Beaver Creek Brewery, Wibaux.

• Position: Brief article - Statistical data

Out in far eastern Montana--on 1-94 not too far from the North Dakota border--is Wibaux, population about 400. With not too much around but vast plains and open road, two billboard signs pull people into what has become known as a microbrew oasis, Beaver Creek Brewery.

Named after a creek that runs through Wibaux, Beaver Creek Brewery opened in the summer of 2008 with six beers on tap, plus root beer. The Paddlefish Stout won a "people's award," but beer connoisseurs also are fond of the Redheaded IPA and Rusty Beaver Wheat.

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Why open a brewery in Wibaux? "We had too many pints and decided it was a good idea," says Jim Devine, one of the partners at Beaver Creek Brewery. He and his partners, Sandy Stinnett and Russell Houk, took 18 months to remodel a historic downtown building that has been many things in its lifetime--a grocery store, a shoe store, a butcher shop. In 2008, the partners brewed about 68 barrels of beer. As the brewery grew in popularity, so did its production. Last year, production was about 650 barrels.

A country western...