Brewers from across Montana basked in the glory of craft beer honors Saturday night at the 3rd Annual Montana Beer Awards, hosted by Lewis and Clark Taproom in Helena. With 72 medals awarded in 24 categories, plus large, medium and small Brewery Of the Year Awards, there was plenty of glory to go around.
Among the highest honors, Missoula’s Imagine Nation Brewing was crowned Small Brewery of the Year, while Bridger Brewing, with locations in Bozeman and Three Forks, took home the title of Large Brewery of the Year. Notably, Cranky Sam Brewing from Missoula clinched the Medium Brewery of the Year award for the second year in a row.
Jake Rausch, Imagine Nation head brewer, with Small BOTY award (courtesy of Lori Schroeder)
Imagine Nation’s win was bittersweet, achieving the highest honor for a small Montana craft brewery just weeks after announcing the brewery’s closure. Meanwhile, Bridger Brewing took home the largest haul of medals by far with ten medals, double that of the next highest medal count.
In addition to 72 medals in 24 style categories and the three Brewery of the Year Awards, honors were also given for the Community Impact Award and Montana Beer Champion.
Lewis & Clark Brewing Co. received the 2026 Community Impact Award, which celebrates the exceptional efforts made by local breweries to enrich their communities. Breweries go beyond crafting great beers – they become hubs for camaraderie, creativity, and positive change, and brew a stronger, more vibrant community. For nearly a quarter of a century, Lewis & Clark has served as an important gathering place and given back to the Helena community. The brewery hosts numerous nonprofit events, helping to raise funds for local causes, and has become a major hub for live music in Helena. Recently, Lewis & Clark was instrumental in saving Helena’s Alive at 5 free summer concert series.
Additionally, Loy Maierhauser received the award for Montana Beer Champion.
Loy Maierhauser receives MT Beer Champion award (and a hug) from MBA Executive Director Matt Leow (courtesy of Lori Schroeder)
“Loy represents the best of Montana’s craft beer community, shaping Montana beer culture and inspiring her peers,” said MBA executive director Matt Leow. “Motivated by the community aspect of craft beer, Loy is a major force in building and strengthening community in Montana’s craft beer scene. The Montana Beer Awards is Loy’s brainchild and it is not an overstatement to say that this event would not exist without Loy’s vision and determination.”
Montana Beer Awards Competition Statistics
The Montana Brewers Association (MBA) kicks off its three-stop brewfest tour this Saturday, May 16, in Bozeman when the Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous returns to the Gallatin County Fairgrounds for this annual celebration of Montana craft beer.
Breweries from across Montana will gather on the Treasure State Lawn, situated between
Haynes Pavilion and Tamarack St., for this year’s Spring Rendezvous, taking the MBA’s Bozeman brewfest outdoors for the first time since 2022.
“We’re hoping for good weather and the forecast looks promising,” says MBA Executive Director Matt Leow. “As for good beer, that we can guarantee.”
The event will feature 55 different beers from 18 Montana breweries, including the winners of the prestigious Large and Medium Brewery of the Year awards at the 3rd Annual Montana Beer Awards, held on March 28. Local brewery Bridger Brewing brought home the Large Brewery of the Year award along with 10 medals, while Missoula’s Cranky Sam Brewing won Medium Brewery of the Year.
Other breweries featured at the 2026 Montana Brewers Spring Rendezvous include Backslope Brewing, Bayern Brewing, Bias Brewing, Bonsai Brewing, Bozeman Brewing, Butte Brewing, Copper Furrow Brewing, GILD Brewing, Madison River Brewing, MAP Brewing, Mighty Mo Brewing, Neptune’s Brewery, Outlaw Brewing, Philipsburg Brewing, Sacred Waters Brewing, and Ten Mile Creek Brewery.
“Bozeman has established itself as the epicenter of Montana’s craft beer scene,” says Leow. “With several breweries producing high-quality beer and earning recognition at beer competitions both nationally and right here in Montana, it’s fitting that we start our brewfest season in Bozeman.”
The event starts with a VIP hour from 4 pm to 5 pm, followed by general admission from 5 pm to 8 pm. All beer samples are included with the price of admission, with an advance sale discount of $5 running through Friday ($30 for GA and $40 for VIP). Tickets and more information can be found at our Sellout ticketing page.
The next stops on the Montana Brewers Rendezvous Tour will be August 1 for the Summer Rendezvous in Helena and September 11 for the Fall Rendezvous in Missoula.