Are Breweries About to Ban Kids?

If you’ve hung out in a Montana brewpub, you’ve probably seen it. The corner with a battered wooden train set, some well-loved board books, maybe a stray plastic dinosaur with a missing leg. It’s the unofficial kids’ zone.

Places like KettleHouse, Big Sky Brewing, Bayern Brewing, and Blacksmith Brewing in Stevensville have all bought into the idea that beer doesn’t have to require babysitters. It’s been a big part of the culture, especially in Missoula, where breweries also double as neighborhood hangouts.

But according to a new New York Times article, some breweries across the country are starting to tap the brakes on that kid-friendly approach. A growing number are banning children altogether or introducing “21 and over” hours, citing everything from safety concerns to complaints from other customers.

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Not There Yet in Montana: But Could It Be?

It’s not happening here yet, but it does make you wonder. Could that shift eventually roll into Montana?

As a Dad, I always appreciated the bucket of Duplo blocks in the corner. It made an after-work beer possible without the circus of a full dinner out. And most other parents? They weren’t trying to turn the place into a Chuck E. Cheese. They just wanted a grown-up conversation while keeping one eye on the toy train.

For Now, It’s Still Sippy Cups and Saisons

Missoula breweries have done a solid job walking the line between adult space and a little room for kids to roam. Will that change someday? Maybe. But for now, the crayons are still in the corner.