Eureka brewery turns heads with IPA

Off the beaten path, not far from the Canadian border, intrepid beer drinkers can find the best India Pale Ale in Montana — or at least the best according to the Montana Brewers Association.

The Grave Creek IPA, created by HA Brewing near Eureka, has been the company’s flagship beer since it opened in August 2013.

It won Montana’s best IPA, as voted on at the Montana Brewers Fall Festival in Missoula last September. For head brewer and owner Chris Neill, it was a good portent.

“It’s definitely pretty exciting,” he said. “It means we’re on the right track and making good beer. You make beer for yourself, and when other people like it, that’s a great feeling.”

HA Brewing was initially named Homestead Ales, but was forced to make a name change after a similarly named brewery in Ohio served papers. A new name for the Eureka brewery hasn’t prevented the company attracting a solid following from Flathead Valley beer lovers.

“Right off the bat we had overwhelming support from the Flathead,” Neill said. “It was mostly 7 plates in the parking lot. Locals have kept us busy this winter.”

And with the proximity to Canada, Albertans are getting their fill of the brews as well. Eureka’s loyal hop-heads are in on the action as well, creating what Neill described as “a great following.”

“We’re pretty much a Canadian resort up here,” he said.

When HA Brewing opened in August, it was run on a 2.5 barrel system. High demand necessitated growth to a 5 barrel system. The ample room on Neill’s land allows a great deal of expansion potential. Time will tell whether that will happen.

“We are going to try to expand the courtyard,” he said. “For production I think we are going to ride this size out.”

Five beers are kept on tap, along with a ginger ale for kids. The sunny courtyard is family friendly, even as the brewer and carpenter looks to the future of his beer.

“I thought this would be a part-time job,” he said of his brewing duties. “It’s really taking a lot of effort. That’s why I like that we are off the beaten path.”

Neill founded his brewery next door to his furniture workshop, and still operates both businesses. Initial plans for rapid growth or a move to Eureka proper were stymied by Montana’s beer laws.

“We had plans to expand a bunch,” he said. “But there are law changes that might be coming in the next year and we want to wait and see what happens there.”

Located several miles outside of Eureka, up Grave Creek, the brewer loves the secluded location and the fresh, clean water just outside the door. Beer drinkers still find their way to his taproom, in spite of the off-the-beaten-track location.

“The response has been way overwhelming,” he said. “People love the tap room and they love our beer.”

For now, Neill’s plans include moving to a Belgian series. Up first is a Belgian witbier, or white ale, and possibly a saison, a seasonal beer.

“We are getting ready to start off the farmhouse work,” he said. “It is a way for me to play around a bit.”

Other beers on tap include the Pioneer Pale Ale, Black Irish Stout, Sledneck Blonde, Big Creek Porter and Eli’s Ginger Ale.

(Ryan Murray writes for the Flathead Business Journal)