Blackfoot

Blackfoot River Brewing was established in 1998 by three avid homebrewers and beer enthusiasts: Brian Smith, Brad Simshaw, and Greg Wermers. The founders' love for brewing began in 1993 when they decided to stop drinking mass-produced beer and started brewing their own in Brad's basement. Their homebrewing hobby quickly turned into a passion, leading them to open Howling Wolf Homebrew Supply in Downtown Helena in 1995. With the help of a third partner, Greg, they began contemplating the idea of opening a brewery that would create handcrafted, traditional beers using high-quality ingredients and unconventional brewing methods.

In 1998, their dreams became a reality when they transformed a vacant garage building into Blackfoot River Brewing Company. The brewery started with a 15-barrel brewing system, producing unfiltered and never-pasteurized beer, available only on draught. The founders envisioned the brewery as a community-oriented locale, offering a comfortable alternative to the typical bar scene. In 2008, the brewery moved to a larger facility, allowing for more significant production and a larger taproom, where customers could enjoy the brewery's handcrafted beers in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere.

Our Beer Making Philosophy

At Blackfoot River Brewing, the quality of the beer is our top priority. We believe that the brewing process is more important than the selling aspect, and therefore, we focus on creating high-quality, traditional beers using only the finest ingredients. Our beers are made with specific attention to detail, taking into account the unique characteristics of each beer style. While some breweries prioritize cost and efficiency, we are committed to providing our customers with the quality of beer they deserve.

One of the key ingredients in our beers is malted barley, which gives beer its unique flavor, color, and body. Our malted barley is carefully selected and tailored to each style of beer, ensuring that every beer is of the highest quality. In addition to malted barley, we use other traditional ingredients, such as hops, yeast, and water, to create our handcrafted beers.

Our brewing process is also unique. At Blackfoot River Brewing, we use open fermentation, a traditional brewing method that allows for greater control over the fermentation process. This method is more labor-intensive and time-consuming, but it results in a higher quality beer. Additionally, we don't use any artificial flavors or additives, ensuring that our beers are natural and authentic.

Our Services

At Blackfoot River Brewing, we offer a wide range of services to our customers. Our taproom is open seven days a week, serving a great line-up of hand-crafted beers, free popcorn, and a selection of featured wines, local hard ciders, and non-alcoholic beverages. Our taproom is a comfortable and friendly place where customers can relax, enjoy a beer, and socialize with friends.

In addition to our taproom, we also offer a beer engine, which allows customers to pour their own beer directly from the cask. This traditional British method of serving beer is a unique experience, allowing customers to taste the beer at its freshest. We also offer growler fills, allowing customers to take home their favorite Blackfoot River Brewing beer.

We are committed to being a community-oriented brewery, and therefore, we host a variety of events and gatherings. From live music to trivia nights, there's always something happening at Blackfoot River Brewing. We also host community nights, where local organizations and causes can come together and raise awareness and funds.

Our Beers

At Blackfoot River Brewing, we offer a wide range of handcrafted beers. Our flagship beer is the Blackfoot River Lager, a traditional German-style lager that is crisp, clean, and refreshing. We also offer a variety of seasonal beers, such as the Jalapeno Lime IPA and the Raspberry Wheat. Our beers are unfiltered, never pasteurized, and available exclusively on draught.

Our Commitment to the Environment

At Blackfoot River Brewing, we are committed to reducing our impact on the environment. We use energy-efficient equipment, recycle our waste, and