The Only Bozeman Breweries Guide You’ll Ever Need

After visiting all of the craft breweries in Bozeman, Montana (yes, really), I decided to review all of them instead of just listing my favorites. That way, you can see what’s interesting about each and choose which ones you want to visit for yourself.

(Fine: if you don’t want to read this whole post and you only have time for one, most locals rate Mountains Walking as the best brewery in Bozeman – but my favorite for taking visitors is the less-crowded New Ventures).

A deserted street with a red traffic signal in the foreground flanked by rows of parked cars and brick buildings on each side.

It seems like every time I visit Bozeman, at least one new brewery has opened. I lived there up until 2013, at which point there were merely three.

Now, there are a whopping nine Bozeman breweries within the city limits, and that’s without counting the wineries, cideries, meaderies, distilleries, breweries that don’t have a taproom, or ones just outside of town. With a population of around 50,000, I fully expect Bozeman to rank among America’s top 10 cities for breweries per capita next time such a list comes out.

Fortunately, the breweries in Bozeman aren’t just a bunch of cookie-cutter replicas. Each establishment is unique and showcases a distinct lineup – everything from hop-forward IPAs to silky stouts, zesty wheat beers to pucker-inducing sours, and much more. So, let’s take a little journey through the city’s breweries, exploring what’s remarkable about each one and why brewery-hopping should be part of your next Bozeman itinerary.

Brewery laws are a little bit different in the Treasure State. Unless they have a liquor license (and most don’t), Montana breweries are limited to serving three pints per person and are required to close by 8:00pm.

Best Breweries in Bozeman, MT

Perhaps this is a petty distinction, but there are breweries and there are brewpubs. And Bozeman has plenty of both.

Breweries sometimes have food trucks out in the parking lot, but the focus is on the beer. They’re usually more experimental and change their lineup more frequently, but they sometimes focus more on distribution than on the taproom experience. If you’re a beer nerd or you like trying unusual brews, these are the best breweries in Bozeman to visit.

Bozeman Brewing Company

Best for: Sours
Downside: Limited seating

No better place to start than with the original. Bozeman Brewing has been around since 2001 – way before most Americans even knew what an IPA was. I’ve always been partial to them because they’ve kept the same aesthetic through the past two decades: a minimalist taproom amid a cluster of warehouses on Bozeman’s east end.

Over the years, the original Bozeman microbrewery quietly developed the state’s most impressive sour beers program. A new one would be released every so often, but only served at the taproom or a couple bars in town. But in 2018, when sours went from unknown to the greatest innovation since NEIPAs, Bozeman Brewing was ready, with over 250 oak barrels in their basement cellar for just such an occasion.

A full glass of yellowish beer sits on a table and a bartender enters information into a computer in the background.

During the summer months, The Ugly Onion has frequent pizza pop-ups right outside the brewery, creating some of the Bozeman area’s best pies. You’re also just steps from Mountains Walking Brewery, so making a dinner choice will not be easy.

Bunkhouse Brewery

Best for: Unique brews
Downside: Small taproom

The smallest and most often overlooked brewery in Bozeman sits across the street from the MSU dorms, but don’t expect it to be packed with college students on a Thirsty Thursday. Bunkhouse produces some of the more complex brews in town, with a focus on traditional processes (the founders have both lived in Germany) and styles that get pushed to the margins in the highly competitive brewery market (props for having an ESB!).

A brick building with a sign saying "Bunkhouse Brewing" with a glass door propped open.

While the parking situation at the Lincoln Street taproom leaves something to be desired, it’s usually not too crowded unless there’s an event happening. The bartenders are eager to talk beers too, unlike at some of the more popular Bozeman breweries, where you can barely get your order in before they need to get back to serving.

Two people are ordering from a bartender with a black and white mural of mountains in the background.

Bunkhouse opened a second spot in Four Corners last spring, where they serve several beers not available at the campus taproom. Most of their events, like open mic and trivia are held at the Four Corners location.

Outlaw Brewing

Best for: Huge tap list
Downside: Far from everything except Target

Outlaw got its start shoved into a little corner of Bar 3’s BBQ restaurant out in Belgrade, and while I loved me some Belgrade BBQ, it was a chore to drive out there. Thankfully they moved into a much larger space on the north end of 19th Ave. just a couple years later, boosting their popularity.

A glass of blonde beer sits on a rustic wooden bartop. In the background are two men, but they are out of focus.

With 16 or so beers on tap, half of which are rotating/seasonal, you could put together a near endless combination of flights. My favorite brew at Outlaw is the year-round Summit Dog Double IPA, though I might be biased by the beautiful husky that graces its cans – their can artwork is stunning for every beer!

From the outside, the taproom doesn’t look like much – corrugated metal siding surrounded by endless rows of identical condos. But step inside, and you’re greeted to an entirely different experience, a two-story taproom with a stylish bar, hand-carved wooden tap handles, and a distinct mustache aesthetic (you’ll see what I mean), as well as pool and shuffleboard tables upstairs

View from above of five men sitting and standing around a high top table. Five other high top tables in the room sit empty.

Wednesdays are Tough Guy/Gal night, where you can get a quarter knocked off the price of your first pint for every pull-up you muscle your way through. Ladies get fifty cents off every pint on Thursdays, pull-ups not required.

While Outlaw doesn’t serve food, there are always food trucks in the parking lot slinging something delicious, with Matador Tacos being their most recent tenant.

Last Best Place Brewing

Best for: Pre-concert drinks
Downside: No parking

Opening in 2021, Last Best Place (LBP) came onto the Bozeman brewery scene just as the market was getting saturated. Fortunately, they’re blessed with a great location on North 7th Ave., just across the street from the ELM concert venue, making it a popular spot to gather before any of the shows there.

A more than half empty glass of orangish beer and a thick lacing of foam sits on a shiny bar table. In the background are a few empty tables surrounded by metal chairs.

Market saturation aside, LBP came out of the gate with a big selection of beers, with 15 or so on tap at all times. And they brew a huge variety of beers, too. Many of them are traditional European-influenced brews, such as the German Pilsner and Oktoberfest lager, but they also produce quirkier NEIPAs and fruity sours.

A group of four men and women sit on steel stools around a rustic wood-topped bar with corrugated metal sides.

While the brewery doesn’t serve any food, it’s sandwiched between the El Rodeo food truck and Jalisco Blue taco bus, both top-notch spots for quality Mexican food. Genuine Ice Cream is also steps from the brewery door, if you’re craving something a little sweeter.

New Ventures Brewing

Best for: Passionate beer nerds
Downside: Less aesthetically-pleasing

If ever there were a brewery for beer nerds, it’s New Ventures. Unlike the sleek taprooms at many Bozeman breweries, with their bars constructed of reclaimed metal sheeting and floor-to-ceiling windows, New Ventures has the aesthetics of a storage closet.

Its entrance is nondescript, almost indiscernible from the newly constructed apartment buildings flanking it on both sides. Walk through the door, and you’re greeted by shelves of plastic tubs and bulk dispensers like you’d see at a discount grocery store.

But I don’t say any of this as a bad thing. Actually, New Ventures just might be my favorite brewery in the Gallatin Valley.

Several bulk dispensers with Jelly Belly labels on the handles are filled with various types of malt for beer making.

Those bulk dispensers lining the entryway are a reminder of New Ventures origins – the brewery is an outgrowth of Gallatin Home Brew Supplies. Monthly classes cover the finer points of the brewing process, so you can enjoy a pint while learning how to make your own.

The brewing equipment sits right behind the counter, and you might see an employee go to fiddle with something in between pouring another pint for you. The upstairs mezzanine plays host to events like paint nights, movie screenings, book clubs, and potluck dinners.

A tulip glass with copped-hued beer sits on a white round coaster. A clipboard on a display stand is behind it listing the classes available at the brewery. Beer making machinery is in the background and out of focus.

New Ventures captured my heart with their commitment to innovation and experimentation. Unsurprising for a place that sells homebrew equipment, they’re not afraid to try new things, even when it means putting out something that isn’t to everyone’s tastes.

That spirit is often lost in competitive markets, especially those catering to tourists, as brewers churn out product that’s sure to be as inoffensive as it is unmemorable. New Ventures just makes beer that they think is interesting, and if the customer likes it (like I did!), all the better.

Best Brewpubs in Bozeman, MT

In contrast to the pure breweries listed above, brewpubs serve a full food menu, and they also tend to be more family-friendly. They might brew amazing beer, but it’s not all they do, and recipes are often designed to pair well with the food that’s served.

One of these Bozeman brewpubs is the right choice if you have kids in tow or you want a substantial meal to go along with your beer.

Mountains Walking Brewery

Best for: Beer snobs + pizza
Downside: Can’t get a table

Right off the bat I’m going to contradict what I said about brewpubs being for nights out with the family and breweries being for beer nerds. Mountains Walking is unequivocally the beer snob’s brewery, and I say that with all the affection possible. It’s the sort of place where you can order a “cannabis-inspired” pale ale brewed with mosaic hops and the flavorful compounds of strawberry kush.

Some would probably consider it gilding an already delicious lily, but there’s a place for experimental opulence when it’s done right, and Mountains Walking always does it right. In fact, I would say it’s at least in the top three breweries in Montana, especially if you like unique flavors or want a deep dive into a specific hops profile.

A long, pine table has four men and two women sitting at the end of it, each raising a glass of beer. In the background is a bar with dozens of tap handles and several patrons sitting at it.

Mountains Walking makes spectacular beer, which is why it’s all the more surprising that they also make some of the best pizza in Bozeman. Their wood-fired, slow-fermented crust pizza would be enough reason to come here, even if you hated all things beer. The wings and sandwiches also get rave reviews, but I don’t see how anyone could pass up pizza this good to order them. The truffle fries are equally delicious, and you can never go wrong with some fries while waiting for that pizza.

The unfortunate thing about Mountains Walking is that it’s that good. It doesn’t matter what day of the week you visit, it’s going to be packed – a real feat considering the sheer number of breweries and pizza shops in Bozeman. Maybe a late lunch to avoid the crowds?

Bridger Brewing

Best for: Huge tap list + pizza
Downside: Students galore…

Another brewery on the MSU campus? Bozeman sure knows how to place their beer joints… When I was in grad school, our professors would occasionally take us here on Fridays as a classier alternative to pitchers of PBR at Spec’s (also on campus).

A blocky yellow building with floor to ceiling windows and two aluminum tanks on the roof and a marquee sign saying "Bridger Brewing".

Bridger has one of the largest tap lists of any Bozeman brewery, with over two dozen options covering every imaginable style, and half of them are seasonal. The beers are solid, particularly the Lee Metcalf Pale Ale, and make a great accompaniment to the star of the taproom: their pizza. Their pies are phenomenal and use some of the freshest, most unique ingredients; think lamb sausage with goat feta or marinated steak and oyster mushrooms with garlic chili sauce.

Before the pandemic, Bridger was one of the only breweries in Bozeman to offer tours. Hopefully they’ll be back soon!

Several couples sitting at hightop bar tables inside a brewery with modernist architecture.

Bridger also opened a new taproom in Three Forks last summer, which they describe as being “across the street from Wheat Montana” – but let’s be honest, it’s behind Teasers. It’s an enormous building with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, including a leather couch in front of a fireplace, as well as a big grassy yard for games during the summer.

Map Brewing Company

Best for: Mountain views
Downside: Everyone wants those views

Although it’s one of the “newer” breweries in the Valley, MAP is undeniably the juggernaut of the Bozeman beer scene. Their Midas Crush IPA is on tap at every bar worth visiting, not to mention in the cans that fill everyone’s fridge from Livingston to Big Sky.

Its ubiquity aside, Midas Crush is one of the few beers available at MAP year round. The vast majority of the lineup are seasonal experiments, like the all-Montana-made Peaks to Prairies IPA, using only ingredients that can be found in Big Sky Country, or the summer special Jumpin’ Jellyfish lager made with grapefruit and lemonade. While many of their beers would be classified as hop forward, there’s something to suit everyone’s tastes at MAP.

A glass of blonde beer sits on a shiny bar top with a glass of water nearby and white handled beer taps in the background.

As far as brewpubs go, MAP keeps the menu light, focusing on burgers, sandwiches, and nachos – the bar food trifecta. They do have some more interesting options, though, like fried chicken lollipops, poutine, and street tacos.

Several tables are occupied with brewery patrons sitting on red vinyl-topped stools. In the background, a moose head hangs above a brick fireplace.

MAP’s taproom, on the edge of the East Gallatin Recreation Area, has some of the best views of the Bridgers anywhere in the Bozeman area. With big windows looking out over Glen Lake, this has become the brewery everyone wants to be at on Friday nights. Nix that, it’s where everyone wants to be on any day of the week, night or daytime. As a result, the parking lot is full at noon on most days and so is the overflow area across the street.

Freefall Brewing (Audrey’s Pizza)

Best for: Kids
Downside: Too much variety

While I remember Audrey’s Pizza from my time at MSU in the mid ‘00s (the restaurant was on North Rouse then), many of Bozeman’s older residents can recall their original location on Tracy, when it was still operated by the eponymous Audrey. In its heyday, before there were high-end joints like Pizza Campania and Blackbird Kitchen, Audrey’s was a real Bozeman institution.

A thick crust sausage and pepperoni pizza on an aluminum tray with one slice missing. A metal serving spatula, a half full glass of dark beer, and glass shakers of grated Parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes sit beside it.

Freefall Brewing, which actually got its start in the Billings mall in the early days of the pandemic, carries on Audrey’s legacy, serving her classic pizzas alongside their carefully crafted beers.

However, while I appreciate Freefall’s willingness to put out unusual options, I think they’ve gone in too many different directions with their menu. With over a dozen pizza choices ranging from BBQ sauce to alfredo, and just as many on the beer menu, including brews as diverse as mango wheat and cucumber mint hard seltzer, none of them really stand out.

But there’s one place where Freefall not only shines, but probably beats out any other brewery in town: its family-friendly environment. There’s an entire game room setup inside the brewery, with pinball, skee-ball, and other arcade games. Besides that, the whole place exudes a comfortable nostalgia, with wood-paneled walls and overstuffed leather booths. If you’ve got kids in tow, this is definitely the best Bozeman brewery to visit.

(Closed) Shred Monk Brewing

Update: Shred Monk permanently closed in December 2023, and the location’s curse continues…

Best for: Unique brews + unique food
Downside: Pricey drinks

Despite being on a busy section of Main Street, this location is probably cursed. It started as White Dog Brewing back in 2015, then it was Union Hall Brewing in 2019, and finally became Shred Monk in 2022. Not a good track record, but hey, rent on Main Street is expensive, and brewing isn’t super profitable (White Dog also just moved to Boise).

Fortunately, Shred Monk is doing a better job at differentiating themselves from the dozen other breweries in the Valley and hopefully will have a longer tenure here. So how do they set themselves apart?

A pair of yellow retro arm chairs sit in front a large mural of leaves and vines painted on a brick wall. In the background a few brewery patrons sit at picnic tables and a few at the bar.

First off, Shred Monk isn’t just a brewery. They’re also a coffee shop and roaster, opening at 10am every day. I don’t know why there aren’t more of these setups – coffee shop by day, brewery by night. I take coffee as seriously as I do beer, so believe me when I say the coffee is excellent too.

Second, they serve food, and the cuisine is, let’s say, elevated compared to what you’d normally find at a brewery. With a menu that’s constantly changing, ingredients sourced from local farms, and offerings like gnocchi and beer bread served with creme fraiche, no one can accuse them of slacking on food.

But no matter how amazing the food and coffee, they’d never survive if they didn’t also brew spectacular beer. Fortunately Shred Monk is able to stand out with bold flavors like Sakura cherry tea wheat beer and a classic English porter brewed with some of their delicious coffee beans. They also do half pours if you’re keen on sampling or just don’t feel like another round.

(Closed) Nordic Brew Works

Update: Nordic Brew Works and Polar Brewing permanently closed in October 2023.

If any Bozeman brewery were to be considered upscale, it would have to be Nordic Brew Works. It’s a full sit-down restaurant, also serving as the taproom for Polar Brewing next door. Although they’re wedged into the end of a shopping complex, it’s a mall filled with boutique shops, hip eateries, and even a cat cafe.

A set of two beige and two blue armchairs sit empty in the foreground while several tables are occupied in the background with brewing patrons drinking and ordering food.

Nordic’s aesthetics are as you would expect: Scandinavian minimalist with marble tables, a brightly lit interior, and stacks of wood next to a glowing fire pit. It is the epitome of Bozeman chic. If you needed a place to take a client for a nice lunch, Nordic would be a fine choice.

The tap list isn’t quite as long or inventive as some of the other Bozeman breweries, and they don’t change it up too much, instead sticking to the favorite brews that pair well with their inventive cuisine.

Nordic has faced criticism for having more expensive food than most breweries in town (their burger is $20) and being a clear symbol of the gentrification that has swept Bozeman in the past few years. However, their pizzas are under $20, and to be fair, they’re really good and more than enough for one person.

More Bozeman Breweries

A few of the breweries in Bozeman defy classification, either because they don’t have a traditional taproom or they make something other than beer. In any case, these aren’t the leftovers so much as a few more Bozeman breweries you should know about.

Julius Lehrkind Brewing

Best for: Taking on outdoor adventures
Downside: No taproom to visit

I’d wager that a good portion of Bozeman’s beer-drinking population isn’t even aware of Julius Lehrkind’s existence. They brew a half-dozen beers and maybe a seasonal, if the occasion strikes. Those stats won’t put you at the top of anyone’s brewery tour list, and even if they did, there’s no taproom to visit.

An aluminum bottle with a green label stating "Hopical Sky IPA" is pushed into the snow on a ski hill with a forest and snow-covered mountains in the background.

But I think Lehrkind is something of an underappreciated commodity. Their Blood Orange Blonde is the perfect thirst quencher for hot days out on the water, and the Hopical Sky IPA has just enough of a bitter bite to ward off a chill out on the slopes.

An aluminum bottle with an orange label saying "Brickhaus Blood Orange Blood" sits on a recently felled tree in front of a river.

And with that in mind, Lehrkind has one striking advantage over its competitors – their beers come in resealable aluminum bottles, making them ideal for taking out on float trips on the Madison or hikes in the Bridgers.

So pick up a six-pack of them from Town and Country or Town Pump on your way out of town. (Do not take these or other beers with you to any Montana ski hill to drink on the chairlift; that isn’t allowed. But you knew that.)

Lehrkind’s beers are also on tap at several bars in Bozeman and the surrounding area, including Rocking R, the Legion, Plonk, and Hop Lounge.

Montucky Cold Snacks

Best for: Affordability
Downside: Not technically made in Montana

Montucky also doesn’t have a taproom in Bozeman. Actually, they don’t even have a brewery in Bozeman… or in Montana. Montucky is made in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

So why is this on the list of Bozeman breweries? Because it’s the “official, unofficial beer of Montana,” of course! At least, that’s what founders and Bozeman residents Chad Zeitner and Jeremy Gregory say, and I’m inclined to go along with it because I believe Montana can have the best craft beers AND the best cheap beer.

Back in 2011, when the Bozeman craft beer scene was just getting going (Bridger Brewing and the defunct 406 Brewing had only recently opened), the two realized they couldn’t compete when it came to craft beer. Instead, they decided to challenge PBR for the title of “most likely to be found floating the Madison in an inner tube.”

A six pack of blue beer cans with a single can missing sits in the snow with a stand of pine trees in the background.

So they went with an easy-drinking light beer, put it in a retro-style can modeled after Montana’s ‘90s license plates, and gave it an amazing name. To keep prices low, they contracted production to City Brewing in Wisconsin, with the hope that one day they’d bring it back home to the Treasure State. Thanks to their cost-cutting measures, Montucky is able to donate 8% of their revenue to area non-profits like Eagle Mount, Haven, and Thrive.

Ten years later, the distinctive blue cans are sold throughout Montana, and I’ve even found it at Trader Joe’s in Seattle and Portland (major hipster cred!). Today, it’s available at most grocery stores and gas stations in town, not to mention at all the best Bozeman dive bars (like the Haufbrau and the Molly Brown).

Lockhorn Cider House

Best for: Gluten-free options
Downside: Cider isn’t for everyone

Not all beer drinkers like ciders – but I think they taste great on a hot day, especially since they aren’t as heavy as craft beer. And even if you don’t normally like cider, Lockhorn just might change your mind. While they make a few of the more traditional dry and sweet ciders, they also brew plenty of more creative options spiced up with ingredients like hops, mint, ginger, or even Flathead cherries.

A grey concrete building with a sign saying Lockhorn Cider House with a rear section covered in wood paneling and surrounded by shrubbery.

Lockhorn isn’t just a tastier alternative to light beer, either; it’s also gluten-free, allowing our friends with celiac to join in the drinking adventures. All of the cidery’s food, which includes mouth-watering delights like bison sausage, a cheeseboard, and freshly-made hummus, is also gluten-free. There aren’t a lot of options for gluten-free restaurants in Bozeman, so this is definitely the place to go if that’s what you need.

A couple of long wooden tables and benches, one of them occupied by four women, sits in front of a bar area with several glass growlers above it.

Best Breweries in Belgrade, MT

Belgrade is just 15 minutes from downtown Bozeman, so it’d be unfair to exclude its amazing breweries because of some lines drawn on a map. And if the Gallatin Valley continues its explosive growth, the town will eventually be absorbed into the greater Bozone anyway.

The airport is here, too, so the two Belgrade breweries are a welcome introduction to the area or a bittersweet goodbye.

Madison River Brewing Company

Best for: Waiting for your flight
Downside: Not much ambiance

As one of the older breweries in the Gallatin Valley, Madison River’s brews can be found on tap at any respectable bar in Bozeman and its surroundings.

Their old standby Salmon Fly Honey Rye, a blonde ale with hints of spice and a touch of sweetness, perfectly captures the essence of summer in the Valley. And it pairs equally well with a sausage pizza from Rosa’s as it does with a New York strip at the Rib and Chop House.

A glass filled with brown beer sits on a top with an out of focus bar scene in the background.

Madison River’s taproom is pretty small and doesn’t have a ton going on. Wedged into an industrial park on Belgrade’s eastern edge, it’s not even that easy to find when you know where to look.

An empty table and two steel chairs sit in front of a bar with a man and woman sitting in rustic wooden chairs. A NASCAR race plays on the TV above them.

But the nondescript location has one major advantage. It’s within walking distance of the airport (and next to the Streamline bus stop if you’re a budget-conscious traveler), making it the ideal spot to kill some time should your flight be delayed.

Bar 3 BBQ

Best for: Pulled pork sandwich with your beer
Downside: Food coma is a real risk

Remember how I said Outlaw Brewing used to be in Belgrade, inside the Bar 3 BBQ restaurant? Well, Bar 3 couldn’t just go without a house brewery after Outlaw decamped for Bozeman, so they started producing their own beers in 2014. The brewery side is technically under the name One Pride Brewing, but nobody calls it that.

A glass of beer with an orange slice in it sits on a mottled countertop. A bartender stands in the background using her phone in front of a large chalkboard listing the brewery's beers.

Being that Bar 3 is first and foremost a BBQ restaurant, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that brewing is an afterthought. But their dozen-plus beers, ranging from a hibiscus sour to a 100-IBU IPA, turns that belief on its head and provides an array of choices for pairing with your baby back ribs or smoked turkey sandwich.

My go-to mash up is the scotch ale with the gut buster sandwich – a bun piled high with pulled pork, cheesy grits, and French fries, slathered in sriracha. Perfect if you’ve got a flight coming up and prefer to spend those few hours at 30,000 feet in a food coma.

Are There Too Many Bozeman Breweries?

It’s hard to believe that a small city like Bozeman can actually support more than a dozen breweries. At some point it reaches the point of saturation… right? Well, maybe not for a while – craft beer only accounts for 16% of the market, and there are still plenty of Michelob Light drinkers who might be persuaded to buy local.

Given sufficient differentiation in flavor and experience, I imagine Bozeman can support this many microbreweries and maybe even a few more. Thanks to the wild popularity of the show Yellowstone and magazines like Outside and Travel + Leisure ranking it among the “Best Mountain Towns in the U.S.,” Bozeman is booming (for better and worse).

And it seems like Bozemanites new and old share a love for craft beer. Most of the area’s breweries are plumb full on the weekends and fairly crowded on weeknights. So long as they continue to focus on their craftsmanship and provide a welcoming atmosphere, I’m not expecting the Bozeman beer scene to slow down.

Map of Bozeman, MT, Breweries

Click here for an interactive version of the map!

What’s your favorite brewery in Bozeman, MT? Tell us in the comments!

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