The Dram Shop

missoula

By in Remodel 0

An Architect’s View

guest post by John Geurts, Project Lead, McNelis Architects

The Dram Shop, a growler fill station and taproom for lovers of craft brewing in downtown Missoula, Montana is well on the way to becoming a reality with the opening now less than two weeks away.

McNelis Architects, recently licensed to practice in the State of Montana, worked with proprietors Zach and Sarah Millar to capture their conceptual vision for a family friendly environment to showcase the well-established local micro brews as well as regional offerings.

Located in the historically designated 100-year-old Missoula Mercantile Warehouse Building, the design defers to the exposed 20 foot tall brick walls and fir timbers. McNelis Architects, with John Geurts as project lead, provided complete architectural, engineering, and interior design services from site selection and initial schematic design through construction management phases including documents for all permitting and construction. Interactive virtual walk-thru renderings and shop drawings were produced in house.

New simply detailed wood and colored surfaces introduce an inviting and engaging feeling into the airy space. Stainless steel and ceramic tile surfaces support the sanitary conditions at the back bar. The carefully designed lighting considerations illuminate the appealing variety of the liquid hues as well as the rotating gallery hangings on the surrounding wall surfaces. The new bar top itself showcases sustainable engineered laminate structural fir which enters a design dialog with the original fir floor.

Plans for future growth were incorporated in the design from the inception. In coming months, new folding glass doors will open and invite patrons to enjoy covered sidewalk seating in the Rocky Mountain air.

Before: Vacant tenant space when the lease was signed with members of the Millar family.

Before: Vacant tenant space when the lease was signed with members of the Millar family.

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Proposed view from the entry.

 

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Proposed view of the bar with 32 taps.

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Stud framing for the custom built walk-in-cooler complete with electrical work.

Insulation and drywall underway and cable suspended track lighting complete.

Insulation and drywall underway and cable suspended track lighting complete.

Wall painting in progress and cabinet delivery.

Wall painting in progress and cabinet delivery.

 Completed sheet flooring, and Levi installing the back bar base cabinetry.

Completed sheet flooring, and Levi installing the back bar base cabinetry.

Back bar and bar front installation.

Back bar and bar front installation.

Bar installation and setting the cask keg display case.

Bar installation and setting the cask keg display case with Damian Mast & Co.

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By in Behind the Scenes 0

Taproom Dog

When I first started in the brewing industry better than a decade ago, I was hired at Big Sky Brewing Company to pour beers in their taproom. To this day I’m still not sure why they hired me. I was an out of work touring musician and had no experience at a brewery, in retail, or as a server. But, I did have a dog.

Her name was Kiska. She was as docile a Golden Retriever as you will ever meet. I mean, she was very sensitive. But, she loved people, and that made my new gig at the brewery a great fit for her. At the time, we lived in a tiny apartment on 5th Street in Missoula, about a mile and a half from the old Big Sky taproom on Hickory Street. Every morning we would walk along the river trail down to work, and Kiska would sit out in front of the brewery all day long. Every person who happened by was greeted with her same rabid enthusiasm, and it’s safe to say she put a smile on the faces of most folks. Now that I think about it, Big Sky may have hired me because of my dog.

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Kiska by the Clark Fork River as a pup.

Fast forward a decade or more and a few things have changed. First off, Kiska unfortunately is no longer with us, and as of this last year, I’m no longer at Big Sky as I’m focusing my energies on starting up The Dram Shop. In the absence of Kiska, her friend and our other dog Leeroy now takes up the torch where she left off. Over the past months as I have sojourned each day to The Dram Shop on Front Street, Leeroy has faithfully joined me. We often walk home the couple of miles along Rattlesnake Creek and he loves to sniff around and wet his muzzle in the cold fresh water. He’s also taken up the tradition of keeping watch over the shop, and welcoming each person as they arrive.

A man's best friend.

A man’s best friend.

There’s something special about having a dog around. In some way it makes it all a bit more human, and I’m lucky to have him here by my side.

By in History 1

What is a Dram?

Why exactly did we name our place ‘The Dram Shop’ you may be wondering? Well, it’s sort of a long story, so here goes. First off, we love the term. Second, our business happens to be located in the Historic Missoula Mercantile Warehouse Building, and we like to think that sets us up within a unique historical perspective. And it turns out the history of the term ‘dram’ is rich.

Missoula Mercantile Warehouse. Photo taken between 1900-1910.

Missoula Mercantile Warehouse. Photos taken between 1900-1910.

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Here’s what you need to know in order to wow your friends at the next BBQ:

From its origin, a ‘dram’ refers to a unit of measurement. Most folks who are familiar with the term relate it to its more recent Celtic application, referring to a ‘thimble full’, usually of liquor. But more accurately, the term was used in the modern apothecaries system until the mid-20th century, even here in the U.S., defined as exactly 1/8th of an ounce.

If you follow the term further into the past however, you find that it dates back to the term ‘drachma’ in ancient Greece. It was used for both a measure of weight and the name for a coin. Often times, it was used to mean a “handful’, as a unit of measurement. Now that’s an awesome measurement, and don’t think we haven’t thought about it!

But back to our story… Romans subsequently used the term ‘dram’ for a unit of measurement, and also as a noun for currency. This usage was followed by the Ottoman Empire, and then the Celts. It’s still used today in several Middle Eastern nations, as well as in Armenia as the name of its modern currency, the Drachma.

It’s a long history we know. But, we think it’s a great fit. We’re selling beverages that are enjoyed by many people from all over the world, and we’re selling them in specific units of measurement, right here on historic Front Street.

So the next time somebody asks you; “What’s a Dram anyway?” you’ll have something to talk about.

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Selection of new glassware and growlers … Get yours now!

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