E-Malt.com News article: USA, MT: New pub and brewery to open side by side in West Great Falls

West Great Falls is getting a new microbrewery and new pub, which will be located side by side, Greatfallstribune.com reported on February, 16.

The new microbrewery and new pub are being built next to each other in a West Bank development, with the owners expecting to get licenses from the state to open within 60 days to 90 days.

Builder and developer Brad Talcott, who built the Staybridge Suites hotel, is developing space for the two new businesses.

The new businesses are the Austin Town House pub, owned by businessman Phil Kiser, and Front Brewing Co., owned by Talcott and his wife, Linda Caricaburu.

The businesses will complete a 5,600-square-foot building owned by Talcott Properties and located just to the west of the hotel.

During construction, a wall between Faster Bassett and Austin Town House will be removed, except for an 8-foot-wide, glass fireplace, Talcott said.

The coffeehouse and pub will share space in what's becoming somewhat of a trend in cities elsewhere, Cartwright said.

When coffeehouse traffic starts to taper off in the early afternoon, pub patrons can begin sitting on that side of Faster Bassett through the evening. Similarly, when Faster Bassett is busiest in the morning, its customers can spill over to the Austin Town House tables.

Kiser, a property owner who previously operated other Great Falls restaurants and bars, called it "an interesting concept that's spreading."

He noted that Starbucks is starting to serve alcohol in some of its coffeehouse locations, and that other businesses are combining coffeehouses and pubs on the East and West coasts.

Kiser said the project is a creative new way for two separately owned businesses to make good use of space.

"It's cutting edge, just like when I opened River City, Montana's first tobacco-free bar, in the state 21 years ago," Kiser said.

He expects to hire six employees at the pub — three full-time and three part-time workers. It will not have gambling.

Kiser has submitted all the paperwork to state officials, and expects that it could take 60 to 90 days to get his beer and wine license.

Talcott hopes to get his brewing license within 60 days, but said it probably will take another month for a brewmaster to develop the beers. He tentatively is planning four types of beers to start: a pale ale, an IPA (India pale ale), a brown ale and a Hefferveisen. They will be named after features of the popular Rocky Mountain Front recreational area west of Great Falls, he said.

Patrons of both the coffeehouse and the pub will be able to view beer-making equipment and brewing through big windows looking into the separate Front Brewing Co. at the south end of the building, Talcott said. He expects to initially employ one brewmaster and a part-time helper.

A new brew pub opened on the East Side of town late last year, Bowser Brewing Co.

Talcott said he briefly considered building a brew pub at his westside locations, but opted for a separate microbrewery and pub because state law has limits on how long a brew pub can operate, and how much beer it can serve customers.

Kiser's pub will showcase the beers made next door, but will also sell wine and other beers, too.


22 February, 2012