Is Montana’s Craft Beer Boom Ending?

Montana has repeatedly been a contender in the craft beer world. We have more breweries per capita than almost everyone, and you’re never more than ten minutes from a barstool with a hazy IPA and some dog lying underneath it. But there’s been a decline in buzz lately... And not just talking about the beer.

According to a 2024 study from the Brewers Association, for the first time in nearly 20 years, more breweries shut down than opened in the US. And though the story was about national chains, I wonder, is the same fate in store for Montana next?

We’ve already witnessed a few neighborhood taprooms close their doors with barely a whisper, and you can just feel it. The market is crowded, prices are up, and honestly, people are drinking less. Others are jumping ship for seltzers and canned cocktails.

Oh, and the obvious, starting a brewery ain’t cheap. Hops are more expensive, cans are more expensive, and paying someone to design a completely new label for every damn seasonal stout is just money you’re pouring down the sink if no one’s going to buy the beer.

So do some of Montana’s favorite breweries face danger? Yeah, probably. Is craft beer dying in this country? Not exactly. But those days of “open a brewery and they will come” are gone, too. If you’re not brewing up something bold, gathering a loyal mob, and making a fast name for yourself, you can end up with a garage full of kegs and a “for sale” sign hung out on your fermenter.

I’m not saying panic. Just saying… possibly stop by your favorite local taproom this weekend. Never know when that one seasonal pale ale may be their last.