2026 Montana Beer Awards Winners

Posted On March 30, 2026

Small Brewery of the Year

Presented by Gallatin Valley Malt

Imagine Nation Brewing Co., Missoula

Medium Brewery of the Year

Presented by Malteurop Malting Co.

Cranky Sam Brewing, Missoula

Large Brewery of the Year

Presented by Hollingbery & Son Hops

Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

Community Impact Award

Lewis and Clark Brewing, Helena

Montana Beer Champion

Loy Maierhauser

Alternative Products

GOLD: Bootpack Hard Tea, Après Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Miner’s Silver, Lewis and Clark Brewing, Helena

BRONZE: Root Beer, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing Co., Great Falls

Amber Ales & Hybrid Styles

GOLD: Bring ‘Em Out, Imagine Nation Brewing Co., Missoula

SILVER: Sticke Shift, MAP Brewing Company, Bozeman

BRONZE: Forbidden City Amber, Ronan Cooperative Brewing, Ronan

Amber & Dark Lagers

Presented by Toast

GOLD: Heck’s Czech, Bias Brewing, Kalispell

SILVER: Stormbound, Bitter Root Brewing, Hamilton

BRONZE: Dark Helmet, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

American & International Pale Lagers

GOLD: Sonny’s Delight, Outlaw Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Mexican Lager, Lewis and Clark Brewing, Helena

BRONZE: Wildlands Mexican Lager, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

Belgian & French-Style Ales

Presented by Collective Packaging Co.

GOLD: Last Best, Old Bull Brewing, Frenchtown

SILVER: The Gorgons, 406 Brewing Company, Manhattan

BRONZE: Belgian Dark Strong, Copper Furrow Brewing, Helena

Brown Ales & Porters

GOLD: Brandon’s Brown, Copper Furrow Brewing, Helena

SILVER: Backcountry, Lewis and Clark Brewing, Helena

BRONZE: Plum St. Porter, Bozeman Brewing Company, Bozeman

Experimental Beers

GOLD: Great Wave, MAP Brewing Co., Bozeman 

SILVER: Funky Fugitive, Bozeman Brewing in collaboration with Outlaw Brewing, Bozeman

BRONZE: Honor, Patriotic American Brewery, Kalispell

Fruit Beers

GOLD: Lemonade Stand Lager, Smelter City Brewing, Anaconda 

SILVER: Mountain Man Mack, Blacksmith Brewing, Stevensville

BRONZE: Raspberry Hefe, KettleHouse Brewery, Bonner

Golden Ales & Hybrid Styles

GOLD: Thirsty’s Light, Thirsty Street Brewing, Billings

 SILVER: Fresh Tracks, Philipsburg Brewing Company, Philipsburg

BRONZE: Sky River, Sacred Waters Brewing Company, Kalispell

Hazy Pale Ales

Presented by Yakima Chief Hops

GOLD: Lupujus 7 – 10th Anniversary, Imagine Nation Brewing Co., Missoula

SILVER: Sunny Motueka, Cranky Sam Brewing, Missoula

BRONZE: Chasin’ Haze, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

Hop-Forward Pale Lagers

Presented by Summit Beverage

GOLD: Pacific Pilsner, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Premo Pilsner, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman  

BRONZE: WC Pils, Cranky Sam Brewing, Missoula

India Pale Ales

Presented by General Distributing Co.

GOLD: Vigilante IPA, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman 

SILVER: End of Haze, Sacred Waters, Kalispell

BRONZE: Back to the Drawing Board, Bar 3 Brewing, Belgrade

Malt-Forward European Pale Lagers

GOLD: Helles, Cranky Sam Brewing, Missoula

SILVER: False Idols, Philipsburg Brewing Company, Philipsburg

BRONZE: Larch Lager, Sacred Waters Brewing Company, Kalispell

Pale Ales

Presented by Sonderen Packaging

GOLD: Lee Metcalf, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Muley Buck IPA, KettleHouse Brewing, Bonner 

BRONZE: High Hole Hazy Pale, Katabatic Brewing Co., Livingston

Peaks to Prairie

Presented by Montana Craft Malt

GOLD: Peaks to Peach, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Lozar’s Porter, MAP Brewing Company, Bozeman

BRONZE: Peaks to Prairie Hazy IPA, Lolo Peak Brewery & Grill, Lolo

Pink Boots Beers

GOLD: Antilogy, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman

SILVER: Well Heeled Blueberry Lemon Mint Sour, Bozeman Brewing, Bozeman

BRONZE: Mizuchi, Mighty Mo Brewing Co., Great Falls

Scottish-Style Ales

GOLD: Burnt Fork, Backsmith Brewing, Stevensville

SILVER: Scottish Ale, Neptune’s Brewery, Livingston  

BRONZE: Katabatic Scotch Ale, Katabatic Brewing Company, Livingston

Smoke & Wood Flavored Beer

GOLD: Old Stache Porter, Tamarack Brewing Co., Lakeside 

SILVER: Organic Spirituous Smoke Lager, Wildwood Brewing, Stevensville

BRONZE: Badfinger, Philipsburg Brewing Company, Philipsburg

Sour Ales, Wild Ales, & Fruited Sour Ales

GOLD: Lemon Meringue Sour, Mighty Mo Brewing Co., Great Falls

SILVER: Berried Alive, Burnt Tree Brewing, Ennis

BRONZE: 2025 Vieux Bois Lambic Inspired w/Passionfruit, Bozeman Brewing Company, Bozeman

Strong Ales

GOLD: Winter Sippa Porter, 1889 Brewing Company, Billings 

SILVER: Tourmaline, Thirsty Street Brewing Co., Billings

BRONZE: Winter Warmer, Copper Furrow Brewing, Helena

Stouts

GOLD: Howling Moon, Sacred Waters Brewing Company, Kalispell

SILVER: Muzzleloader Chocolate Stout, Katabatic Brewing Co., Livingston

BRONZE: Black Hop, 406 Brewing Company, Manhattan

Strong Lagers

GOLD: Night Cap, Old Bull Brewing, Frenchtown

SILVER: Sintillator, Cranky Sam Brewing, Missoula

BRONZE: A Love Supreme, Burnt Tree Brewing, Ennis

Vegetable & Spiced Beers

GOLD: Biere de Garde, Backslope Brewing, Columbia Falls

SILVER: Kind of a Big Dill, Old Bull, Frenchtown

BRONZE: Lil’ Salmon Fire, Sacred Waters Brewing Co., Kalispell 

Wheat Ales

Presented by Montana Wheat & Barley Committee

GOLD: St. Walter Hefeweizen, Bayern Brewing, Missoula

SILVER: Miner’s Gold, Lewis and Clark Brewing, Helena

BRONZE: Night Harvest, Bridger Brewing, Bozeman