The Ronan Cooperative Brewery has been awarded its new license, which allows it to serve wine and stay open until 2 a.m. To celebrate, owners, patrons and friends of the Co-op turned out Friday night, March 1, for the official New License Party.

The place was packed with patrons talking, laughing, telling stories, and drinking craft beer, wine, seltzer and cider. The new license is in addition to the original brewery license and allows beverages beyond craft beer to be served. 

Betty McDonald’s B3 Mauka was serving bread bowls filled with chili. A chart on the door lists dates and time when she’ll be serving food at the brewery; previous offerings have included clam chowder and chicken pot pie. 

All ages were there, from a young family with a little boy to working folks and retirees. 

Ronan Mayor Chris Adler said he was pleased to see the brewery work so well. As mayor and a citizen of Ronan, he’s all for Main Street revitalization. 

A group of three young women were excited to see wine on tap, and they all sported wine glasses and smiles. They’re hoping for more varieties. Larry Hall, an RCB board member, noted that the board has been considering serving some Montana wines so the young ladies may be in luck. 

Breweries may sell each customer only 48 ounces of beer and must close at 8 p.m. With the additional wine and beer license, the brewery may stay open until 2 a.m., serve more craft beer, cider, seltzers, and wine. The RCB can also explore off-premises serving under its catering license. 

This particular brewery business was conceived as a small brewery with a five-barrel, low-volume system, and the wine and beer license is a result of the RCB board searching for additional revenue streams to add to the long-term sustainability of the cooperative. 

The 2023 Montana legislature passed a law allowing  brewery owners to have more than one license. There happened to be a wine and beer license with a catering endorsement available in Ronan, Hall said. RCB placed a bid, which was accepted. 

Next, the Alcohol Control Board Division of the Montana Department of Revenue had to award the Ronan Cooperative Brewery that license. Since RCB is a cooperative brewery, owned by the members, it doesn’t have a single proprietor or a corporate owner. And since it’s possibly the only cooperative brewery in Montana, the bureau was on unfamiliar ground and took longer to process the application before the license finally was awarded.  

The Ronan Cooperative Brewery was started in 2017 as a way to revitalize Ronan’s Main Street. According to Hall, it’s been successful, as Friday night’s soiree shows.

Next up is the brewery’s third annual Icehouse Rendezvous, beginning at 4 p.m. March 8. Ice houses will be set up on the street in front of the brewery and B3 Mauka will be back with shepherd’s pie.

For future events, find them on Facebook.

    Heather Gray pulls a brew on a busy Friday night at the Ronan Cooperative Brewery. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)
  

    The Ronan Co-op Brewery was packed on Friday night as people chatted with friends and enjoyed a wider array of beverages, thanks to the co-op's new license. (Berl Tiskus/Leader)