Breweries collaborate to create Last Best Pale Ale

Breweries across Montana are releasing the 2022 Last Best Pale Ale, a collaboration of Montana Brewers Association member breweries and Montana producers.

“I can think of no better way to celebrate our great state and its people than with a Montana-made beer brewed with Montana-grown malt and hops,” said MBA Executive Director Matt Leow, in a release. “We’re so thrilled to have Montana hop growers, Montana barley growers, Montana maltsters and, of course, Montana brewers all participating in this collaboration beer. From the barley fields to your local taproom, Montana farmers, maltsters and brewers have produced a beer that embodies why this state we love is known as the Last Best Place.”

This is the second year Montana brewers have teamed up with Montana producers to create a 100% Montana-made beer in celebration. Support for the effort came from Farm Power Malt, Gallatin Valley Malt, Malteurop, Montana Craft Malt, Big Sky Hops, Crooked Yard Hops, and Flathead Valley Hops, with brewers purchasing ingredients at reduced rates from local growers.

Breweries took the ingredients and turned them into their own unique pale ale recipes.

Fifteen Montana breweries so far are brewing the Last Best Pale Ale, though Leow says more will likely join in.

Each brewery will donate a portion of the proceeds of their Last Best Pale to the Montana Brewers Association to continue to further the mission of promoting the production and sales of the freshest and highest quality Montana-made beers. The MBA will use a portion of donations raised to fund scholarships for student researchers at Montana State University’s Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab.

"Cabinet Mountain Brewing in Libby is excited to again be collaborating with our fellow Montana brewers and agricultural partners in producing the Last Best Pale Ale in support of the Montana Brewers Association,” said Sarah Sorensen, founder and co-owner of Cabinet Mountain Brewing. “It's this spirit of fellowship that connects us within our craft, recognizes the great importance and value in our Montana grown produce and creates a meaningful offering for our guests. Cheers!"

The Last Best Pale Ale is on tap in the following breweries: 2 Basset Brewery in White Sulphur Springs; Bitter Root Brewing in Hamilton; Blackfoot River Brewing Co. in Helena; Bonsai Brewing in Whitefish; Burnt Tree Brewing in Ennis; Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. in Libby; Draught Works Brewery in Missoula; Highlander Beer in Missoula; Kalispell Brewing in Kalispell; Katabatic Brewing Co. in Livingston; KettleHouse Brewing in Missoula; MAP Brewing Co. in Bozeman; Ronan Coop in Ronan; Sacred Waters Brewing Co. in Kalispell; Ten Mile Creek Brewery in Helena.

Participating breweries will be pouring the Last Best Pale Ale collaboration beer throughout the year while supplies last.

For more information about the MBA, please visit montanabrewers.org.