SigMT

SiG MT 14 Golden Triangle Brew Co: Neighborly Grains Turn to Liquid Gold S MT In recent years, microbreweries have popped up all over Montana. But at how many of those places can you take a swig of beer, walk up a hill, look out and say, "My beer came from the grains grown right here,"? is is one way Montana's newest brewery is set apart. "e Golden Triangle has this amazing climate to produce world-renowned wheat and barley," says Brandon Roberts. Taking local ingredients and pairing them with the history of Fort Benton has been gratifying for Roberts who, along with Stacia Fuzesy, owns and operates Golden Triangle Brew Co. 1500 Front Street, Fort Benton, MT "I was combining with the Bomgardners in Loma, and I was able to take 2,000 pounds of winter wheat to Ryan Pfeifle at Farm Power Malt," says Roberts. "He custom malted the wheat for us. We've been using it in our Shepweizen, which is an American-style wheat ale." Honey from the Yirsa Farm in Big Sandy goes into the Honey Kölsch. "A Kölsch is a light German ale from the Cologne region," says Roberts. "We're also doing a German-style lager developed during the gold rush days. It's fermented at a warmer temperature because they didn't have the ability to cool it." is type of beer name has been copyrighted, so Golden Triangle's version is called the Benton, named aer TC Power's steamboat that made the most trips on the river. Another way Golden Triangle is set apart is its size. "We're not a microbrewery. We're nano. We're on a one-barrel system right now," says Roberts. "But in terms of freshness, our ingredients are fresher, due to where they come from and the keg you're drinking from isn't going to be 6 months old. We are small scale, handcraing these beers." Tips: • Join the Mug Club! You get $2 pints for life and you can designate a beneficiary in the event you can no longer use it. • Open Tuesday-Sunday. Closed Mondays. • Try a spent grain pretzel and beer cheese. ese are made onsite using the still-viable grains aer the brewing process is complete. • "Don't be afraid to ask questions," says Roberts. "Part of the brewery experience is to educate you about beer, where the ingredients come from, and what gives it flavor and character." • Try a flight which gives you four 4 oz. samples served on a custom-made Russian Olive paddle. Owners Stacia Fuzesy and Brandon Roberts have put Fort Benton's dot on the map as part of the Montana Brewers Association. If beer's not your style, Golden Triangle also has wine, ciders, and Kombucha available. Roberts says, "We're doing this for our community. It's been a lot of fun because it's opened my eyes to an appreciation of more than what my palate might have originally preferred." URBAN AFFAIRS Neighborhoods

• Cover