Billings Brewery Trail

George Moncure
Yellowstone Valley

Photo courtesy: Boyd G
Photography

You can visit all four breweries in an after-dinner or before-dinner stroll, only about a mile walk total, and see some local attractions along the way.

You can start at any of the four breweries, of course, but a likely choice is Montana Brewing on 28th Street. Find a long-term parking spot or walk from your downtown lodging, but don't go into Montana Brewing for a beer--not yet. Instead, walk a half-block south to 1st Avenue North, turn east (left) and walk three blocks to Angry Hank's Brewery, sample the brew there before walking another two blocks east to Yellowstone Valley Brewing, and from there, one block south to Montana Avenue. Turn right (west) on Montana Avenue and watch for Carter's Brewing two blocks later on the south side of the street by the railroad tracks. Check out the Pink Caboose just east of Carter's (in the same block).

On the way you can stop at the Western Heritage Center, only a block south of Montana Brewing on Montana Avenue. It has some great photo galleries (both historic and contemporary), plus a variety of regional exhibits and art collections on display. You can take a guided or self-guided tour, but only between 10 am-5 pm, Tuesday through Saturday.

You can also take a two-block detour north on 27th Street to visit the Yellowstone Art Museum, which opens at 11 am and stays open until 4-8 pm depending on the day (closed on Monday). Check the museum website for exact hours and current exhibits.

After tasting the treats offered by the first three breweries, continue walking three blocks west on Montana Avenue back to 28th Street where you turn north and go a block and a half back to Montana Brewing, the only one of the four that serves food. Enjoy a fine dinner with your microbrew at Montana Brewing and call it a night.

If you have extra time before you start your brewery tour or the next morning, drive out to Zoo Montana, the only zoo in Montana, on the west edge of Billings.

Angry Hank's taproom

After tasting the treats offered by these three breweries, continue walking three blocks west on Montana Avenue back to 28th Street where you turn north and go a block and a half back to Montana Brewing, the only one of the four that serves food. Enjoy a fine dinner with your microbrew at Montana Brewing and call it a night.

Angry Hank's Brewery

Yellowstone Valley Brewing

Carter's Brewing

Montana Brewing