Baucus holds first Small Brewers Caucus meeting
This week, Sen. Max Baucus held the first meeting of the Small Brewers Caucus, which he co-chairs with Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo. The caucus aims to showcase issues important to craft brewers and push those issues forward. Montana’s barley and the role it plays in the brewing industry was the focus of this week’s meeting:
I wanted to let you know that this week we held the first ever meeting of the Senate and House Small Brewers Caucus to discuss the importance of barley to American agriculture, issues facing the industry, and barley’s critical role in developing malt essential for high quality craft beer. Barley contributes nearly a billion dollars to the U.S. economy and supports jobs in rural America. Although barley is the third largest feed grain crop in the U.S. it is increasingly used for nutritious food, malting and brewing.
I believe Montana’s barley is second to none and our craft beers are the finest in the nation. To elevate the profile of our growing number of Montana small brewers who are creating jobs when our state needs it most, I honored all of them as part of my “Montana Jobs Economic Engine Initiative.” Beer from one of our economic engines, Big Sky Brewing in Missoula, was showcased as we met with members of the National Barley Growers Association and the Brewers Association.
To read the full letter from Baucus, click here.
- Matt Pritchard
Baucus wagers Lewis and Clark beer on Carroll College championship game
From the Associated Press:
HELENA – Sen. Max Baucus and Sen. Tim Johnson of South Dakota have a little extra riding on Saturday’s championship game between Carroll College and the University of Sioux Falls.
The second-ranked Saints (13-0) meet top-ranked Sioux Falls (13-0) in the NAIA national championship game Saturday in Rome, Ga.
The Montana Democrat’s office says Baucus has wagered a case of beer from Helena’s Lewis and Clark brewery against South Dakota buffalo steaks put up by Johnson.
Baucus says he’s made four similar bets in the past when Carroll has won championships, and that he hopes the winning tradition continues this weekend.
- Matt Pritchard