Blackfoot River Brewing events – Helena, MT

About Blackfoot River Brewing

Blackfoot River Brewing was founded in May 1998 by homebrewers Brian Smith, Brad Simshaw, and Greg Wermers, who had opened the Howling Wolf homebrew shop on Placer Street three years earlier. The brewery started in a vacated garage building next to Miller's Crossing in downtown Helena and has grown into a two-level taproom at 66 S. Park Ave. with a second-floor deck and a street-level parklet. It serves its own beer, Montana hard cider, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks, and gives away popcorn. Its main recurring events are Community Nights that donate $1 per beverage to a local nonprofit.

The taproom is on South Park Avenue, one block west of and parallel to the Last Chance Gulch walking mall, and steps from the Mount Helena trail network. Park Avenue has metered street parking, and there are city lots nearby. Posted hours are 2 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to 9 p.m. Friday through Sunday, with summer hours extended to 10 p.m. Outside food is welcome, well-behaved dogs are allowed in the downstairs outdoor areas, and growlers and to-go beer are sold. Brewery tours are by appointment. Phone 406-445-3005.

What happens here

• Community Nights, usually 5 to 8 p.m. on a weeknight, where $1 from every beverage goes to a named local nonprofit (September 2026 examples: ALS Montana on Sept. 8 and the Helena Sun Run on Sept. 14)
• A rotating Beer Engine cask that changes weekly
• Live music on the deck and in the taproom on scheduled dates
• Beer tastings and seasonal releases
• Brewery tours by appointment

Good to know

• The second-floor deck is the best seat in summer and fills first; the downstairs parklet is the dog-friendly option.
• Community Nights are the easiest way to support a local group without a ticket; the beneficiary is posted on the brewery's site and Facebook page each week.
• The brewery is closed on some holidays (Labor Day 2026, for example), so check before a holiday-weekend visit.