Newly Approved License to Allow Missoula Brewery to Stay Open Later, Sell More Beer

At Monday’s city council meeting on August 17, council members voted 11 -1 to allow Missoula’s Draught Works brewery to have a Conditional Use Tavern License. The new license will allow Draught Works to serve more than 48 ounces of beer to its customers and to stay open much later than its current 9:00 p.m. closing. Council members debated how late the establishment should be allowed to stay open, but ended up allowing for a 2 a.m. closing. Draught Works Owner Jeff Grant says he has no plans to be open that late.

"As far as hours, we will do somewhat of an increase in hours," Grant said. "We by no means intend to be a 2 a.m. bar. It's not our model what so ever. In the summer time were excited that people will be able to get off the river while there is still daylight and grab a beer."

Most breweries will pursue a tavern license when they produce over 10,000 barrels per year, but the story is very different for Draught Works.

"We probably will be somewhere around 3,000 barrels or slightly less, but we are growing our facility and will be doing so probably in the next year or two," Grant said. "What that allows us to do is we will be able to look at equipment that could take us above 10,000 at this juncture which is very nice for growth."

To maintain the conditional use license, Draught Works is required to abide by city zoning codes and, in true Missoula fashion, build a bike corral.