Highest-rated breweries in Montana
Cold beer, anyone? American beer drinkers have their fair share of options no matter where they might live.
Indeed, a market once dominated by a handful of major brands has become far more diverse since the craft beer scene expanded sixfold between 2008 and 2016. Independent production cooled off just a little in 2023 but still accounted for a whopping 23.4 million barrels of beer and craft beer's overall market share by volume rose to 13.3%, according to the Brewers Association. For context, in 2013, there were 3,108 craft breweries in the U.S.—and as of 2023, there are 9,761, representing a 214% increase in just a decade. Cheers to that!
Why the ongoing obsession? Putting aside the fact that people simply love their brew, beer has emerged as a wildly versatile beverage category. Craft breweries explore beer to its fullest potential and tend to rank highly as a result.
Another thing about beer is that every sip tells a story. It's first and foremost the journey of the beer's own production, namely one involving water, malted grains, botanical hops, and yeast. However, it's also a chronicling of the area in which the beer was produced since every state has its own respective history, climate, geography, and resources. Then there's the tale of the people who produced it, turning their love of carbonated alcohol into a passion project and hiring all kinds of local talent.
Combine America's love of beer with endless flavor possibilities, and you arrive at a sensational pastime and a thriving national industry. With nearly 10,000 craft breweries bubbling up across the nation, each one offers its own unique qualities, some complete with guided tours and tasting rooms (and maybe some hearty gastropub fare).
Many of the nation's highest-rated breweries are so small and independent that the only way to sample their suds is to visit them in person, while others distribute their products around the country—or even across the globe.
To find some top spots near you, Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breweries in Montana using data from Tripadvisor. Tripadvisor ranks places using a combination of metrics, including overall rating, reviews, and number of page views. As a result, a business with a 5 out of 5 overall rating might rank lower than one with a 4 out of 5. Data is as of June 6, 2024.
Regardless of the brewery's size and scope, one thing is for sure: Now is a great time for a beer!
#30. Great Burn Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 2230 McDonald Ave. Missoula, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#29. Butte Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (40 reviews)
- Address: 465 East Galena St. Butte, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#28. Copper Furrow Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (5 reviews)
- Address: 2801 North Roberts St. Helena, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#27. Bias Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (6 reviews)
- Address: 409 1st Ave. East Kalispell, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#26. Old Skool Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (9 reviews)
- Address: 115 East Montana Ave. Baker, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#25. Gally's Brewing Co
- Rating: 5/5 (10 reviews)
- Address: 30 Central Ave. South Harlowton, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#24. Lolo Peak Brewing
- Rating: 4/5 (82 reviews)
- Address: 6201 Brewery Way Lolo, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#23. Cut Bank Creek Brewery
- Rating: 5/5 (12 reviews)
- Address: 315 East Railroad St. Cut Bank, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#22. Thirsty Street Brewing Company at the Garage
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 2123B 1st Ave. North Billings, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#21. Blacksmith Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (20 reviews)
- Address: 114 Main St. Stevensville, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#20. Katabatic Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (55 reviews)
- Address: 117 West Park St. Livingston, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#19. 2 Basset Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 202 East Main St. White Sulphur Springs, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#18. Carter's Brewery and Tap Room
- Rating: 4.5/5 (33 reviews)
- Address: 2526 Montana Ave. Billings, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#17. Glacier Brewing Company
- Rating: 4/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 6 10th Ave. East Polson, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#16. Muddy Creek Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 2 East Galena St. Butte, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#15. Smelter City Brewing
- Rating: 5/5 (11 reviews)
- Address: 101 Main St. Anaconda, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#14. SunRift Beer Company
- Rating: 4/5 (31 reviews)
- Address: 55 1st Ave. WN Kalispell, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#13. Busted Knuckle Brewery
- Rating: 5/5 (14 reviews)
- Address: 303 1st Ave. South Glasgow, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#12. Triple Dog Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 675 1st St. West Havre, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#11. Madison River Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (23 reviews)
- Address: 20900 Frontage Road Bldg. B Belgrade, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#10. Angry Hank's Microbrewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 20 North 30th St. Billings, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#9. Imagine Nation Brewing Co
- Rating: 5/5 (25 reviews)
- Address: 151 West Broadway St. Missoula, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#8. Ten Mile Creek Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (49 reviews)
- Address: 46 North Last Chance Gulch Helena, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#7. Canyon Creek Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (35 reviews)
- Address: 3060 Gabel Road Billings, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#6. Bayern Brewery
- Rating: 4.5/5 (60 reviews)
- Address: 1507 Montana St. Missoula, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#5. Blackfoot River Brewing Co
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 66 South Park Ave. Helena, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#4. Sacred Waters Brewing Company
- Rating: 5/5 (24 reviews)
- Address: 3250 US Highway 2 East Kalispell, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#3. Philipsburg Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (154 reviews)
- Address: 101 West Broadway Philipsburg, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#2. Lewis & Clark Brewing Company
- Rating: 4.5/5 (99 reviews)
- Address: 1517 Dodge Ave. Helena, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
#1. Big Sky Brewing
- Rating: 4.5/5 (85 reviews)
- Address: 5417 Trumpeter Way Missoula, Montana
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Karim Noorani, writing by Jacob Osborn, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states and Washington D.C.