Highlander Brewery Coming Back to Missoula in July After 50-Year Exile

Eminent domain has been a big issue in Missoula with the recent Mountain Water Company condemnation trial, but many Missoulians have forgotten another eminent domain case from the 1960s, which destroyed the Highlander Brewery. New Highlander Brewery Co-owner Bob Lukes says the beer hasn’t been made in town for over 50 years.

"Highlander was really the beer in western Montana and a lot of Montana for many years," Lukes explaind. "It started in 1910. It was called the Garden City Brewing company back then, and then after prhoibition, up through 1964. The brewery was  really large facility, at the base of Waterworks Hill here in Missoula right over near Rattlesnake creek, and when the interstate came through I-90 in 1964, they took out that property by eminent domain."

Lukes says the new Highlander Brewery will be up and running soon near Grant Creek, by Karl Tyler Chevrolet. He believes that Missoula has more than enough room for another brewery.

"There is room on the grocery store shelves for a couple more Montana beers, and the craft beer segment is picking up pace all over the country," said Lukes. "I think good evidence of that is Bend, Oregon, which is not that much bigger than Missoula, I think its maybe 100,000 people I think they've got 20 some breweries in Bend, Oregon. And so there is room for more breweries in Missoula."

Lukes says the brewery should be open by early July and will be producing at least two styles of bottled beer, with plans for more in the future. The brewery itself will serve lots of different styles and have food available as well.