Brennan’s Wave

For several years we had been discussing the rebranding of one of our flagship beers, a hop-forward blonde ale and our most award-winning beer at the time with four consecutive U.S. Open medals, the aptly named Tropical Blonde.

The beer was originally created by our primary owner during his years as a home brewer. Modeled after Kona Big Wave, it was the most popular beer he made at home among friends and quickly became a staple at the brewery as an easy-drinking, bright, tropical refresher with great hop character but low, mellow bitterness. From the beginning we discussed the possibility of rebranding this beer into something that spoke to Missoula’s history, culture, and identity, consistent with our brand and mission.

During a conversation about the rebrand, our Executive Chef, Jarrod Samaoang, suggested the idea of calling it Brennan’s Wave after the cherished surf wave on the Clark Fork River, just a quick walk downhill from our brewery. The water feature was built in honor of an incredible kayaker and human being who tragically perished in 2001 on the Rio Palguín in Chile.

The connection to the beer’s roots, the ties to the surf and paddle community, and the way the wave and its namesake have become a cornerstone of the riverwalk and Downtown Missoula culture made us very enthusiastic about the idea. In fact, Cranky Sam, our namesake antihero and immigrant from the early days of Missoula’s history, lived in a cabin on what used to be Parker’s Island, right on the Clark Fork where Brennan’s Wave now sits.

Before moving forward in any way, the obvious first step was to contact Brennan’s family, specifically his father, Dr. David Guth, the driving force behind the wave project, and seek their blessing. They thought it was a really fun idea, so we began the rebranding process in January 2024.

We launched Brennan’s Wave cans at the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Terrace Project at Caras Park, a beautiful, accessible walkway down to the river and wave. The Guth family was in attendance, and we gave away about a hundred cans for a big toast in honor of Brennan and the wave built in his memory. It was a touching and incredible experience to be part of, especially as Valerie Guth explained how her father channeled his substantial grief into building this wave for the community.

I would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the Guth family, specifically Valerie and David, for all of their work on behalf of the Missoula community and for being so wonderful throughout this process.

Today you can find Brennan’s Wave cans in stores across several Montana markets.