KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Ashleigh carter, Head Brewer & Co-Owner

Bierstadt Lagerhaus

Ashleigh Carter is one of the owners and is the Head Brewer at Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver Colorado. In her fourteen year career in brewing, she has gone from working in a homebrew shop packaging specialty malt, to an assistant brewer at Dry Dock Brewing (Aurora, CO), to the Lead Brewer at Prost Brewing (Denver, CO), and now is in charge of everything beer at Bierstadt. Her vision of a three malt, two hop lager brewery, replete with horizontal lager tanks and a hard-to-find outside of Bavaria floatation tank is firmly rooted in traditional techniques and patience. She was the technical editor and wrote the foreword for Modern Lager Brewing by Jack Hendler and Joe Connolly and has given talks all around the world spreading the lager gospel.

OTHER PRESENTERS

Chris Averill, Chair

Montana 250th Commission

Chris’ interest in history was nourished at a very early age. Born in Boston, Mass., Chris had easy access to structures and places of importance to the American experiment throughout his formative years. Chris moved to Montana in 2021, and resides in Helena with his wife and son. He is the Vice President of Communications and Government Affairs at Benchmark Public Affairs. He currently serves as Chair of the Lewis and Clark County Heritage Preservation and Tourism Development Council, and was appointed by Governor Greg Gianforte to the Montana State Historic Preservation Review Board in 2022.

Cat Beard, intern

MSU Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab

Cat is the newest intern at MSUs Malt and Brewing Quality Lab. Her passion for the industry began in 2020 when she began beertending at a brewery in South Lake Tahoe, California. She started home-brewing shortly after. In 2023, Cat moved to Bozeman to pursue a bachelors degree in Biochemistry with an interest in fermentation. You can also find Cat behind the bar at Map Brewing Company! 

Mark Bergstrom, Sales Manager

Bozeman Brewing Co.

Mark has worked for Bozeman Brewing in a sales role for 9 years and is a BJCP Certified Beer Judge. His beer journey began long ago when he was lucky enough to grow up on Colorado’s Front Range, one of America’s beer meccas. (He’s still known to enjoy a Banquet or O’Dell IPA from time to time). Mark’s move to Montana motivated a career in beer and now he travels our beautiful state preaching the good word of beer to anyone that will listen, from the newest craft fan to the grizzled industry vet. He loves to learn and takes great pleasure in good conversation over a tasty beer with friends new and old.

Doug Child, head brewer

MAP Brewing Co.

Doug started homebrewing in the early 90s and attended the Siebel Institute in 1996. His first professional brewing job was as an assistant brewer (and later head brewer) at a small brewpub in Everett, Washington. In 2015 Doug and some partners opened MAP Brewing Co. in Bozeman, Montana.

Tim Chisman, Co-Managing Partner

Blackfoot River Brewing Company

Tim launched his brewing career in 2004 at Big Sky Brewing Company in Missoula, Montana. He earned a Brewing Science and Engineering diploma from the American Brewers Guild in 2007. In 2010, he joined Blackfoot River Brewing Company as Head Brewer, becoming a partner in 2014. Tim has served as Co-Managing Partner since 2019, following the retirement of the founding partners.

Lisa Clayborn, Outreach & education specialist

Montana Department of Revenue, Alcoholic Beverage Control Division

Lisa Clayborn is the Outreach and Education Specialist with the Montana Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABCD) assisting in the ever-growing outreach and education division of MT ABCD. She works with the Outreach and Education Coordinator, to provide knowledge and assistance to licensees, agency stores, wholesalers, and other industry members.

In addition, she works with the Educational Training Specialist, to grow the Responsible Alcoholic Sales and Service (RASS) training curriculum. RASS has over 200 trainers utilizing a curriculum to educate all Montana citizens who sell and serve alcoholic beverages.

Lisa is a native Montanan and has spent time living overseas and has landed back home. She holds a B.S. in Environmental Studies and enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, traveling, and being outdoors.

Jason Combs, Director of Beer, Cider, & N/A

George’s Distributing

A fifth-generation Montanan, Jason Combs has built his life and career around two passions: the surroundings of his home state and the vibrant culture of the beer

beverage industry. Jason began his 25-year career with Lehrkind’s, where he worked as a merchandiser, driver, and salesman before moving to Cardinal Distributing in Bozeman.

In 2017, Jason joined George’s Distributing as Beer and NA Director, where he aimed to create a new type of distribution model. Under his leadership, George’s has expanded their beer program significantly, including the addition of a state-of-the-art 36° cooler designed to preserve quality of all beer in both keg and package at the highest

standards possible.

Jason values creative control and collaboration, and his work is fueled by the people who make the industry thrive—suppliers, retailers, colleagues, and partners. Together, they continue to set an example of what is possible in Montana’s wholesale beverage landscape.

dacia english, Outreach & education coordinator

Montana Department of Revenue, Alcoholic Beverage Control Division

Dacia has been with the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABCD) in Montana for over 11 years and currently serves as the Outreach and Education Coordinator.

She joined ABCD as a Licensing and Compliance Specialist in August 2014, processing license applications, helping licensees with changes to their licenses, and handling compliance matters. She also held the Unit Manager position for two years for the Licensing and Compliance Bureau. In this position, she oversaw seven Licensing and Compliance Specialists who processed over 2,400 application cases annually. She has licensing and compliance experience and enjoys helping people understand this complex business and area of the law.

Dacia English has a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Montana State University. She and her husband, Randy, own a ranch in north-central Montana.

Dacia’s goal for the Division’s Outreach and Education Unit is to be the industry’s best resource and work with them to be successful; “Regulation through Education” is the Unit’s motto.

CHRIS FARMAND, Founder & principal

Small Batch Standard

It all started in 2010 when Chris was fortunate enough to assist a start-up brewery with establishing back-office processes. This gave him a firsthand glimpse into the complications of running a brewery. Shortly thereafter, he founded Small Batch Standard, which has become the premier financial agency for craft over the past decade. Everyday, Chris and the SBS team are seeking the opportunity to assist an industry full of entrepreneurs who have proven to create amazing, local products. Small Batch Standard helps breweries uncover profit through outsourced accounting, tax compliance, and benchmark consulting.  Chris has worked with over 200 breweries and is driven by building long-lasting deep relationships. 

Chris graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance in 2002.  Then in 2006, he received his Master of Business Administration from the University of North Florida. He is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

bob hall, board member

Ronan Cooperative Brewery

Bob Hall was a member of the Board of Directors at Ronan Coop Brewery 2018-2025 , where he now simply helps with brewing. He is also a homebrewer of 32 years and a BJCP Grand Master beer judge. He was thrilled to find that customers at Ronan enjoy lager beers so much that they drink them in about half the time that it takes us to lager them. His day job is a limnologist at University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Bio Station.

Sara Killeen, Owner & Editor-in-chief

Montana Craft Beer Connection

Sara Killeen, the driving force behind the Montana Craft Beer Connection, cofounded the magazine as a way to promote and highlight the craft beer industry. Since taking over the business in 2020, Sara has grown MCBC to encompass many other projects highlighting Montana craft beer. Sara first experienced, and simultaneously fell in love with, craft beer at a backyard picnic after moving back to Montana for college and has continued to immerse herself in the craft beer world ever since. In addition to her business, Sara is also currently the Leadership Committee for the Montana Pink Boots Society and an active Certified BJCP judge.

Ethan Kohoutek, Board President

Montana Brewers Association

Ethan Kohoutek is the co-founder and owner of Ten Mile Creek Brewery in Helena and is part of the team that runs the Craig Taphouse in Craig, MT. His family has been part of the Montana alcohol industry for three generations in retail, distribution and

manufacturing. He focuses on the business side of their operations and he thoroughly enjoys watching the different Montana brewery business models grow and adapt in the state. Ethan has served as the MBA president since 2019. He wants to continue to see the brewing industry in the state be able to advance their business opportunities in the changing alcohol landscape. When he isn’t enjoying a pint you can find him playing outside with his family or enjoying a baseball game.

Matt Leow, Executive Director

Montana Brewers Association

Matt hails from the Bluegrass State but now calls the Big Sky State his home. After graduating from Hanover College in 1997, he came to Montana and tasted ski bum life for a couple seasons. The post-college adventure turned into a new life in Montana that’s at 28 years and counting. Since 2000, Matt has worked with nonprofit

organizations, first as a staffer and later as a consultant, helping advocacy groups achieve their goals through policy change at the legislature and through the citizen initiative process.

Matt jumped at the opportunity to combine his advocacy and nonprofit background with his love of craft beer when he became the Executive Director of the Montana Brewers Association. July 1st marked 10 years in this position, during which time Matt has helped Montana brewers achieve several key state policy victories. He lives in Missoula with his wife, son and their two terriers. When left to his own devices, he can typically be found on the local trails, rivers or slopes along with a Montana craft beer or two.

loy maierhauser, coo

MAP Brewing Co.

Loy Maierhauser first fell in love with beer after she began homebrewing in 2004, and has been a beer lover and brewer ever since. Loy is currently the COO at MAP Brewing in Bozeman, is an Advanced Cicerone and a Certified Beer Judge through the BJCP. Through Loy's extensive commercial judging experience she's developed a passion for beer evaluation and competitions, helping the MBA launch the Montana Beer Awards. She's also enthusiastic about beer education, and has taught brewing, tasting, and judging classes across the state. When Loy’s not working on something beer related, you can probably find her sipping beer on her deck, reading a book, or trail running.

Al Pils, Brand Engagement Manager

KettleHouse Brewing Co.

Hello, my name is Al Pils and I’ve been in the beer business for the last 24 years. From running one of the first taprooms to sell a pint across the plank to making cans a thing, I’ve seen many advancements in our great industry.

Brittany Waiss, HR Manager

KettleHouse Brewing Co.

Brittany is a certified Human Resources professional and an International Coaching Federation Associate Certified Coach (ACC) who has embraced being an HR and organizational development nerd. A graduate of the University of Montana College of Business, she has a depth of varied HR experience in healthcare, nonprofits, and for-profit businesses. In 2017, she joined KettleHouse Brewing Co. Doing so helped merge her passion for both beer and effective HR strategy, as well as follow in the footsteps of her grandfather and father in the beer industry as a third-generation “beerman.” At KettleHouse, Brittany has led the charge to develop and optimize HR strategy to help support the company as it grows. In addition, she offers leadership coaching and HR consulting through her company, Expedition Coaching and Consulting LLC. When not practicing HR or talking beer, you can usually find her playing in the mountains with her family.