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OUR STORY“Stahoo” is a Polish nickname for Stanley, and our brewery honors Jim’s grandpa who was born in 1911 to Polish immigrants in Saginaw, Michigan. Local neighborhood breweries and distilleries sprung up to quench the thirst of men working in the heat of massive factories. At some time during Prohibition (1919 to 1933) Stan and his brothers built a moonshine still (Jim remembers pieces of it hidden in the hayloft of Grandpa's barn). Michigan shares hundreds of miles of a waterway border with Canada, and during prohibition alcohol flowed freely. Michigan was a hub for bootleggers who smuggled booze into the state, and Stan took advantage of the family farm and their ample supply of corn.
In 1930 Stanley married Gladys Kanicki, a local farm girl also of Polish descent. After some time living with the in-laws, he built a home on land purchased from Gladys’s parents. Like so many families they experienced hardships of the Great Depression. Stanley felt lucky to have a job as a butcher/meat cutter and he grew barley, wheat, corn and beans. He milked a few cows and raised chickens, ducks, and geese. He sold the surplus, and also bartered for homemade tequila, tamales and other goods. He eventually got a job at Grey Iron Foundry, a GM casting plant. He worked there 32 years before retiring. He was proud of his attendance record of never missing a scheduled day's work. Jim spent countless hours with Stan on the tractor, raising and butchering chickens, and tinkering around the farm. Stan's toughness, no nonsense work ethic and work ethic and pride in one's work was instilled in Jim and all of his cousins.
Stahoo’s Brewery and Taproom was born from a love of family history and tradition. It represents Jim and Heidi’s love of beer and the desire to create a place for families and friends to celebrate. Stahoo's embodies the "can-do" spirit of hardworking families who take care of their own.
For 20 years, Jim and Heidi developed an appreciation for local beer and visited many small-independent breweries. They became friends with the owner of a Montana brewery that worked as a contract brewer and soon it grew to one of Montana's most successful breweries. For more than 12 years Jim has been developing recipes and working to improve the quality and range of the beers he brews. Many of these find their way into rotation at Stahoo's.
The desire to know where your food comes from means wanting to get close and personal with your beer as well. This helps us to provide you with a unique "field to glass"experience. Ask us about your beer, and we'll tell you about the malt and the people who grew it, and how we use it to make our unique varieties for you to enjoy.
Stahoo’s Brewery and Taproom is fueled by the encouragement of our family and friends. Jim's gratitude and love for his Grandpa resulted in the brewery that bears his name.
We name our beers after family, friends, places, and events – often it is tongue in cheek with a humorous twist. We invite you to try our beers and to learn what makes them unique.
We look forward to serving you soon!
Jim and Heidi GleasonOwners - Operators
Jim and Heidi GleasonOwners - Operators
Brewed and Always Served by the Owners!
Taste Any Beer for Free - Choose From Our Ten Beers!
