The Kalispell Brewing Company is packed full. The air buzzes as old friends reconnected, beers are poured for anxious customers, and acoustic bluegrass music drifts above the hum of conversation. In one corner, a family throws a birthday party for their 96 year old matriarch. In another, a three-piece band stomps out a rhythm. The only break in the flow of conversation is to applaud as the band finishes their set with a flourish.

Locals might hardly recognize downtown Kalispell on a regular Monday night, but great beer and good music may be two of the main ingredients in a revitalized downtown.

IN RECENT YEARS, Kalispell hasn’t exactly been known for a thriving main strip. Instead, those looking for live music might just keep driving through the town on their way to Whitefish, where live music and a hopping downtown are a staple.

However, Kalispell Brewing Company seems to be pumping some life into the quiet strip.

“In Whitefish, you can walk through any door, any night of the week, and chances are, you’ll see live music,” said the brewery’s co-owner, Maggie Doherty. “Here, in Kalispell, there are only a handful of places that offer music.”

Doherty and her husband, Cole Schneider, founded the brewery with the intention of creating a family-friendly gathering place.

“We knew from day one we wanted to have music,” said Doherty. “Great beer and good music go hand in hand.”

The brewery doesn’t have any televisions, and doesn’t call itself a sports bar. Instead, Doherty said, the goal was to create a place where family and friends could mingle in Kalispell.

“We wanted a place people could come after work, or weekends,” Doherty said. “We were looking for a nice place to hang out, so that’s what we wanted to create.”

THE COUPLE opened June 19 of this year, after years of planning, permitting, and construction. Founded in 2012, the business had their work cut out for them as they began renovating the nearly 100-year-old building in downtown Kalispell, where they intended to house their brewery. It is the first time beer has been brewed downtown since 1955.

Since their opening, they’ve stuck with their intention to house live music. Each month, the brewery plays host to four or five different bands from across the valley, some from as far away as Missoula.

One such band is Fresh Off The Vine, a mixture of bluegrass and jazz, native to the Flathead Valley, who played at the brewery on Monday night.

“Even though we’re from Kalispell, this is the first time we’re playing here in quite some time,” said guitarist, Lucas Mace. “There just aren’t many places to play in town.”

Though the band has been together for three years, they play mostly in Whitefish or out of town, because there are many more options. Kalispell offers only a handful of live-music venues, and even fewer are family-friendly.

“It’s a great place to play though,” Mace said of the brewery. “It’s nice to be back in town.”

Kalispell Brewing Company also strives to support local non-profits with their Benefit Brews Night. On the third Tuesday of each month, the brewery will donate $1 per beer sold between 5 and 8 p.m. to a local non-profit. In September, the company hosted and donated to the Glacier Symphony and Chorale, and will donate to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in October.

“You can come and drink a beer to donate,” Doherty said with a laugh. “Is there a better way to donate to a great cause?”

Doherty said the event also helped introduce the Glacier Symphony, and advertise for their fall season.

“We also helped promote the group,” she said. “It was a great way to get the word out about what they have coming up.”

Throughout October, the brewery will host more musical guests: John Floridis will play Oct. 18, Kevin VanDort will play Oct. 23, and the Spring Wagon String Band will perform Oct. 30.

For more information on the brewery, visit their website at www.kalispellbrewing.com