing ingredients," explained Chris Averill, the chair of the Commission. "It brings together Montana’s breweries, hop growers, and maltsters to create a 100% made-in-Montana beer. Brewers have creative freedom to brew the style of their choosing using locally grown and malted ingredients. A portion of the proceeds from each beer is donated to the Montana Brewers Association to support its mission to promote the production and sales of high-quality Montana-made beers."

Ben Johnson, who is the head brewer at Lolo Peak Brewery, came up with a hazy IPA for the collaboration.

"It's pretty cool that we used all Montana hops and all Montana malted barley," he said. "That's one of the reasons I chose to do a hazy, so I could use as many different hops as I can. We have five different hops from two different hops farms. It came out pretty good and people like it."

He used three different hops from Flathead Valley Hops and two different varieties from Big Sky Hops. The beer has "waves of tropical fruit, stone fruit, melon and candy along subtle notes of papaya," according to the brewery.

Johnson has a fresh batch that's going to be tapped on the Fourth of July on Saturday. Lolo Peak Brewing is open on the Fourth, but other breweries, like KettleHouse, will be closed.

KettleHouse Brewing Co. came up with a low alcohol-by-volume IPA, 3.4%, for the occasion, and Gild Brewery came up with a domestic amber lager.

Map Brewing in Bozeman came up with an English porter, and 105 Coffee and Brewery in Billings brewed a hazy pale ale.

To find any of those beers, just ask the server for the Peaks to Prairies, and enjoy responsibly.

Governor Greg Gianforte released a lengthy statement this week to celebrate America's 250th birthday.

"America remains a force for good in the world, and a place where anyone, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to work hard, innovate, create, shape your destiny, and serve your community, state, and country, leaving them better than how you found it," Gianforte said. "I’m proud of the work we’ve done in the Treasure State to unlock that potential for every Montanan."