A panel of 25 professional brewers, industry experts, and certified beer judges tasked with selecting the best brews in Montana converged on Lewis & Clark Brewing Co. in Helena from February 19 – 22 for the second Montana Beer Awards. After spending over 24 hours across 4 days carefully evaluating each beer, the results of the second Montana Beer Awards, organized by the Montana Brewers Association, were announced on Saturday, February 22nd.
In its second year, the Montana Beer Awards have quickly become the largest statewide professional beer competition in Montana. This year’s event featured 344 judged beers, submitted by 49 breweries in Big Sky Country.
Zach Culp (Outlaw Brewing) receiving an award during the Beer Awards. Photo by Lori Schroeder Photography.
To a packed house at Lewis and Clark Brewing Company and to livestream viewers online, a total of 30 breweries claimed gold, silver, and bronze medals in 22 beer categories. Among the winners included Montana’s oldest brewery, Bayern Brewing, established in 1987, and its youngest, 1889 Brewing Company, founded in December, 2024. Additionally, Large, Medium, and Small Brewery of the Year awards were handed out to the winningest breweries in each of those categories, based on their annual production amounts.
“Last year’s event was a huge success, and we built on that momentum to showcase even more outstanding beers from across the state,” Competition Director Loy Maierhauser said about this year’s event. “It’s a testament to our unique and thriving craft beer scene, and we are very proud to celebrate the incredible work of Montana’s breweries.”
From left, Matt Leow, Shannon Heim, Danielle Durkin, and Loy Maierhauser congratulate Matt Muth (406 Brewing Co.) for winning the Community Impact Award. Photo by Lori Schroeder Photography.
In addition to beer categories, one brewery received the Community Impact Award, which celebrates the exceptional efforts made by our 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. This year, this honor was received by Manhattan’s 406 Brewing Company.
Debuting at the Beer Awards was the inaugural Montana Beer Champion Award, which honors an individual whose exceptional dedication and contributions have significantly elevated the craft beer industry in Montana. This year’s winner was Steve “Bubs” Lozar, a true Montana beer legend who for decades has been a cornerstone of Montana’s brewing community. His commitment to Montana beer goes back generations, as his family’s history is tied deeply to the Montana beer industry. It only makes sense that he has dedicated so much to preserving Montana’s beer history through the Montana Brewery Museum, advocating for its growth, and sharing his deep knowledge and passion with everyone he meets.
From left, Rob Rink and Timmy Evon (Cranky Sam) with Charles McManus celebrating winning the Medium Sized Brewery of the Year Award. Photo by Lori Schroeder Photography.
For many participants, the event’s importance is beyond the glass. Assistant Competition Director Danielle Durkin says the event fosters important relationships for the craft beer community. “For me, it’s about as much about the connection with people as it is about the beer. We have so many incredible people in our state making exceptional beer. I love being able to meet, get to know, and celebrate everyone in all stages of the process from the field to the glass!”
Billings is set to host two new breweries, each looking to become hubs of community activity in their neighborhoods.
1889 Brewing Company’s owner and head brewer, Matt Miller.
In December, 1889 Brewing Company opened its doors, becoming the most recent brewery in Montana to start business. Owner and brewer Matt Miller had been a homebrewer for around 15 years before opening a place of his own. After working in the computer industry for more than 20 years, Miller grew “tired of corporate America,” he said in an interview in December. Eventually, Miller and his wife Lindsey “decided to give [owning a brewery] a shot and see how it goes.”
Over its first two months in business, “people have been extremely welcoming,” and “are excited to see an opening brewery,” Miller describes. As people become acquainted with the new offerings, naturally their flights have been very popular. But, three beers have emerged as fan favorites already: 1889’s Wagon East Wheat, Apricot Wheat, and Downtown Sammy Brown Ale.
Already, 1889 has received accolades for its beer, taking home a bronze medal in Strong Ales at the Montana Beer Awards for its Winter Sippa Porter. Going forward, 1889 intends to pay homage to its namesake, the year Montana became a state, by brewing pre-Prohibition beers. For instance, Miller is developing a Kentucky Common Beer that will go on tap in the future.
Another new Billings brewery is 1O5 Brewing Company, aiming to become the only brewery in the Heights neighborhood. Combining a coffee shop and brewery under one roof, 1O5 began selling caffeinated beverages in January, with plans to begin beer sales in April.
1O5 Brewing serving coffee. Photo from 1O5 Brewing.
Founder and Head Brewer Travis Zeilstra has long been part of Montana’s craft beer community, including stints as Head Brewer at Montana Brewing Co. and overseeing brewing operations at By All Means Brewing. With his new venture, Zeilstra is aiming to pay homage to craft brewing’s roots, by generating a “neighborhood, small business feel.”
“Our mindset is to have people join us at the venue to have conversations with friends and family over beverages that create those conversations,” says Zeilstra. With coffee and beer, 1O5 intends to be “a third space to get a task accomplished, or to get away from home or work.”
1O5 is the only business trying to accomplish two drink experiences under the same roof, and Zeilstra “feel[s] confident that people are excited about having this in the Heights.”
Saturday, February 22nd, was the premier day to celebrate Montana’s craft brewing industry. The Montana Brewers Association unveiled winners at Lewis & Clark Tap Room in Helena during the second Montana Beer Awards, while the Peaks to Prairie collaboration beer hit taprooms at 12 breweries across Montana. With the celebration of winners at the largest statewide beer competition, this day is a natural one to release a 100% made-in-Montana beer.
Burnt Tree Brewing’s made their Peaks to Prairie an International-Style Pale Ale.
“This collaboration beer celebrating Montana-grown ingredients is a perfect match for Burnt Tree Brewing’s ethos of supporting our agricultural producers and processors, and celebrating the power of local beer to strengthen our local economy and community. All of our beers feature a majority of Montana ingredients (many recipes are 100% Montana-sourced), served in our small neighborhood taproom to locals and visitors alike,” says Dave McAdoo, Head Brewer at Burnt Tree Brewing. “Montana’s malt and hop producers are continually adding new and better options for brewers. With such a wide selection, it was challenging to choose a beer style for this collaboration – the possibilities were almost endless,” adds Doug Child, MAP Brewing Co.’s Head Brewer.
Peaks to Prairie is an annual collaboration between Montana’s breweries, hop growers, maltsters, and local beer lovers. Brewers have creative freedom to brew the style of their choosing with a recipe using ingredients grown and malted in Montana. Brewers can purchase discounted ingredients from Montana agricultural suppliers, and in turn use the proceeds from the beer to make a donation to the MBA in support of its mission to promote the production and sales of the freshest and highest quality Montana-made beers. The MBA also will use a portion of the funds raised to support scholarships for student researchers at MSU’s Barley, Malt & Brewing Quality Lab.
This is the fifth collaboration beer organized by the MBA, with this edition featuring updates to the project. In addition to an earlier release date, Peaks to Prairie beers will be in its own category at the Montana Beer Awards, where the top brews will receive gold, silver, and bronze medals, with Katabatic Brewing Co.’s Session Pale taking the top spot. For the first time, this project is open to all Montana breweries.
“I think it is a great way for us to showcase the fantastic Montana-made ingredients that are being produced in our state. With this being the first year having a designated Peaks to Prairies category at the MBA awards, I think we will see some incredible beers that highlight the exceptional quality of growers and producers we have here in Montana,” says Jayce Hancock, Head Brewer at Lewis & Clark Brewing Co.
The name of the collab beer, “Peaks to Prairie,” pays homage to the wide range of geographical features in Montana, reflecting the diverse landscapes of mountains, canyons, river valleys, forests, grassy plains, and more that are found in Big Sky Country. This collaboration beer showcases the unique flavors and ingredients sourced from these environments, as well as the variety of different beers brewers can create. By utilizing elements from Montana’s peaks and prairies, the beer is a fusion of the state’s natural beauty and agricultural abundance.
Sacred Waters Brewing Company’s Peaks to Prairie, a Double IPA.
“Montana brewers and craft beer lovers are in the fortunate and unique position of living and brewing in “This is a great opportunity to showcase Montana grown ingredients,” says Seth Orr, Head Brewer at Sacred Waters Brewing Co. “I think one of the great things about this year’s Peaks to Prairie collaboration is that the style has opened up. Brewers can really explore and showcase the agronomic opportunities Montana has to offer within the industry,” adds Jim Myers, Head Brewer at Ronan Cooperative Brewery.
Thanks to the generous support of Bell Crossing Farms, Big Sky Hops Farm, Crooked Yard Hops, Flathead Valley Hops, Glacier Hops Ranch, Gallatin Valley Malt, Malteurop, and Montana Craft Malt, brewers were able to purchase their locally-sourced ingredients at a reduced rate. With their own unique recipes, brewers unleashed their creativity and now they are eager to share their delicious brews with craft beer enthusiasts.
To celebrate Montana-made beer, craft beer lovers can show their support for the collaboration beer project by visiting any of the following participating breweries and enjoying a pint of Peaks to Prairie:
Find more information on each Peaks to Prairie beer here. Participating breweries will be pouring the Peaks to Prairie collaboration beer throughout the year while supplies last.
*The Peaks to Prairie Collaboration Beer may not be on tap by Feb. 22 at the breweries listed above, check their websites and social media for what’s on tap and their collaboration beer release dates!
The Montana Brewers Association’s annual slate of brewfests is returning for this year. Each year, the MBA visits three cities across the state to have an evening of local beer, live music, and great food. Rendezvous with us on our brewfest tour, to sample the creativity and craftsmanship each Montana craft brewery puts into their product, while enjoying the camaraderie of our communities. All beer samples and a collectible glass are included in your ticket.
The tour will kick-off in Bozeman, before travelling to Helena and concluding in Missoula. Brand new for this year is the option to buy a season pass and receive admission to all three brewfests for one discounted price. On sale from March 10th to May 10th, make sure you stay tuned to get your pass!
Spring Rendezvous Brewfest
Saturday, May 10
Haynes Pavilion, Gallatin County Fairgrounds, Bozeman
Help us kick off the Rendezvous tour in Bozeman, featuring musical performances for the VIP hour by the Lazy Owl String Band, delivering stomping, fast picking, old-timey string music, plus a GA performance by Matt Wallin & His Nervous Breakdown, playing original and cover tunes to keep your feet dancing.
Make sure you’re the first to secure your tickets, and save $10 off the gate price during our limited presale event! Mark your calendars, presale begins on Monday, March 10th, but is only available until March 14th. Keep your eyes peeled for the limited presale code to get your tickets.
For free VIP admission and a volunteer t-shirt, sign up to volunteer.
Summer Rendezvous Brewfest
Saturday, August 2
Memorial Park, Helena
What beats cold beer on a summer night? Make sure you join on the second stop of our Rendezvous tour in Helena, featuring music from John Flordis and the After 5 Band. Brews, live music, and local food are the perfect way to spend a summer evening!
For free VIP admission and a volunteer t-shirt, sign up to volunteer.
Montana Brewers Conference
Thursday & Friday, September 4 – 5
Holiday Inn Downtown, Missoula
We are excited for brewers and industry partners to join us again for Montana’s premier beer education and networking event, the Montana Brewers Conference. Featuring two days of presentations from industry insiders, a trade show, and evening social events, you won’t want to miss this event
Is there something you want to see at the conference? Let us know! Just fill out the 2025 Montana Brewers Conference session proposal form. Visit montanabrewersconference.com for updates as the schedule is announced.
Fall Rendezvous Brewfest
Saturday, September 6
Caras Park, Missoula
Be sure to join us at the final brewfest of 2025! Located in the heart of downtown Missoula, the Fall Rendezvous is the conclusion of the annual tour. Enjoy live music from Way Down North and Tom Catmull’s Last Resort, with food from local vendors.
For free VIP admission and a volunteer t-shirt, sign up to volunteer.
Sponsorships
Interested in elevating your brand among Montana’s craft brewing community? Join us as an event sponsor! Partnering with the MBA as an event sponsor guarantees you free event passes, logo placement, and more. Check out our 2025 Events Sponsorship Rate Card for more details, and contact [email protected] to support local brewing.
Helena’s vibrant craft beer scene came together to host Helena Craft Beer Week, February 16–23, 2025. Six local breweries partnered to bring a week of exciting craft beer-themed events to Montana’s capital city, with something for everyone from beer aficionados to casual sippers.
Organizer Danielle Durkin shared her enthusiasm for the event, stating, “The Helena Craft Beer industry is thriving, and we are excited to bring this fun to our community. It’s great to see all different organizations getting involved. This is what it’s all about—a community coming together over a shared love.”
Montana is home to almost 100 craft breweries, making it one of the top states in the nation for breweries per capita. Montana-grown barley, often referred to as some of the highest quality in the world, is a key ingredient in these locally brewed beers. The craft beer industry not only supports local farmers but also contributes to the state’s economy and provides thousands of jobs across brewing, distribution, and hospitality sectors.
Post-5K revelers at Lewis & Clark Brewing Co. Photo by Montana Brewery Running Series.
Special events during Craft Beer Week included a three-course dinner at Mt Ascension Brewery, Blackfoot River Brewing Company releasing their Peaks to Prairie Milk Stout, bingo and live music at Missouri River Brewing, a Roarin’ 20s costume party hosted by Speakeasy 41, Open Mic Night at Ten Mile Creek Brewery, and a Run to the Brewery 5K at Lewis & Clark Brewing Co.
The Myrna Loy also hosted a Brew and View on Thursday, February 20, combining a Fargo film screening and craft beer for a night of entertainment. Capping off the week were the Montana Brewers Association’s annual Montana Beer Awards on Saturday, February 22nd, which included a drawing for a Lone Mountain cooler, donated by Capital Sports, and filled with delicious beer from every participating brewery.