No Reservations Required…
“Best food in the Valley.”
“The beer was amazing—unique selection!”
“What’s not to love?”
—Customer reviews of Backslope Brewing on Google
It’s been a long day of hiking in Glacier National Park. Breathtaking scenery, the fresh, crisp air, maybe you’ve even been canoeing or kayaking. All you know is that you’ve had your fill of trail mix or granola, and you’re caught between some strange mix of complete elation…and utter exhaustion. What you really want—before you dive into what might be the best and deepest sleep of your life—is to kick back with a few beers and a tasty dinner. But where do you go?
Sure, the names are a little unusual. But the beer, when it arrives in a short-stemmed glass, hits the spot perfectly.
Well, if you’re near Columbia Falls, you might just be in luck. There’s a fantastic little independent brew pub that boasts what some consider the best food and beer in Montana. When you walk in, you’re greeted by a casual, unassuming vibe. Brightly colored, hand-painted chalkboard signs highlight some of the specials on tap. “Inertia: Barrel Aged Golden Ale conditioned on Black Currants with Brettanomyces,” reads one. “Consequences Be Damned (Tequila Barrel-aged IPA)” reads another.
“Perhaps,” you think, “I might be tempted by a pint of ‘The Quandary (Dark ale aged in red wine barrels).’”
Sure, the names are a little unusual. But the beer, when it arrives in a short-stemmed glass, hits the spot perfectly.
Where some destinations are food first and drinks second, Backslope Brewing is all about the beer. Still, the bustling kitchen prepares decadent-looking pub fare, like gooey mac-and-cheese topped with what appears to be crispy fried chicken, a monstrously tall burger with melty cheese, and delicious-looking vegan bowls. Or maybe you just want to start with some fried pickles or garlic parmesan fries. Your choice.
What does hit you, however, is the sense that everything in Backslope Brewing is done with the utmost care. Almost thoughtfully. And you’d be right.
What does hit you, however, is the sense that everything in Backslope Brewing is done with the utmost care. Almost thoughtfully.
And you’d be right.
“So I make the beer, and I fix things, and [my wife] does everything else,” laughs co-owner Darin Fisher.
“When we first moved here, I was finishing my doctorate in history,” says co-owner (and Darin’s wife) Carla Fisher. “Finding university jobs was impossible. I ended up working for Montana Coffee Traders, managed a café for them, and became a human resources manager. Being in that space and seeing that was definitely one of those influences. And when we’re thinking about what type of place we want to have and create a place that can be a community hub.”
Here, Darin interrupts. “That is her as well. Her knowledge is what makes this place run with the sixty-four employees we have at any given time.”
Like many of the popular brewpubs that have become popular over the last decade or two, Backslope makes their own beer and then operates a combination taproom, restaurant, and bar, all managed by the couple. But like most businesses in Flathead Valley, they’ve done things a little differently here. Added a little more style. A little more soul. A little more of who they are.
So what’s with the beer names? Here both Carla and Darin laugh.
“Myself and the brewers named most of the beers,” admits Darin. “There are a lot of musical references and literary references, and sometimes just silly turns of phrase. ‘Jewels and Binoculars’ is a ridiculous phrase from a Bob Dylan song. ‘Jewels and binoculars hanging from the head of a mule.’ I’ve been hanging onto that one for years as a mule-packer. I was like, ‘There’s something there.’”
When you mix pop culture, music nerdery, and cartoons, you’re bound to have something a little out of the ordinary. And with beers like this, that’s exactly the branding you need.
For the Fishers, this isn’t just a business. It’s a craft. It’s a labor of love. And it goes well beyond ensuring good food and drink for their customers. It means ensuring their staff is well taken care of.
“‘Canyonero’ is an old Simpsons reference,” Darin grins. “‘Soft Static,’ that’s an old music reference from Frightened Rabbit.” And this is pulled from his Liberal Arts education? “Oh yeah, absolutely,” he laughs.
It’s not unusual to see Darin behind the bar with a glass of beer in each hand. One dark mahogany colored, the other a deep amber. Both have just enough head on them to suggest they’ve been poured properly. But Darin isn’t drinking them. Instead, he angles his nose deep into each glass, sniffing carefully and ensuring each has the aroma profile he’s looking for.
For the Fishers, this isn’t just a business. It’s a craft. It’s a labor of love. And it goes well beyond ensuring good food and drink for their customers. It means ensuring their staff is well taken care of.
“We’re a small, local, community business,” says Carla. “We also believe very strongly that we need to provide stability for our employees.”
But in a small city like Columbia Falls, surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty and one of the most stunning landscapes in Montana, the housing market is just a little too hot for comfort. The pandemic triggered a housing market boom, and the Valley is very much a seller’s market, with buyers looking to pay well over market price. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is about $1275, well above the state average of $731. And the median house price is just under $600,000. For most people, that’s unsustainable. And when you add in a shortage of housing and a lack of inventory, it means that finding a place to live could prove a frustrating—and potentially fruitless—endeavor.
This is exactly why Carla and Darin decided they needed to make sure their employees had options with regard to housing. In December of 2021, Backslope Brewing secured financing from the Whitefish Credit Union and bought the property next door, creating temporary housing for their employees.
“So this is what we’re turning into our workforce housing,” says Darin, gesturing to the bright space currently being remodeled. “It’s a nice little 1,000-square-foot apartment. Right now, we’re standing in what would be a kitchen-dining room.”
The space allows their employees to have a few options to ensure they can secure employment and a place to live without the hassle of dealing with transportation. Just another way the Fishers are looking to do things a little differently.
“The housing situation in the Valley is wretched,” says Carla. “When you look at ‘What are the obstacles you think you’ll face? What are some things you have to plan for in your business plan?’ Housing for employees is not anything that would have crossed my mind. But we have the space now, so we can do that.”
In the shadow of Glacier National Park, there’s a welcoming place to grab a great drink, a delicious meal and put your feet up. And for some, it’s also a place to call home.
Now that is something to toast. Cheers.
For more information about Backslope Brewing (note that they don’t take reservations), check out their site.
For members like you.
Because what we do pays dividends.
