MICROBREW MONTANA

Lang Creek Brewing: America’s Most Remote Brewery

By Bill Schneider, 4-25-08

	Above: Lang Creek Brewing. Below: Brewery Founders Sandy and John

When visiting Lang Creek Brewing, getting there is half the reward.

I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised. The owners left a clue right on the top of their website by advertising themselves as "America's most remote brewery."

It's not only true, but co-founder and president John Campbell is quite proud of it and had to tell me about a face off he had once with a brewer in Alaska over who was the most remote brewery of them all. "After I told him we're 20 miles from the nearest zip code and a mile up a bumpy, gravel road, he conceded."

John and his wife, Sandy, who are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in June, founded Lang Creek Brewing in 1993. John was an aviator, studying and flying airplanes his entire life. Like many other of today's new breed of brewmasters, he also home brewed his own beer.

Why start a microbrewery? "I have to give my wife credit," he answers. "Any good idea we've had was hers. She said merge your two passions, flying and brewing, but not at the same time. That's why I now call my beer after-flight fuel."

The result was a remodeled airplane hanger along remote Lang Creek and a list of "fine handcrafted ales" with aviation names. Campbell took off with his "flagship beer," Tri-motor Amber, and followed it Skydiver Blonde, Windsock Pale Ale, Old Pilot Porter, and other aviation beers.

Lang Creek Brewing Address: 655 Lang Creek Road, Marion, MT 59925 Directions:42 miles west of Kalispell on U.S. 2, turn onto the unpaved Lang Creek Road at Mile Marker 80 and go one mile before turning left at the first major fork in the road. Phone: 406-858-2200 Website: www.langcreekbrewery.com Map: Click here. Hours: Monday-Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, Saturaday 11 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 to 5 pm. Call ahead to be sure. Food:None Author's Favorite Beer Name:Skydiver Blonde

Lang Creek makes great craft beer like many others brewed in Montana, but produces English-style ales using a different type and mix of malt. "We have four beers that are different than any other in the state," Campbell explains, "Huckleberry N' Honey, Mandarin Orange Hefe, London Ale and Zeppelin Imperial Pilsner Ale. Distributors are always looking for something different."

As testimony, he points to the company recently picking up the coveted authorizations to sell bottled beer to Fred Meyer and QFC stores in Oregon and Washington.

But what's really distinct about Lang Creek Brewing is its remote location, which has a sweet and sour edge. Campbell admits it makes finding help a bit harder and increases transportation costs, but believes it's also a strong marketing advantage for the company. Beer fans, both local and tourist, relish these quirky, off-the-beaten-path destinations like the big red brewery with a stunning view of the sweeping Thompson River Valley.

He told me about one group of tourists who spent two days trying to find them last year, but were still happy--and thirsty--when they finally found it. "We finally decided to put up a sign out on the highway (U.S. 2) just this year," he said, but when I suggested he needed another one at a fork in the gravel road, he countered with "I don't want to take all the fun out of it."

Then, he gave me his favorite line. "If you don't call ahead for directions, you'll be too old to enjoy our beer when you get here."

Right now, he doesn't get much "walk in traffic," but that could change. I can definitely see some tourists putting in the effort to find such a place as part of their Montana experience. To accommodate anticipated upswing in traffic, Campbell plans to put in a bar and upgrade his tasting room, now tucked away a remote corner of the terminal.

The current lack of retail sales also sets Lang Creek apart from other Montana microbreweries where high-profit sales in the taproom often gives them the extra margin needed to stay in business. Lang Creek sells beer in its tasting room, too, but not much, not yet. Most beer coming out the taps goes as samples, and most money comes in from selling bottled beer, which is also different from other breweries that sell more keg beer than bottled.

The big event of the year at Lang Creek is what's locally called "The Boogie," but officially, it's Skydive Lost Prairie. The national skydiving event happens in late July or early August each year, and during the event, some skydivers glide right to the front door of brewery for, of course, a pint of Skydiver Blonde. I might go back just to see that.

Although Campbell says business has been good, he has noticed a small slowdown in recent months because of the generally lousy economic conditions everywhere, including Marion, Montana, nearest zip code, population 818.

"The hop shortage has also been tough," he says, "We've had to raise the prices on our hoppiest beers."

With the suggested retail price of six-packs going from $6.99 to $8.99, he notes, it has to make a difference. And who said inflation was only 3 percent? Obviously not a fancier of great microbrew anywhere near Montana.

"Lovethatlang," it says on the company's brochure, and it's hard not to love the place, the people, and the beer. But before you go, don't forget to dial 406-858-2200 for directions. You don't want to be too old to drink when you get there.

Editor's Note: For a complete list of Microbrew Montana articles to date, click here.

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