Top 6 Helena Breweries You Need to Visit in 2025

You might not expect much of a craft beer scene in the fifth most populous city of one of America’s least populated states—but Helena breweries will surprise you.

With just over 30,000 residents, this small capital city punches way above its weight when it comes to local booze. From a rooftop brewpub with killer mountain views to a hidden speakeasy behind a bookshelf, breweries in Helena, MT bring serious variety and character.

Whether you’re road-tripping through Montana or planning a weekend beer crawl, the Helena, MT breweries on this list are worth every sip.

Short on Time? Here are the key takeaways:

• This guide covers the best breweries in Helena MT, from award-winning giants like Lewis & Clark Brewing to hidden gems like Blackfoot River Brewing and speakeasy-style spots.
• You’ll find a mix of historic brew halls, community-focused taprooms, rooftop patios, and unique local experiences—all pouring fresh Montana beer.
• Most will have a food option or allow you to bring in your own.
• In our opinion, don’t miss Lewis & Clark or Blackfoot River.

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Montana Beer Laws 

Let’s start this thing out with a quick lesson on Montana beer laws because they can be rough for the local Montana breweries (if you like to drink the amounts we do).

As of 2019, Montana ranked second in the nation for breweries per capita. 

BUT, Montana state law sure makes it difficult for beer-lovers to saddle up at a Montana brewery for a few pints.  That’s because breweries can only serve customers between the hours of 10 AM and 8 PM.  

Also, it is unlawful to serve a customer more than 48 ounces of beer in a single day.  That’s 3 pints FYI. 

Even worse, if your brewery produces more than 10,000 barrels a year, you can only provide free samples to customers. (There are some loopholes to all of these, for what it’s worth). 

These rules are all in place to “protect” the bars and restaurants of the world. 

Although unfair to the craft breweries across Montana, it did force us to brewery-hop (and the rest of Montana) and taste everything that these local Montana breweries have to offer.  Poor us!

About Helena 

Helena is the capital of Montana, but with a population of just over 30,000 people, it’s the 5th-least populous state capital in the US (but the 6th-most populous city in Montana).

The city was originally founded back in 1864 during the Montana gold rush and was home to about 50 millionaires by the late 1880s. It was this wealth in the city that contributed to the elaborate Victorian architecture that you’ll see driving around town.

Although it’s a relatively small city in the vast state of Montana, these people still need to drink good craft beer at the Helena breweries, so you’ll have a few options to choose from on your visit to Big Sky’s capital city.

Map of Helena Breweries

Click the interactive map below!

1. Lewis & Clark Brewing

• Hours:
  • Sunday – Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
  • Wednesday – Saturday: 11:30 AM – 11 PM
• Food Available: Yes through Vigilante Pizza

Montana’s capital city of Helena is located in the only Lewis & Clark County in the US, so as we continue our own exploration across this great country, you know we had to make a stop at Lewis & Clark Brewing for some craft Montana beers.

Owing their name to the great explorers of the early 1800s, Lewis & Clark Brewing Company has been brewing (award-winning) beer since 2002 when the founder purchased a foreclosing brewery’s equipment and made it his own.

Since then, the largest of the Helena breweries has grown substantially and moved into a huge complex in the middle of Helena where they continue brewing great beers, offer a professionally-designed live music venue, and serve up beer-grain pizza and local beer bratwursts to feed your tipsy stomachs.

The complex of buildings where the brewery currently stands has housed many different businesses over the years (a smokehouse for meats, an icehouse for cooling the building in the summer, and a paint company), some of which date back all the way to 1885!

Their Tumbleweed IPA has won two gold medals (as recently as 2014) at the Great American Beer Festival while the Miner’s Gold Hefeweizen took home gold in 2018, in addition to the brewery winning Small Brewing Company of the Year.

Our flight of beer included these award-winners, as well as the Halo Huckleberry Hefeweizen, which is a thirst-quenching combination of the Miner’s Gold and a hint of huckleberry.

And no, those weren’t waters in our flight, though we should mix in some water every now and then. In addition to their lineup of craft beers, they also have several different house-made hard seltzers on tap too, like the Tropical Fusion Hard Seltzer and the Brewer’s H2O Hoppy Hard Seltzer. Be sure to add this stop when exploring the Helena breweries!

2. Blackfoot River Brewing Company

• Hours:
  • Monday -Thursday: 2PM -10 PM
  • Friday – Sunday: 12 PM – 10 PM
• Food Available: Free Popcorn only; Outside food welcome
• Dog-Friendly: Well behaved pets are allowed in the downstairs outdoor areas

Blackfoot River Brewing Company is located in the historic Last Chance Gulch, which is where Helena was founded when 4 gold miners struck it rich in 1864.

At Blackfoot River Brewing, you won’t find bottles or cans to-go as they believe beer tastes best on draft and this delivery eliminates the exposure to oxygen. Don’t worry though, in addition to enjoying a pint or a flight of beer (remember, up to 48 oz. per person per day per Montana law), you can get your growlers to go and even get a free beer while you wait for your growler to be filled!

On our dueling flights of 3 beers each, we each had a favorite: the Tropical Sour for Samantha and the New England Style Pale Ale for Chris. Blackfoot River is probably the most straightforward (which is a good thing) of the Helena breweries as they don’t have crazy names for their beers….they call it what it is!

We didn’t make it here for this, but each week, Blackfoot offers two unique beers on a traditional hand-pumped beer engine. The beer is naturally carbonated in the cask with the help of sugar. The beer is dispensed by air pressure and not through tap lines with CO2 and nitrogen, so you get a much creamier and less carbonated beverage.

Some of their combinations sound really delicious like the Jalapeño Lime IPA and the Citrus IPA which is their Single Malt IPA with fresh squeezed limes, lemons, oranges and grapefruits.

3. Ten Mile Creek Brewing

• Hours: Daily from 11 AM – 8 PM
• Food Available: Yes, pizza only

Of the 4 Helena breweries we visited during our short stint in town, Ten Mile Creek Brewery was our favorite!

Located in a really awesome part of town, the historic Last Chance Gulch Walking Mall, Ten Mile Creek is right between a really fun bottle/wine shop and one of Helena’s most popular destinations, The Parrot Confectionery. Everything you could possibly want in the matter of three doors: beer, wine, and chocolate/candy!

Owing its name to the Ten Mile Creek that supplies the brewery (and most of Helena) with its clean, great-tasting water, this brewery is a must-stop when you’re in town. Sourcing all of its barley from Montana farms, we are all onboard the #supportlocal train.

The Wood Knocker is one of their flagship IPA’s, but the Triple Tree was an 11.5% Imperial IPA at over 100 IBU’s, but so delicious. This was Chris’s favorite hands-down, while Samantha’s was the Raz Lime Sour.

4. Copper Furrow Brewing

• Hours: Daily from 12 PM – 8 PM
• Food Available: No

Copper Furrow Brewing is the brainchild of three former homebrewers. The three founders started brewing in their garages and basements many years ago, but have built a craft brewery dedicated to supporting the local farms and businesses in Montana and creating some delicious and unique beers along the way.

Their Strawberry Lemonade Summer Shandy is the true definition of a Porch Pounder and 100% of the malt in this beer comes from 100 miles or less from the brewery. We love the support local initiatives!

Wizard Juice (NEIPA), Strawberries and Cream (milkshake IPA), and Ol’ Ginny (barrel-aged imperial IPA) rounded out our foursome of beers enjoyed in the best outdoor space of the Helena breweries. If it seems like this flight of beer was IPA-heavy, it’s because Samantha is ever-so-slowly increasing her bitterness tolerance and expanding her beer palette.

5. Mt Ascension Brewing

• Hours: Daily from 12 PM – 8 PM
• Food Available: Yes, full kitchen

Mt Ascension Brewing is Helena’s downtown gem — think floor-to-ceiling windows, a rooftop patio with sweeping views, and beer flights named after local trails. The brewery pours brews and seltzers crafted from nearly 90% locally sourced Montana ingredients, plus a rotating roster of seasonal IPAs that lean into bold, original flavors.

If you’re nursing hunger, the full gastropub menu delivers pub favorites with a twist — and yes, gluten‑free wings & buns are available with no extra charge. Grab a Happy Trails IPA and know you’re supporting the land trust, or sip a coffee stout made in collaboration with Montago Coffee right next door.

Friendly locals, live music, and inviting patios make Mt Ascension a top spot among breweries in Helena MT.

6. Speakeasy 41 Brewing Company

• Hours:
  • Sunday – Thursday: 2 PM – 8 PM
  • Friday – Saturday: 12 PM – 8 PM

Speakeasy 41 Brewing Company is one of Helena’s coolest breweries – hidden behind a secret bookshelf, stepping inside feels like you’ve time-traveled straight to a roaring ’20s lounge, complete with barrel-top tables and cozy fireplaces.

Their tap list rotates through a dozen or so creative small-batch brews, plus the unique White Lightning Seltzer where you pick your own flavor right at the bar. They’re all about great hospitality and using Montana-sourced ingredients whenever possible.

With regular events like music bingo, Irish nights, and mug-club meetups, the vibe stays lively and welcoming. If you want a brewery experience that’s equal parts atmosphere and amazing beer, Speakeasy 41 should be at the top of your Helena MT list.

Bonus Stops: Beer Bars in Helena

Brothers Tapworks

• Hours:
  • Sunday – Thursday: 2 PM – 10 PM
  • Friday & Saturday: 12 PM – 10 PM
• Food Available: Yes

Brothers Tapworks is a downtown gem with 40+ rotating taps featuring Montana craft beer, cider, seltzer, and even wine—perfect for sampling local flavors without committing to just one brewery.

Owned by actual brothers (including former Governor Steve Bullock), this spot blends beer with events: think trivia nights, live music, and quirky open-mic “Soapbox” sessions. It’s casual, pet-friendly, and makes a great base for a laid-back Helena beer crawl.

If you’re chasing the best breweries in Helena, don’t skip this taproom that feels more like a neighborhood hangout than a bar.

Headwaters Crafthouse

• Hours:
  • Sunday & Monday: 12 PM – 8 PM
  • Tuesday – Thursday: 12 PM – 8:30 PM
  • Friday & Saturday: 12 PM – 9 PM
• Food Available: Bring outside food or check to see if they have a food truck

Headwaters Crafthouse is Helena’s go-to hangout if variety is your vibe. With 40 rotating taps pouring everything from local Montana brews to cider, seltzer, and even non-alcoholic options, there’s seriously something for everyone. The space is bright, modern, and super welcoming—with a big patio that’s perfect for sipping in the sunshine.

Locals love the community feel here, and with regular events like trivia nights and tap takeovers, there’s always something happening.

Bonus points: they’re big on supporting the Montana beer scene, keeping a rotating lineup of local favorites on tap.

Overall Helena Breweries

Though the cities of Helena and Butte might not be at the top of your destinations list, they are two old-school, rugged mining towns that can actually be pretty fun, neat, and historic stops on your road trip through the Last Best Place of Montana. Especially if you know where the local booze is!

With 6 Helena breweries and 2 massive beer bars, you’re sure to find some great local alcohol to whet your whistle.

Psst:  We have a bunch of guides about Montana. Browse them all here or see the post below:

• Guide to the breweries in Missoula Montana
• The Ultimate Guide to the Breweries in Bozeman
• Ultimate Glacier National Park Hikes and Trip Planning Guide