Tap Handle #780: Yellowstone Valley

June 07, 2021

Tap Handle #780: Yellowstone Valley - Renegade Red Ale

Tap size: 14.25" by 4.25"

Rarity: less than 10 seen

Mounting: 3/8" ferrule on 5/16" anchor bolt

This tap from Yellowstone Valley Brewing is made to resemble the bottom half of a fishing pole. While it is kind of a "toy on a stick", with a fishing reel attached to a wooden base, one of the really cool features is that it is an actual fly reel, so you can crank the reel by hand and it turns effortlessly and a satisfying clicking noise. It is a South Bend 1122, which is a vintage fly reel that was first introduced to consumers in the 1960s and 1970s and has been out of production for quite some time. On the other side of the reel is a label that has the name of the brewery and the beer variety. Since the bottom of the tap looks the same no matter what angle you look at it from, I have reduced the number of photos taken. Some other varieties have the name of the beer as a decal on the wooden shaft as well. The tap is a bit taller than average at 14.25", and the reel gives it a width of 4.25", which can be important for those who have limited space between tap mountings or shelves. This is a pretty rare tap; I've only seen one (other than mine), which was on the secondary market last year and sold for about $75.

Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company (YVBC) was founded in Billings, Montana in 1996 by George Moncure and Jay Shearer. The two men were interested in brewing beer commercially so they leased a former auto repair shop in Billings and began to fill it with brewing equipment. They called the space "The Garage at Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company" and envisioned a tap room with live performances from local bands and solo musicians. The barstools in the taproom were made from kegs, as were the light fixtures. Opening the doors in 1996, they became the first tap room to open in Billings, and the third brewery (after Himmelberger Brewing and Montana Brewing/Billings Brewing). Music was not a problem, as they attracted quality performers and were soon established as the only local brewery with live music; the problem was with the taproom itself. State and local laws prohibited breweries from selling beer in tap rooms. So Moncure and Shearer decided to give away beer for free in the tap room and survive on commercial distribution accounts, as well as cover charges for entry into The Garage to hear the music.

This continued until 1999, when thanks to brewing industry leaders who lobbied for reform, the law was changed and Yellowstone Valley was finally able to sell beer in the tap room. However, the law still mostly favored taverns, bars and casinos, as brewery tap rooms were only allowed to be open for 4 hours a day from 4 pm to 8 pm, and could only sell 3 beers per person. In 1998, YVBC had entered the Great American Beer Festival and won a Gold Medal in the Stout category. However, competitions and awards were never that important to the owners, and the award they won was seen as a validation of their brewing skills, so they did not enter the 1999 GABF, nor any after that. Beers were named after fly fishing themes. In addition to the successes of their beer, the brewery also became well-known for their contributions to the live music scene, with performances across many genres at The Garage. They were an important venue for local musicians in Billings, and national and regional acts would also make appearances, and The Garage became an iconic location in the local community. YVBC was dedicated to community involvement, and participated in many non-profit activities to raise money for the community. Minors were welcomed at YVBC, and were served homebrewed kombucha and root beer on tap, with games such as foosball, ping pong, darts, and board games available for entertainment. The brewery was also known as a pet friendly destination.

In 2005 Moncure was challenged by a Missouri brewer who sent a letter demanding that YVBC no longer use Yellowstone in its name due to copyright infringement, but Moncure successfully defended his trademark. In 2008, Moncure opened a satellite brewery and named it Bones Brewing. The new venture had its own brewer, and brewed beer and ale in 16-keg stainless-steel barrels, about one-third the size of those used at YVBC. At Bones, Moncure could have smaller batches brewed and could change the brew quickly. Plus, it had a dinosaur theme, including a full-size replica T-Rex skull which was cast from a real one, and contained an arcade inside. Although Bones Brewing eventually closed in 2013, the arcade continued and is still in existence today.

In 2009, a distillery called "Spirit of Montana" was opened on the site after Moncure purchased a $100,000 German still and began producing vodka and gin using local ingredients. State and federal law mandated that these operations be kept separate, so the distillery, while in the same building, had to have its own entrance, equipment, and bar/serving area. In 2016, the brewery celebrated it's 20th anniversary with a "customer appreciation" free live music weekend. However, just 2 years after this landmark anniversary, Moncure announced his retirement, and the brewery was sold to new owners, Mike Mathew and Kay Foster. YVBC temporarily closed, and performed some renovations inside and out, with new paint, equipment repairs, and slight layout differences. The brewery did re-open in 2019, with a promise to customers that the garage style of the brewery had not changed. Many of the same beers are still served, with 11 on tap along with kombucha and root beer. Also, a new canning line was put into operation.

Yellowstone Valley's Renegade Red Ale is a malty extra special bitter ale, dark in color, and hopped to balance malt and suit the style. Like its namesake, the beer comes on with a bold sweetness, has a smooth full body feel, and a finish that snares the palate.

Ratebeer: 3.03 out of 5

Beer Advocate: 81 out of 100 (good)

Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company

2123 1st Avenue North

Billings, Montana 59101

The YVBC website is gone, and their Facebook page, which was promised to have re-opening information and other brewery activities, does not contain a single post.