Montana Beer History and Companies – Best Bozeman, Montana Breweries – List of all Montana Breweries
In 2024, there are over 120 breweries in Montana, listed below.
Beginnings, Montana Brewing History: First named “Thorn-Smith Brewery” and then renamed “Virginia Brewery,” Montana’s first craft brewing industry began in Virginia City, Montana Territory in 1863–around the middle of the Civil War–by Thomas Smith, Christian Ritcher, and Henry Gilbert.
That same year–1863–just after the invention of the refrigerator in 1860, America produced 1,765,827 barrels of beer.
In Bozeman, beer-making history began in 1867 by German immigrants, Jacob Spieth and Charles Krug (Now, the new Union Hall Brewery, Bozeman).
According to Michael Fox, history curator at Bozeman’s Museum of the Rockies,
“Brewers and breweries were some of the earliest community-building operations in Montana. Breweries were pretty much one of the first things built, usually before the church, in fact.”
According to Steve Losar, professor of anthropology at Salish Kootenai College, owner of Polson’s beer museum, and a man steeped in Montana beer history,
“Having a brewery meant you had a stable town. It was part of the economic fabric and was tied to industries like mining and logging that produced thirsty kinfolk.”
At that time, and to this day, Southwest Montana’s Gallatin Valley was home to some of the West’s biggest malt growers.
In fact, the Gallatin Valley, especially the city of Manhattan, Montana, was considered the “Egypt of the West,” emphasizing its grain-growing prowess.
In 2021, barley production in Montana (23.75 million bushels) was second to Idaho in the US. In late 2018, Montana craft breweries produced approximately 18,500 barrels of beer and employed 2732 people.
In 2017, Brewers used over 7,000,000 pounds of malt per year and barley acreage was around 940,000 acres, ranking Montana second in the nation for barley.
Today, in 2022, Montana’s number of craft breweries is well over 100 (most listed below), and together Montana breweries comprise one of Montana’s fastest growing manufacturing divisions.
According to the Montana Brewers Association, Montana ranks second in the US for breweries per capita; Vermont ranks first, Maine ranks 3rd.
According to a 2016 BBER research report, between 2010 and 2015, craft beer production in Montana increased by 87%, sales increased by 111 percent, and employment increased by 204%.
And, in late 2018, Montana breweries directly and indirectly employed more than 3000, had an annual economic impact of over $442 million, and sold their products to more than 120 million people.
Montana brewery list and guide for 118 Breweries in Montana in 2023 (Over 120 TTB Permits).
Anaconda, Montana
Smelter City Brewing
101 Main Street
Anaconda, MT 59711
Telephone: 406-490-5914
smeltercitybrewing.com
Baker, Montana
Old Skool Brewing
115 East Montana Avenue, Ste B
Baker, MT 59313
Telephone: 406-778-6722
oldskoolbrewerymt.com
Belgrade, Montana
| Big Hole Brewing Company 401 E. Main St. Belgrade, MT 59714 406-388-7953 bigholebeer.com | Bar 3 Brewing 100 South Broadway Belgrade, MT 59714 406-388-9182 bar3bbq.com |
| Dog Tag Brewing PO Box 768 Belgrade, MT 59714 dogtagbrewing.com | Madison River Brewing 20900 I-90 Frontage Belgrade, MT 59714 Telephone: 406-388-0322 Brewer/Owner: Howard McMurry madisonriverbrewing.com |
| Outlaw Brewing 100 South Broadway Belgrade, MT 59714 406-388-9182 brewerydb.com |
Belt, Montana
Harvest Moon Brewery
7 Fifth Street South
Belt, MT 59412
Telephone: 406-277-3188
Owners: Stan Guedesse, John Ballantyne
harvestmoonbrew.com
Big Sky, Montana
| Beehive Basin Brewery 245 Town Center Dr. Big Sky, MT 59716 Telephone: 303-328-7338 | Lone Peak Brewery 48 Market Place PO Box 161773 Big Sky, MT 59716 Telephone: 406-995-3939 Brewer/Owner: Steve Nordahl |
Big Timber, Montana
Crazy Peak Brewing Company
202 E 1st Ave., Ste. 3
Big Timber, MT 59011
Telephone: 406-932-5347
Bigfork, Montana
| Flathead Lake Brewing 116 Holt Dr., Ste. A Bigfork, MT 59911 Telephone: 406-837-2004 Brewer: Tim Jacoby flatheadlakebrewing.com | Spotted Bear Spirits 503 Railway St., Suite A Whitefish, MT 59937 Telephone: 406.730.2436 spottedbearspirits.com |
| Flathead Lake Brewing – Woods Bay 26008 East Lake Shore Rte. Bigfork, MT 59911 Telephone: 406-837-0353 Brewer: Tim Jacoby flatheadlakebrewing.com | Whistling Andy Inc. 8541 State Highway 35 Bigfork, Montana 59917 Telephone: 406.837.2620 whistlingandy.com |
Billings, Montana
| Angry Hank’s 2405 1st Avenue North Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-252-3370 Owner: Tim Mohr | Black Eagle Brewery 1602 25th Ave. NE (next to Pit Stop Tavern) Black Eagle, MT 59414 Telephone: 406-315-3082 Brewer: Jason Lehman |
| By All Means Brew Lab 1400 S. 24th St., #3 Billings MT 59102 Telephone: 406-315-3082 byallmeans.beer | Canyon Creek Brewing 3060 Gabel Road Billings, MT 59102 Brewer: Ron Kalvig canyoncreekbrewing.com |
| Carter’s Brewing 2526 Montana Avenue Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-252-0663 Brewer/Owner: Michael Uhrich cartersbrewing.com | FreeFall Brewery 300 S. 24th St. W, A24 Billings, MT 59102 Telephone: 406-601-1025 freefallbrewery.com |
3008 First Avenue North Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-252-1200 Brewer/Owner: Dave Himmelberger | Montana Brewing Company 113 North Broadway Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-252-9200 Brewer: Evan Taylor montanabrewingcompany.com |
| Thirsty Street Brewing Company 3008 First Avenue North Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-969-3200 thirstystreet.com | Überbrew 2305 Montana Avenue Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-534-6960 Brewer: Mark Hastings uberbrew.beer |
| Yellowstone Valley Brewing 2123-B First Avenue, North Billings, MT 59101 Telephone: 406-245-0918 Brewer: George Moncure yellowstonevalleybrew.com |
Bonner, Montana
Kettlehouse Brewing Company
605 Cold Smike Ave.
Bonner, MT 59823
Telephone: 406-728-1660
kettlehouse.com
Brewers: Tim O’Leary and Suzy Rizza
Bozeman, Montana
| 406 Brewing Company 101 East Oak Street, Suite D Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-585-3745 Brewer: Matt Muth 406brewing.com | Bar 3 Bar-B-Q & Brewing 5215 North 7th Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-587-8789 |
| Bozeman Brewing 504 North Broadway Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-585-9142 Brewers: Todd Scott, Bill Hyland bozemanbrewing.com | Bozeman Tap Room 321 E. Mendenhall St. Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-577-2337 bozemantaproom.com |
| Bridger Brewing Company 1609 South 11th Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-587-2124 Owner: David Breck bridgerbrewing.com | Bunkhouse Brewery 1216 W Lincoln St. Bozeman, MT 59715 Brewer: Andrew Stohlmann Telephone: 406-577-2074 facebook.com/thebunkhousebrewery |
| Julius Lehrkind Company 1717 N. Rouse Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-551-0199 montanaaleworks.com | Last Best Place Brewing 605 N. Seventh Avenue Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-551-0199 lbpbrewing.com |
| MAP Brewing Company 510 Manley Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-587-4070 mapbrewing.com | Montana Ale Works 611 East Main Street Bozeman, MT 59715 Brewer: Kevin Paquette Telephone: 406-587-7700 mountainswalking.com |
| Mountains Walking Brewery 808 E Avocado St. Bozeman, MT 59715 Brewer: Kevin Paquette Telephone: 406-219-3480 mountainswalking.com | Nordic Brew Works 730 Boardwalk Ave. Suite 1B Bozeman, MT 59715 Brewer: Phone: 406-414-0730 nordicbrewworks.com |
| Outlaw Brewing 2876 N. 27th St. Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-388-9182 Brewer: Todd Hough outlaw-brewing.com | Union Hall Brewery (Spieth & Krug) 121 West Main Street, Ste B, Bozeman, MT, 59715 unionhallbrewery.com |
| Valhalla Meadery 1875 Bridget Drive, Bozeman, MT, 59715 valhallabozeman.com | 121 W. Main St. Unit B Bozeman, MT 59715 Telephone: 406-992-5798 whitedogbrewing.com |
Butte, Montana
| Quarry Brewing 124 W. Broadway Street Butte, MT 59701 Telephone: 406-723-0245 Brewer: Chuck Schnabel quarrybrewing.net | Muddy Creek Brewery 2 E. Galena St. Butte, MT 59701 Telephone: 406-299-3645 Brewer: Gregg Wigen MuddyCreekBrewery.com |
| Butte Brewing Company 480 E. Galena St. Butte, MT Telephone: 406-494-7710 Owners: Tony and Teresa Olson buttebrewing.com | CopperWild Brewing Company 43 E. Park St. Butte, MT 59701 Telephone: 406-782-1700 copperwildbrewing.com |
Columbia Falls, Montana
Backslope Brewing Company
1107 9th St. W. U.S. Highway 2
Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Telephone: 406-897-2850
backslopebrewing.com
Brewers: Darin Fisher
Coram, Montana
Glacier Distilling Company
10237 U.S. Highway 2, E.
Coram, Montana 59913
Telephone: 406.387.9887
glacierdistilling.com
Cut Bank, Montana
Cut Bank Creek Brewing
315 Railroad Street
Cut Bank, MT 59427
Telephone: 406-229-0298
cutbankcreekbrewery.com
Darby, Montana
Bandit Brewing Company
308 E. Tanner Rd.
Darby, MT 59829
Deer Lodge, Montana
Elk Ridge Brewing Company
3320 Main St.
Deer Lodge, MT 59722
Dillon, Montana
Beaverhead Brewing Company
218 S. Montana St.
Dillon, MT 59725
406-988-0011
beaverheadbeer.com
Ennis, Montana
Burnt Tree Brewing
311 E. Main St.
Ennis, MT 59729
burnttreebrewing.com
406-600-5302
Eureka, Montana
| H.A. Brewing(aka Homestead Ales) 2525 Grave Creek Road Eureka, MT 59917 Telephone: 406-889-3950 Owner/Brewer: Chris Neill habrewing.com | Koocanusa Brewery 5223 US 93 Eureka, MT 59917 Telephone: 406-260-7109 koocanusabrewery.com |
Fort Benton, Montana
Golden Triangle Brew Company
1500 Front Street
Fort Benton, MT 59442
Telephone: 406-253-0069
goldentrianglebrews.com
Frenchtown, Montana
Old Bull Brewing
16862 Beckwith Street
Frenchtown, MT 59834
Telephone: 406-626-5472
oldbullbrewing.com
Glasgow, Montana
Busted Knuckle Brewery
303 1st Avenue South
Glasgow, MT 59230
Telephone: 406-228-2277
Glendive, Montana
Cross Country Brewing
320 E. Allard
Glendive, MT 59330
Telephone: 406-377-6912
crosscountrybrewing.com
Great Falls, Montana
| Bowser Brewing 1826 Tenth Avenue South Great Falls, MT 59405 Telephone: 406-315-1340 Owner: Evan Bowser Brewer: Dennis Holland bowserbrew.com | Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Co. 600 3rd Avenue Street Great Falls, MT 59405 Telephone: Unlisted jeremiahjohnsonbrewing.com |
| Mighty Mo Brewing 412 Central Avenue Great Falls, MT 59405 Telephone: 406-952-0342 | The Front Brewing Company 215 3rd Street NW Great Falls, MT 59405 Telephone: 406-727-3947 thefrontbrewing.com |
Hamilton, Montana
| Bitter Root Brewing 101 Marcus Street Hamilton, MT 59840 Telephone: 406-363-7468 bitterrootbrewing.com | Higherground Brewing Company 518 N. First Street Hamilton, MT 59840 Owners/Brewers: Jasper Miller, Fenn Nelson highergroundbrewery.com |
Harlowton, Montana
Galley’s Brewing Company
30 Central Avenue, South
Harlowton, MT 59036
406-632-5838
gallysbrewing.com
Havre, Montana
| Old Station Brewing Company 140 First Street Havre, MT 59501 406-265-3329 oldstationbrewing.com | Triple Dog Brewing Company 675 1st Street West Havre, MT 59501 406-879-8103 tripledogbrew.com |
| Vizsla Brewing 1753 US Highway 2, Space 17 Havre, MT 59501 406-879-8867 vizslabrewing.com |
Helena, Montana
| Blackfoot River Brewing 66 S. Park Avenue Helena, MT 59601 Telephone: 406-449-3005 Brewers: Tim Chisman, Becky Molm blackfootriverbrewing.com | Cooper Furrow Brewing 2801 N. Roberts Avenue Helena, MT 59601 Telephone: 406-422-5975 copperfurrow.com |
| Lewis & Clark Brewing 1517 Dodge Avenue Helena, MT 59601 Telephone: 406-442-5960 Brewer: Sean Tobin | Missouri River Brewing Company 451 Spencer Court East Helena, MT 59635 Telephone: 406-422-4936 instagram.com/mrbco406 |
| Ten Mile Creek Brewery 46 N. Last Chance Gulch Helena, MT 59601 Telephone: 406-231-0575 |
Kalispell, Montana
| Bias Brewing 409 First Ave. E., Suite B Kalispell, MT 59901 Telephone: 406-407-2205 backslopebrewing.com | Kalispell Brewing Company 412 Main Street Kalispell, MT 59901 Telephone: 406-270-1958 Owners: Maggie Doherty and Cole Schneider kalispellbrewing.com |
| Sacred Waters Brewing Company 3250 US Highway 2 East Kalispell, MT 59901 Telephone: 406-253-0746 sacredwatersbrewingcompany.com | SunRift Beer Company 55 1St Avenue West, North Kalispell, MT 59901 Telephone: 406-314-6355 sunriftbeer.com |
Lakeside, Montana
Tamarack Brewing Co.,
Alehouse and Grill
105 Blacktail Road #1
Lakeside, MT 59922
Telephone: 406-844-0244
Brewer: Craig Koontz
tamarackbrewing.com
Laurel, Montana
High Plains Brewing
601 East Main Street
Laurel, MT 59044
Telephone: 406-633-4594
Brewer: Dave Bequette
Lewistown, Montana
Big Spring Brewing
220 East Main St.
Lewistown, MT 59457
Telephone: 406-535-2337
bigspringbrewingmt.com
Libby, Montana
Cabinet Mountain Brewing Company
206 Mineral Ave.
Libby, MT 59923
Telephone: 406-293-2739
Livingston, Montana
| Neptune’s Brewery 119 North L Street Livingston, MT 59047 Telephone: 406-222-7837 Brewer: William Taylor | Katabatic Brewing Company 114 W. Park St. Livingston, MT 59047 Owners: Brice Jones, LaNette Diaz katabaticbrewing.blogspot.com |
Lolo, Montana
Lolo Peak Brewery
6201 Brewery Way
Lolo, MT 59847
Telephone: 406-600-9688
lolopeakbrewery.com
Malta, Montana
Blue Ridge Brewing
320 S 1st St E.
Malta, MT 59847
Telephone: 406-654-2855
Miles City, Montana
Tilt Würks Brewhouse
420 Pacific Avenue
Miles City, MT 59301
Telephone: 406-874-8458
milescitybrewery.com
Missoula, Montana
| Bayern Brewing 1507 Montana Street Missoula, MT 59801 Telephone: 406-721-1482 Owner: Juergen Knoeller Brewer: Thorsten Geuer bayernbrewery.com | Big Sky Brewing 5417 Trumpeter Way PO Box 17170 Missoula, MT 59808 Telephone: 406-549-2777 Brewer: Matt Long |
| Conflux Brewing Company 200 East Main Street Missoula, MT 59802 Telephone: 406-926-3589 confluxbrewing.com | Cranky Sam Public House 233 West Main Street Missoula, MT 59802 Telephone: 406-540-4325 www.crankysam.com |
| Draught Works 915 Toole Avenue Missoula, MT 59802 Telephone: 406-541-1592 Brewers/Owners: Jeff Grant, Paul Marshall | Gild Brewing 525 S. Higgins Avenue Missoula, MT 59801 406-926-3258 gildbrewing.com |
| Great Burn Brewing 2230 McDonald Avenue Missoula, MT 59801 Owners: Mike Howard, Diana Garrett, Greg Howard | Imagine Nation Brewing 1151 W. Broadway Missoula, MT 59801 Telephone: 406-459-8993 Owners: Robert Rivers, Fernanda Menna, and Barreto Krum |
| Kettlehouse Brewing – Main 602 Myrtle Street Missoula, MT 59801 Telephone: 406-728-1660 Owner: Tim O’Leary | KettleHouse Brewery – Northside 313 North First Street West Missoula, MT 59802 Telephone: 406-728-1660 |
| Missoula Brewing Company 200 International Dr Missoula, MT 59808 Owner: Bob & Shannon Lukes |
Philipsburg, Montana
Philipsburg Brewing Company
101 West Broadway
Philipsburg, MT 59858
Telephone: 406-859-2739 (BREW)
Brewer: Mike Elliot
Polson, Montana
Glacier Brewing
6 Tenth Avenue East
Polson, MT 59860
Telephone: 406-883-2595
Owner/Brewer: David Ayers
glacierbrewing.com
Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge Ales
1445 North Broadway
PO Box 2278
Red Lodge MT 59068
Telephone: 406-446-4607
Brewers: Sam Hoffmann, Justin Moore
Ronan, Montana
Ronan Cooperative Brewery
400 Main Street
Ronan MT 59864
Telephone: 406-676-4677
ronancoopbrewery.com
Sheridan, Montana
Ruby Valley Brew
111 S. Main Street
Sheridan, MT 59749
Telephone: 406-842-5977
rubyvalleybrew.com
Sidney, Montana
| Meadowlark Brewing Company 119 S. Central Avenue Sidney, MT Owner: Travis Peterson meadowlarkbrewing.blogspot.com | 1035 Brewing 1035 S. Central Avenue, Sidney, Montana 59270 Telephone: 406-433-3055 |
Stevensville, Montana
| Blacksmith Brewing Company 114 West Main Street Stevensville, MT 59870 Telephone: 406-777-0680 blacksmithbrewing.com | Wildwood Brewing 4018 Highway 93 North Stevensville, MT 59870 Telephone: 406-777-2855 Owner/Brewer: Jim Lueders wildwoodbrewing.com |
Superior, Montana
Dunluce Brewing
Superior, MT
Owner/Brewer: Adam Hauge
dunlucebrewing.com
Thompson Falls, Montana
Limberlost Brewing Company
1017 Main Street
Thompson Falls, MT
406-356-6198
limberlostbrewingcompany.com
Three Forks, Montana
Bridger Brewing
75 Vigilante Way
Three Forks, MT
406-587-2124
bridgerbrewing.com
Townsend, Montana
Canyon Ferry Brewing Company
303 Broadway
Townsend, MT 59644
406-266-9939
cfbrew.com
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
2 Basset Brewery
202 E. Main Street,
White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645
406-547-2337
2bassetbrewery.com
Whitefish, Montana
| Bonsai Brewing 549 Wisconsin Ave. Whitefish, MT 59937 Owner/Brewer: Graham Hart | Spotted Bear Spirits 503 Railway St., Suite A Whitefish, MT 59937 Phone: 406-730-2436 spottedbearspirits.com |
| Great Northern Brewing 2 Central Avenue Whitefish, MT 59937 Telephone: 406-863-1000 Brewer: Joe Barberis greatnorthernbrewing.com |
Wibaux, Montana
| Beaver Creek Brewery 104 Orgain Avenue West PO Box 196 Wibaux, MT 59353 Telephone: 406-795-2337 Brewer: Sandon Stinnett |
Wolf Point, Montana
Missouri Breaks Brewing
326 Main Street
PO Box 654
Wolf Point, MT 59201
Telephone: 406-653-1467
missouribreaksbrewing.com
Information for this piece was gathered from these people and sources: Steve Losar, Colin B. Sorenson, Todd A. Morgan, Shannon Furniss, Gail Schontzler-Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Colin Sorenson-University of Montana, Montana Beer Finders, beerhistory.com, Billings Gazette, Ratebeer, and others.
