Bozeman Brewery Hop

Beer can teach you a town. Bozeman Brewery Hop pairs two local breweries with Rich Higgins, an expert guide who explains what is in your glass, how beer is made, and how to read a tap list without guesswork. I like the hands-on visit to the brewing tanks at Mountains Walking, and I like that you choose your own beers instead of being handed a fixed tasting.

The tour is also friendly to curious beginners. Rich’s tasting tips helped even one self-described water-and-tea drinker enjoy the experience, and the 4-ounce pours make it easy to sample widely. The main drawback is that the tour lasts only about 90 minutes, so serious beer fans may wish for more time at each brewery.

Key details at a glance

• Eight sample beers in total: You receive four 4-ounce pours at each brewery, for 32 ounces altogether.
• A useful guide named Rich Higgins: He explains beer styles, ingredients, tasting methods, brewing, and how to make sense of a long beer menu.
• Two breweries only two minutes apart: The short walk from Bozeman Brewing Company to Mountains Walking keeps the evening simple.
• A behind-the-scenes stop: At Mountains Walking, you see the brewing tanks and sample barley malts and hops.
• A hot appetizer is included: Mountains Walking adds food from its kitchen, making this more than a series of liquid tastings.
• A small group with a strong record: The maximum is 12 people, and the experience has a five-star rating from 14 reviews, with 100 percent recommending it.

What the Bozeman Brewery Hop is really like

This is a compact evening tasting rather than a long brewery crawl. You meet at 5:00 p.m. at 504 North Broadway Avenue in Bozeman, then spend about 40 minutes at Bozeman Brewing Company before walking roughly one block to Mountains Walking Brewery for another 45 minutes.

The short route matters. You do not need a car between stops, and you avoid wasting half the tour in traffic. The whole outing ends back at the meeting point, so the plan is easy to fit into an evening in town.

Rich Higgins is the heart of the experience. His role is not simply to pour beer and recite brewery facts. He helps you taste with more purpose. You learn how to compare beers, how to think about what you like, and how to approach a menu with confidence.

That makes the tour useful for two very different kinds of people. If you already know your IPAs from your stouts, you can ask detailed questions and sample a broad range. If you rarely drink beer, you can let Rich suggest options and avoid ordering something you will not enjoy.

Starting with four beers at Bozeman Brewing Company

The first stop gives you a flight of four 4-ounce beers. You choose the beers yourself, or you can ask Rich to select them based on your tastes. This choice is one of the tour’s best features because it keeps the tasting personal.

Four ounces is enough to judge a beer without committing to a full glass. You can compare styles, notice which flavors appeal to you, and still have room for the second brewery. The portions also make the experience less intimidating for someone who is new to craft beer.

Rich offers tasting guidance here, including ways to notice the character of each beer and how to decode the tap list. That advice has practical value beyond this one evening. Instead of ordering by a funny name or picking the strongest beer, you begin to understand what the menu is telling you.

The choices can vary with the brewery’s current offerings, so you should not arrive expecting a guaranteed list of specific beers. One tasting favorite mentioned by a participant was Fiesta, but your own flight may be different. Rich can help you make the best choices from what is available that day.

The first brewery gets 40 minutes, which is enough for a focused flight and conversation. It is not enough for a leisurely meal or a long sit-down session, so keep your expectations in the right place. This stop is about tasting and learning, not lingering for hours.

Walking to Mountains Walking Brewery

The move to Mountains Walking Brewery takes about two minutes on foot. That tiny transfer is a welcome part of the schedule. You get a little air between flights, but you do not lose the momentum of the evening.

Mountains Walking is especially interesting because Rich used to work there. He leads you into the brewery area to see the tanks and introduces the raw materials that become beer. You sample barley malts and hops, then hear more about ingredients and brewing methods.

This section gives the beer in your glass some context. Malt provides the base for beer, while hops can shape bitterness and aroma. Seeing the equipment and handling the ingredients makes those terms less abstract than they are on a printed menu.

I would consider this the most distinctive part of the outing. Many tastings stop at the taproom. Here, you get a brief look at how beer is produced before settling in for another flight. The visit is still short, but it adds substance to the evening.

Do not expect a full production tour with every stage of brewing explained in detail. The schedule allows about 45 minutes for the brewery visit, beer flight, appetizer, and discussion. Think of it as an introduction to the process, not a technical brewing class.

The second flight and the hot appetizer

After seeing the brewing area, you sit in the taproom for another flight of four 4-ounce beers. Again, you choose your own beers or let Rich recommend them.

This second flight is a good chance to apply what you learned at the first stop. You may find it easier to describe what you want by then. You can ask for something lighter, fruitier, maltier, hoppier, or simply different from your earlier choices.

One participant singled out a pineapple beer at Mountains Walking, although the exact name was uncertain. That is a useful reminder that fruit-forward beers can be a good entry point for people who do not usually drink beer. Another person praised the pizza from Mountains Walking, but the included item is described more broadly as a hot appetizer from the kitchen, so you should not count on a full pizza being part of every booking.

The food helps balance the tasting. Eight 4-ounce samples add up to 32 ounces, and a warm snack gives you something substantial alongside the beer. Still, the appetizer is not presented as a full dinner. If you need a complete meal, plan accordingly rather than treating the included food as dinner.

Why Rich Higgins makes the difference

The strongest praise for this experience centers on Rich. His value comes from combining beer expertise with a relaxed teaching style.

He covers beer history, production, ingredients, and tasting. He also answers questions patiently, which matters in a small group where different people may have very different levels of experience. You can ask about a beer style, a flavor, or a brewing term without feeling out of place.

His menu advice may be the most useful skill you take home. A beer list can be crowded with unfamiliar names, abbreviations, and style labels. Rich helps you read it as a guide rather than a puzzle.

The tone also seems to suit people who do not identify as beer fans. One person who rarely drinks alcohol enjoyed the experience because the tasting was explained clearly and the choices could be shared. Sharing your selections can make the event more social and lets you try more without ordering a full serving of every beer.

The maximum group size is 12. That is small enough for questions and conversation, though the exact feel will depend on how many people book on your date. The high rating and full recommendation rate suggest consistent satisfaction, but you should still book this for the teaching and tasting, not for a guaranteed favorite beer.

Price and what your $88 buys

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to drink beer in Bozeman. You could order individual samples at a brewery for less. The price makes more sense when you treat it as a guided experience that includes two flights, a hot appetizer, instruction, and access to the brewing area at Mountains Walking.

You receive 32 ounces of beer in total, split into eight 4-ounce pours. That gives you variety rather than volume. You are paying to taste broadly and learn how to choose, not to drink as much as possible.

The guide also changes the value. Without Rich, you would still get beer, but you would miss the structured comparison, brewing explanation, and practical advice about tap menus. For someone who already works in beer or knows exactly what to order, the added instruction may feel less necessary. For a curious beginner or an enthusiast who enjoys the details, it is easier to justify.

The food adds another small benefit, though it should be viewed as a snack rather than a full meal. If you are planning dinner afterward, the 5:00 p.m. start makes that easy.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend the Bozeman Brewery Hop to:

• Beer beginners who want help choosing beers without feeling lost.
• Craft beer fans who enjoy comparing styles and asking production questions.
• Couples and small groups looking for a social evening with a clear plan.
• Non-drinkers who are curious about beer and comfortable sampling small pours.
• Visitors without a car who appreciate two stops within a short walk.
• People who like local food and drink but want more context than a standard bar visit provides.

It may be less suitable if you want a long brewery tour, a full dinner, or a broad crawl through many Bozeman taprooms. The experience focuses on two breweries and keeps the schedule tight.

You also need to be comfortable with beer as the only included alcoholic drink. Seltzer, wine, and additional beer are not included or allowed as part of the experience. If beer is not your thing at all, this is probably not the right pick.

Practical details before you go

The tour is offered in English and includes an in-person guide. A mobile ticket is provided, and confirmation arrives when you book.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The group can include up to 12 people. Since the activity involves alcohol, you should plan your evening with care and avoid treating the included samples as a reason to drive afterward.

The start point is 504 N Broadway Avenue, Bozeman, Montana 59715. The experience finishes back at that meeting point. It runs for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, beginning at 5:00 p.m.

This experience often fills well ahead of time, with bookings averaging 35 days in advance. If you have a fixed evening in Bozeman, booking early is sensible.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations within 24 hours are not refunded, and changes in that period are not accepted. The cut-off follows local time.

Should you book the Bozeman Brewery Hop?

Book it if you want more than a flight of beer. Rich Higgins brings the teaching, the two breweries provide contrast, and the stop at the tanks gives you a clearer sense of how beer moves from ingredients to taproom.

The $88 price is fair for a small-group tasting with 32 ounces of beer, a hot appetizer, a guide, and a short behind-the-scenes visit. It is less compelling if your only goal is the lowest-cost drink or if you want a full meal and a long night out.

For most beer-curious visitors, I would choose it early in a Bozeman stay. You will learn what you like, get familiar with two local breweries, and gain enough menu confidence to order better beer for the rest of your trip.

FAQ

Where does the Bozeman Brewery Hop start?

It starts at 504 N Broadway Avenue, Bozeman, Montana 59715, USA.

What time does the experience begin?

The start time is 5:00 p.m.

How long does the brewery hop last?

The experience lasts approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

How much beer is included?

You receive 32 ounces in total: four 4-ounce samples at Bozeman Brewing Company and four 4-ounce samples at Mountains Walking Brewery.

Can I choose the beers?

Yes. You can choose your own four beers at each brewery, or ask Rich to recommend beers based on your tastes.

Is food included?

Yes. A hot appetizer from the Mountains Walking kitchen is included.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. It includes an in-person English-speaking guide.