Lawmakers debate educational brewing

After Montana lawmakers questioned the need for Flathead Valley Community College to operate a taproom Wednesday morning, supporters of an educational brewers license bill said it would bring the college out of a gray area.

House Bill 462, proposed by Rep. Frank Garner, R-Kalispell, would allow community colleges and universities to operate a brewery and a taproom.

During the bill’s hearing March 22 before the Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee, Garner said the bill was a chance to create qualified locals who could work in breweries across the state.

“It’s a growing industry in our state and right now there isn’t an institution in our state that is able to offer this program fully,” he said.

Flathead Valley Community College launched Montana’s first college brewing program in 2015. Montana State University Billings followed in 2016 with a Certificate in Craft Brewing and Fermentation.

The bill mandates an educational taphouse could open its doors to the public for as many as 20 hours a week and customers would be limited to 12 ounces of beer per day. Students could also market their craft beer to retailers.

“I’m struggling a little bit as how a taproom is being touted as an economic development tool,” said chair of the committee, Sen. Ed Butrrey, R-Great Falls.

FVCC President Jane Karas said the ability to open a taproom would bring more students and equipped workers to the valley.

She said running a taphouse goes beyond pouring a beer — it includes managing the books, keeping ingredients stocked and interacting with customers.

“When the local brewers came to us and hop growers said we need people trained in this, we did our research,” Karas said.

She said the college learned there were people in the Flathead on waiting lists for brewing science programs outside of Montana. She said after discovering local breweries had good-paying jobs they struggled to fill, the program made sense.

Brian Smith with the Blackfoot River Brewing Co. said it takes about two years for the company to train brewers. And he said many of those employees eventually leave to get professional training.

“We’ve been trying to hire and train brewers for about 18 years now, and pretty much there’s no one available that comes in already professionally trained, unless we’re stealing them from one of our competitors,” he said.

He said FVCC’s brewing science program could create a pool of brewers ready to step into the field.

The college is currently operating the program in its new facility off a pilot brewers license.

Shauna Helfert with the Montana Department of Revenue said the Montana alcoholic beverage code doesn’t allow a political subdivision of the state to apply for a liquor license. She said the department worked with the college to come up with the bill as a solution.

Sen. Dee Brown, R-Hungry Horse, asked if the college could be creative in allowing the public to taste the students’ work without selling it or creating a taproom.

Helfert said the college’s pilot license can be used by the brewers for personal or family use. She said when it comes to serving to the public, “it’s a gray area and probably best to have it outlined in law” through an academic brewing license.

Karas said the college is trying to conduct the new program in the best way possible “that is clear and doesn’t keep us in a gray area.”

“Mr. Chairman, even I haven’t tasted the product,” Karas said. “...The students taste it then pour it down the drain.”

Sen. Frank Smith, D-Poplar, said he was concerned that underage drinking would take place in the brewery and that students may break in to the brewery.

Karas said the brewing facility already has several security provisions in place, including an alarm system, locked doors and security that patrols the campus.

The Senate Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs Committee did not take action on the bill as of Wednesday afternoon.

Reporter Katheryn Houghton may be reached at 758-4436 or by email at khoughton@dailyinterlake.com.