Woods Bay brewery celebrates 3 years
By JORDAN DAWSON / Bigfork Eagle
The Flathead Lake Brewing Company in Woods Bay celebrated their third anniversary last Saturday by hosting a combined Oktoberfest party and fundraiser for First Descents, an outdoor adventure program for young adults who have battled cancer.
"It went really well," said Flathead Lake Brewing Company owner Terry Leonard. "I think the weather slowed people down a little. Usually we put the bands on the deck and that attracts more people. But it was cold and rainy so we moved them inside this year."
The event, which lasted from noon to 8 p.m., featured several local bands, including Bad Larry's, Jae Hatt, Old Slouch Hat and D. Dwyer and the Jazz Sextet.
The anniversary party raised about $3,300 for First Descents through donations and the silent and live auctions. Many Bigfork businesses stepped up and donated lots of items for the auction. One of the popular items auctioned off came directly from the brewery; an endless mug that will allow the purchaser to have free beer for life. The mug went for $540.
Leonard is a friend of First Descents founder Brad Ludden, who is originally from Kalispell.
"Brad is doing a great thing," Leonard said. "He could be doing so many other things, but chooses to help cancer patients."
Leonard has hosted multiple fund-raisers for First Descents at the brewery over the last three years. This year he decided it would be best to roll together a fundraiser, Oktoberfest and an anniversary party, though the actual anniversary date is Sept. 17.
"I've never been in a place where I could contribute directly, but now with the brewery I can hold fundraisers and encourage other people to donate," Leonard said.
As for the brewery, Leonard said things are right where he hoped they'd be after three years of business.
"Everything is going really well," he said. "We just signed on with a local distributor, Flathead Beverage, which is an Anheuser- Busch distributor. We've grown so big that we can't keep up with distribution. Hopefully we continue to grow. We'll see how the market goes. Luckily when the economy is down people drink."
The brewery will be offering their winter beer, Wild Horse Winter Ale, around Thanksgiving. This spiced ale is made with pumpkin, molasses, cinnamon, nutmeg and orange peel. They are also bringing back their beer Last Train Home, which they haven't made in two years.
"I'd like to thank the community for their support the last three years," Leonard said. "The brewery is not just a typical bar scene. It's more like a community center. The success has nothing to do with me. It's the community."