HELENA – 29 craft breweries from around Montana showcased their products in Helena Saturday evening.
The Montana Brewers Association held the fifth annual Montana Brewers Summer Rendezvous in Memorial Park.
“It’s a great time for beer lovers,” said Matt Leow, the association’s executive director.
More than 100 Montana-brewed beers were available for visitors to sample, from breweries as far away as Libby. The event also featured local food vendors and live music from Missoula’s Dodgy Mountain Men.
Organizers expected about 1,000 to 1,500 people to attend.
Leow said the Montana Brewers Association started the event in conjunction with Helena’s 150th anniversary celebration in 2014.
“It was such a great event that we continue to do it,” he said.
The Summer Rendezvous is held in conjunction with Bike Helena’s annual Summer Shuttle Fest. Bike Helena provides free Trail Rider shuttles to local trails throughout the weekend. On Sunday, they will carry riders to the Continental Divide Trail at MacDonald Pass, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Leow said it has been a great opportunity for both groups to hold their events together.
“A lot of folks from outside Helena that are in town for Shuttle Fest also come down and check out the brewfest,” he said.
Leow said Montana currently has the second-highest numbers of craft breweries per capita of any state. He said there are 77 in operation around the state, with ten more planned.
