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Billings, Montana’s Trailhead, is home to a historic downtown boasting Montana’s only Walking Brewery District. With 8 breweries and two distilleries within a 1.5-mile walkable loop, we know you’ll want to check it out. Just in case you need convincing, here’s our Top 6 Reasons to spend a couple hours or all evening exploring the great tastes – and sips – Billings has to offer.
1) Historic Downtown: Montana Avenue has an amazing vibe. Strolling down the street you’ll see the Billings Depot, built in 1909, with homegrown distillery Trailhead Spirits located inside of it. Once inside Trailhead Spirits you feel the history come to life through the architecture and the sounds of the trains passing by.
2) The atmosphere: Whether it’s a date night or a group of friends, the atmosphere is undeniable in any of the stops in the Walking Brewery District. When you step into the breweries you will instantly feel like a local. Thirsty Street Brewing has a pool table, shuffleboard and darts for the nights when you want to play games. Plus, they offer unique ways to enjoy your beer: check out “Brewga” (brews + yoga) or “Brews and Brushes” (brews + painting). If you are a fan of live music, Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company and Trailhead Spirits will often oblige.
3) Award Winning: Uberbrew continues to bring home awards such as the 2016 Small Brewery & Brewer of The Year. Trailhead Spirits boasts being in USA Today’s Top Five for Best Gin, and Montana Brewing Company, one of the longest running breweries in Billings, has a lengthy history of medals. Don’t miss a chance to try some of the best booze there is – and trust it’s not just us saying it!
4) Food: The food alone is worth the trip through the walking brewery district. Mac and Cheese enthusiast? Uberbrew offers a mac and cheese with andouille sausage and candied bacon. Throw in pretzels with beer cheese and you are well on your way to a satisfying food coma. Stroll on down to Montana Brewing Company and try one of their many mac and cheese specialties, an outstanding burger or, a personal favorite, enchilada bites. Feel like venturing beyond the district? Restaurants throughout Billings serve amazing food and offer local craft beers on tap.
5) The Names: The creativity of the names of some of the drinks cannot be missed. Dog Slobber Brown, Head Trauma IPA, and Anger Management can all be found at Angry Hanks. Grizzly Wulff Wheat, Wild Fly Ale, and Buffalo Bill Cody Rye Whiskey are found at the Yellowstone Valley Brewing. Nutty Professor Nut Brown Ale and Big Bison American Stout are a couple favorites from Thirsty Street Brewing. Smashmouth Session and GhostTrain Double IPA can be found at Carter’s Brewing.
6) Walkable: Stating the obvious, but enjoying a walk through downtown Billings is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. Casually exploring breweries while you do it makes it even more enjoyable. Historic Downtown Billings is home to dozens of restaurants, boutiques and galleries in addition to the Brewery District. The Western Heritage Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, preserves the history of the region and the Yellowstone Art Museum exhibits works by regional artists. Famous and not-so-famous bands perform nightly at the Pub Station and downtown bars and events take place year-round, keeping the city hoppin.’
From breweries to distilleries; pub fare to foodie selects; historic to modern; we’ve got you covered. We hope to see you in Montana’s only walkable brewery district soon.
