Manufacturing Alliance: Crafting beer alongside Montana’s agricultural roots

Bias Brewing is building community through craft brewing in Downtown Kalispell and at its roots are Montana agriculture products.  

Co-Owners, Gabe Mariman and Adam Robertson started Bias Brewing in 2018 with the word “community” at the heart of the company. Creating a space that was welcoming to everyone and building a brewery by hand was step one.  

Step two was going outside of the brewery and taproom to partner with local nonprofits, volunteering over 8,000 hours and raising over $300,000 since opening the doors in 2018. Step three was growing the business by utilizing Montana agriculture to make great beer, and self-distribute that beer to five counties and over 200 customers. 

“It’s pretty simple, we make craft beer from Montana agriculture products and deliver that beer to the people. We show up for the communities we serve and do the work, we support our local farmers, we support our local community members, and humbly serve our customers. It’s not a marketing ploy, it’s a way of life,” said Mariman.  

In 2025 Bias Brewing turned over 52,000 pounds of Montana grown and malted grain and hundreds of pounds of Montana hops into 32,000 gallons of Montana beer. They canned, kegged, and delivered their Montana craft beer to restaurants, bars, and retailers across an area that is larger by area than 10 states in the U.S. And if it were a state, it would also be the most beautiful state in the country per square mile.  

“We understand our customers and their customers, because we meet them where they are and provide them a customized relationship based on what they need. We celebrate milestones and accomplishments together and in times of trouble or loss, we mourn together. All the while, we get to do it in the pristine place we want to live, work, and build community,” said Robertson.    

In early 2026 Bias Brewing relaunched Kalispell Brewing Company and released several of their well-loved beers.  

“This is an opportunity for our company to grow, for us to purchase more Montana Ag, expand our wholesale portfolio, and expand our distribution footprint,” said Christina Beisel, Director of Ops at Bias Brewing and Co Leader of the Montana Pink Boots Society. “The Two Ski Brewski was a top craft beer east of the Rockies and was a staple in NW Montana for years, and it’s back, life is good!” said longtime brewer for Kalispell Brewing and Bias Brewing, Tyler Richardson. Bias Brewing also released a line of Ready to Drink Cocktails featuring a Hard Huckleberry Lemonade and a Main Street Mule, to meet the demand of a changing market.  

Bias Brewing and Kalispell Brewing continue to brew and thrive under the same roof at the heart of Historic Downtown Kalispell, but much of the magic behind their beloved beers starts on the High Line and the Golden Triangle, considered some of the best soil and conditions for dryland barley and wheat farming on the planet. There is no secret to the success, just take the best water, the best malted barley and hops, and strive for excellence in the community and the brewery, and great things will happen.  

Cheers to Montana Agriculture and Montana Beer!  

Gabe Mariman is a co-owner of Bias Brewing in downtown Kalispell.