Steve “Bubs” Lozar, who founded the Montana Brewery Museum in Polson, was honored as the Montana Beer Champion during the Montana Beer Awards, given out Feb. 22 in Helena.

This marks the inaugural Montana Beer Champion award, which honors an individual “whose exceptional dedication and contributions have significantly elevated the craft beer industry in Montana.” 

During the awards ceremony at Lewis and Clark Brewing Company, Lozar was heralded as “a true Montana beer legend, someone who for decades has been a cornerstone of Montana’s brewing community.”

Lozar’s family arrived in Montana from Slovenia in 1887, after his great-grandfather was recruited for his brewing expertise. Lozar inherited his great-grandfather’s brewery memorabilia and bartop and established the museum above his screen-printing business on Hwy. 35.

The hours are irregular at best, but the atmosphere is friendly and the collection reflects Lozar’s deep knowledge and passion for the art and business of brewing and imbibing, a “commitment to Montana beer that goes back generations.”

The Ronan Cooperative Brewery also brought awards back to the Mission Valley, claiming gold for its Hellroaring Helles in the malt-forward European pale lagers category; silver for Forbidden City Amber, among the amber ales and hybrid styles; and bronze for Garden Wall Vienna Lager in the amber and dark lagers division.

Winning beers were selected by a panel of 25 professional brewers, industry experts and certified beer judges, who spent more than 24 hours over four days tasting and evaluating 344 beers submitted by 49 Montana breweries.

A total of 30 breweries claimed gold, silver, and bronze medals in 22 beer categories presented last Saturday before a packed house. For more information on the Montana Brewers Association, visit montanabrewers.org.