Montana’s breweries date back to the mid-1800s, when the combination of plentiful water, fields of wheat, and thirsty miners created a brewing explosion that continued to thrive across the state until Prohibition. Though brewing began again with the law’s repeal, local businesses struggled to compete with national companies. By the late 1960s, Montana had no local breweries.
In the 1980s, Kessler Brewing Company opened in Helena, joined by Bayern Brewing in Missoula, and the industry began to come back. Within the last decade, independent breweries and distilleries have once again become big businesses in Montana. By the end of 2109, the state boasted 25 distilleries. In 2020, there were 100 craft breweries, putting Montana third in the country for the number of breweries per capita. The Montana Office of Tourism offers comprehensive lists of both Montana’s breweries and distilleries, helping locals and visitors alike find the offerings near them.
Photo by Dylan de Jonge on Unsplash
From Missoula’s Big Sky Brewing—makers of widely-known Moose Drool Ale—to the huckleberry-infused Bearproof Whiskey from Glacier Distilling near Glacier National Park, Montana is brewing up something for every taste. Bozeman locals love the tried-and-true Midas Crush from MAP Brewing Company; the more adventurous swear by the Andsoit Gose sour ale at Bozeman Brewing Company, Bozeman’s original craft brewery.
An added bonus to fancy drinks is food to match: the entrees and snacks on offer at this new crowd of brewpubs and distilleries resemble bar food in the same way that Bud Light resembles the Yamabiko Japanese rice lager from Mountains Walking. Tamarack Brewing, with outposts in Lakeside and Missoula, offers a full menu of delicious entrees that draw as many customers as its outstanding beers. And breweries without kitchens often feature a selection of food trucks, allowing patrons to pick their own food and beer flavor pairings.
All the way from Eureka’s Koocanusa Brewery to Neptune’s Brewery in Livingston, one thing is for sure: great things are brewing in Montana.
Explore additional information regarding Montana's brewery scene in PureWest's 2021 Pure Montana magazine
Top photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels
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