Nearly a dozen brewers testified at the Montana Legislature today on a bill that would raise a small brewery's production cap six fold.
Matt Leow with the Montana Brewers Association says raising the 10,000 barrel limit for small operations to 60,000 would unleash potential for Montana brewers.
"Wouldn’t that be great if instead of just seeing beer from California, Oregon, Washington, Colorado on our shelves, that we were seeing Montana beer when we go visit places like Seattle?"
John Iverson with the Montana Tavern Association says he’d support House Bill 541 with a caveat: that the Legislature pass another bill that would allow certain beverage license holders to add a brewery or distillery aspect to their business.
"We’re saying here's something that you guys like, and here's something that we like, let's put them together and let this industry go for it."
The bill passed the House 85-14 in February. It’s sponsored by two Republicans and a Democrat.
Cole Grant is a reporter with the UM Legislative News Service, a partnership of the University of Montana School of Journalism, the Montana Broadcasters Association and the Greater Montana Foundation.