Draught Works Owners Support Alma Mater With New Brew

Draught Works owners and University of Montana alumni Jeff Grant and Paul Marshall share two nearly lifelong passions: brewing and the Montana Grizzlies. They tapped into both to create their most recent offering, the “Up With” premium lager. The beer is a collaboration with the Good Ol' Grizzlies NIL Collective, which supports student-athletes at UM. A portion of all sales of “Up With” will go to Good Ol’ Grizzlies to help bolster all athletics programs at UM.

Grant and Marshall both grew up in proud Griz families, Grant in Miles City and Marshall in Missoula. They each made their way to UM, with Grant studying business and Marshall studying economics, but they didn’t meet until later in their careers at a home healthcare company. Their meeting sparked a shared vision for starting a brewery of their own.

Grant was interested in brewing for as long as he can remember. His dad started a small brewery in Miles City, and Grant knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps, choosing to get a business degree with that dream in mind.

“For the most part it was in the back of my head that I would use that to get into the brewing industry like my parents,” he said.

While continuing in their respective careers, Grant moved out of the state for a while but kept working on a business plan with Marshall to open a brewery back in Missoula. They stayed focused on their long-term goal and even attended the Siebel Institute to learn brewing techniques.

“I didn’t know that going to brew school was even an option until I met him,” joked Marshall.

Grant and Marshall realized their dream in 2011, when Draught Works opened in Missoula’s Westside neighborhood. It was the first new brewery to open in Missoula in over a decade, and they felt like it was past due.

“We didn’t do too much formal analysis,” Marshall said. “It was more like ‘let’s just try,’” Marshall said.

“We just kind of felt like the culture of this town, and not having a new brewery in so long, it felt like there was room for one,” Grant explained.

Their intuition turned out to be spot on as the Missoula community embraced Draught Works brews and their inviting taproom. The indoor and outdoor spaces have become a gathering spot for Missoulians and tourists alike.

“There’s lots of things we do through the community that just sort of came up naturally,” Marshall said, highlighting the brewery’s local art wall and multiple live music nights each week.

Grant and Marshall hope that the new “Up With” lager will be a continuation of their community-building efforts.

 “We wanted it to be backyard barbecues, game-day approachable for everyone,” Grant said. “We view this as a flagship beer for us and for the NIL collective. We want Montanans to be proud of it.”

Good Ol’ Grizzlies General Manager Marcus Welnel shares their sentiment.

“Jeff and Paul have been incredible to work with throughout this long and detailed process,” Welnel said. “This collaboration enables Griz fans to support their favorite team in a whole new way while enjoying a fantastic local beer brewed right here in the heart of Griz country.”

Marshall and Grant certainly drew on their own experiences as Griz fans to help develop the beer. Marshall is especially proud of the can’s QR code directing people to a page with info on the NIL collective and the lyrics to its namesake fight song. 

“Up With” is now available at retailers across Montana. Draught Works is hosting a kick-off celebration on Friday, Feb. 7, at their Missoula taproom. From 5 to 7 p.m. a portion of all pint sales will be donated to the Good Ol’ Grizzlies Collective, and all customers will receive a free can of “Up With.”

 

Are you a UM alum with your own business? Let us know by filling out our Griz-Owned form!