Kids Those Days — The Rise and Fall of the 1970s’ Biggest Kegger
In 1976 and 1978, Olympia profiled the event in its distributor newsletter as inspiration, telling readers that the kegger proved “live music from top-name artists, pitchers of Olympia beer, good fun and the wide open [sic] Montana countryside blend best.” In 1979, Olympia published advice on how other distributors could organize similar college keggers in their territory, suggesting local reps “get a local group such as college students … to sponsor the event and donate profits to charity,” and quoting Olympia’s district manager for Missoula that “[i]t is important that the local police feel comfortable about the event and are willing to help.” Breweries’ cultivation of college drinking added to the broader social tailwinds behind the Aber Day Kegger, which also allowed ULAC to brush off the growing number of local complaints against it. For all its fans and allies, the kegger alienated plenty of other Missoulians. . GET OFF MY LAWN.