From Ellensburg to Montana

*Originally written by Jim Grover

Growing up in the Kittitas Valley was such a great time in my life. Having now lived in Montana for over 25 years, every time my wife Pam and I come home from Montana for Rodeo Weekend or any family event, I can’t help but get goosebumps thinking about all the great times I have had in Ellensburg.  Rodeo weekend has always been one of my favorite times to come back to the Burg. It is always like a reunion, as many of our friends from our school days are usually Behind the Chutes, or at the Tav on Saturday after the parade to watch the Bagpipers from Tacoma and enjoy a refreshing Irish Death, which is always on tap there.

In 2014,  Gary Parker, owner of Iron Horse Brewery stopped into my bar, The Rough Stock Saloon in Drummond, Montana, to introduce himself and see if he could sell me on putting Irish Death on tap in my bar.  Being that he was from Ellensburg and so was I, and that he was also my wife’s cousin’s neighbor up in Liberty, it was probably the easiest sale Gary ever made! Gary and I became friends and pretty soon I think the Rough Stock Saloon became one of their best draught accounts in Montana. In 2016 the opportunity to work for the brewery as their rep in Montana came about and so for the last 6 months I have been beating the backroads of Montana trying to sell Iron Horse Beer.  I have had some good success in some areas not so much in others. Montana has the largest per capita amount of breweries in the United States with a total to date of 46 and counting.  11 breweries in Missoula, Montana alone!

At this point in time, Iron Horse Brewery has many places in Montana that carry our beers.  So if you are ever traveling thru Montana, listed below are a few fine establishments that carry Iron Horse Beer.

Whitefish, Mt. – Piggybacks BBQ Grill

Kalispell, Mt. –  Moose’s Saloon, Brannigan’s Irish Pub, Cattlemen’s Club, Scoreboard Bar.  Desoto Grille, Pin and Cue, The Brass Tap, Famous Daves

Big Fork, Mt. –  Sitting Duck Bar, The Garden Bar

Somers, Mt. – Del’s Bar

Lakeside, Mt. – Mavericks Casino, Short Branch Saloon, Spinnakers

Ronan, Mt. – 2^nd Chance Saloon

Missoula, Mt. – Café Dolche

Phillipsburg, Mt. – Sunshine Station Bar and Grill,  Whitefront Bar

Georgetown Lake, Mt. – 7 Gables Bar and Restaurant

Drummond, Mt. – The Rough Stock Saloon and Grill

Butte, Mt. – Broadway Café, Maloney’s Bar. Metals Sports Bar. Party Palace, Pour House Pub.

Pony, Mt. – Pony Bar

Whitehall, Mt. – Two Bit Saloon

Dillon, Mt. – Klondike Bar.

Three Forks, Mt. – Town Club, Wolfs Den Bar

Bozeman, Mt. – The Bay Bar and Grille, Montana Ale Works, Old Chicago

Helena, Mt. – Big Bull Bar and Grill.  Staggering Ox.  Brewhouse,  Windbag Saloon, Grub Steak Bar and Grill. Montana City Grill, 4 J’s Casino, Broadwater Hot Springs Grill and Bar, Silver City Saloon

Basin, Mt. – Silver Saddle Bar and Grill

Great Falls, Mt. – The Doo Bar.  Beef O Brady’s Sports Bar. The Celtic Cowboy Irish Pub.  Littles Lanes

Augusta, Mt. – The Buckhorn Bar.

Billings, Mt. – Pub Station, High Horse Saloon, Pug Mahons, Old Chicago, Red Robin, Shooters, Stadium Club, Hooligans

That is just some of the many places in Montana you can purchase Iron Horse Beer, as well as all of your major supermarkets. Happy Trails!