Bozeman Brewery Hop

Craft beer gets a local lesson. The Bozeman Brewery Hop links two well-loved taprooms with Rich Higgins, a former Mountains Walking brewer who knows how to make beer talk interesting. I like the personal flights of four beers at each stop, and I like that the tasting comes with practical tips for reading a beer menu. The hot appetizer at Mountains Walking is another welcome touch.

The main thing to consider is the short running time. At about 90 minutes, this is a focused tasting rather than a long brewery crawl. You receive 32 ounces of beer in total, and no extra beer, wine, or seltzer is included or allowed during the experience, so serious drinkers may find the format a little limited.

Key points worth knowing

• Two breweries, one short walk: Bozeman Brewing Company and Mountains Walking Brewery are about one block apart.
• Rich Higgins leads the tasting: His background at Mountains Walking gives the tour a personal connection to both the beer and the brewing process.
• Eight beers are included: You get two flights of four 4-ounce pours, for 32 ounces total.
• The tasting is tailored to you: Choose your own beers or let Rich suggest options based on your tastes.
• Brewing is part of the tour: At Mountains Walking, you see tanks, sample barley malts and hops, and learn how beer is made.
• A hot appetizer is included: The food comes at Mountains Walking, with pizza receiving especially warm praise from one participant.

Two Bozeman breweries in 90 minutes

This experience works because it keeps the geography simple. You meet at 504 North Broadway Avenue at 5:00 p.m., visit Bozeman Brewing Company first, and then walk about two minutes to Mountains Walking Brewery. There is no bus, van, or complicated transfer to manage.

That short walk matters. You get two different brewery settings without spending much of your evening in transit. The tour ends back at the meeting point, so you can plan dinner or another activity afterward with a clear idea of where you will finish.

The group can include no more than 12 people. That is small enough for questions and conversation, yet large enough to give the outing some social energy. I would still expect the feel to depend on the particular group, but the size should be more personal than a large commercial tasting.

The tour lasts about an hour and a half. That makes it easy to fit into a Bozeman evening, but it also means Rich has to keep the explanations moving. You will get a clear introduction to both breweries, not an exhaustive look at every beer or every part of the production process.

First stop: choosing a flight at Bozeman Brewing Company

At Bozeman Brewing Company, you head into the taproom and receive four 4-ounce beers. You can choose the beers yourself, or ask Rich to select a flight based on what you already enjoy.

That choice is useful if you are new to craft beer. A long tap list can be confusing when you do not know the difference between the styles, strengths, or flavors. Rich explains how to read a beer menu and offers tasting tips, so you are not simply ordering at random.

If you already have strong preferences, you can take more control. You might choose familiar styles, compare beers that sound very different, or ask for a selection that pushes your palate a little. The point is not to find a single correct beer. It is to notice what you like and understand why.

The four-ounce pours are a sensible size for a tasting. You receive enough beer to assess the aroma and flavor without committing to four full pints. You can sip slowly, compare the samples, and save room for the second brewery.

One participant who rarely drinks said the menu explanation made the choices much easier to understand. That is an important strength of this tour. You do not need to arrive as a beer expert, and you do not need to pretend you already know what you like.

Specific favorites will always be personal. One person enjoyed the Fiesta at Bozeman Brewing Company, but your own choice may be different. The useful part is learning how to make a good choice for your palate rather than copying somebody else’s favorite.

What Rich Higgins adds to the experience

Rich Higgins is the main reason this is more than a pair of brewery visits. His role is part guide, part teacher, and part tasting companion. He explains beer history, production, ingredients, and practical tasting methods in a relaxed way.

The strongest praise centers on his command of the subject and his easy manner. He is described as patient, polite, and willing to answer questions well beyond the basic tour script. That matters because beer can become technical very quickly. Rich appears to explain the subject without making the experience feel like a lecture.

His advice also has practical value beyond this one evening. Once you understand how to read a menu and pay attention to ingredients, you can make better choices at other taprooms. You may also get more out of a beer you already enjoy.

Rich’s connection to Mountains Walking adds another layer. He used to work there, so the second stop is not just a convenient nearby brewery. It is a place where he has direct professional experience. That can make his explanation of the brewing area feel more grounded and specific.

I would still keep expectations realistic. This is not a formal brewing course, and 90 minutes is not enough for every question to receive a long answer. If you want an intensive technical session on yeast, fermentation temperatures, or production equipment, you may need a longer class. If you want clear information with a friendly guide, the format makes sense.

Second stop: tanks, malt, hops, and another flight

The second stop begins with a look inside Mountains Walking Brewery. Rich leads you toward the brewing tanks and explains the basic production process. You also sample barley malts and hops, which helps connect the raw ingredients to the beer in your glass.

That ingredient tasting is one of the more useful details in the experience. Reading that a beer contains malt or hops is one thing. Smelling or tasting those ingredients gives you a more direct reference point. You can begin to notice how grain contributes sweetness or body, while hops can bring bitterness, aroma, or fruit-like notes.

After the brewery visit, you sit in the taproom for another flight of four 4-ounce beers. Again, you may choose your own beers or let Rich recommend them based on your tastes. Having a second flight after the brewing explanation gives you a chance to apply what you have learned.

Mountains Walking seems to be the favorite stop for some participants, and one especially enthusiastic food comment focused on its pizza. The included hot appetizer adds substance to the tasting and helps break up the alcohol. It also gives you something to eat while you discuss the beers.

The exact appetizer is not specified in advance, so do not book this expecting a particular dish. You receive a hot item from the Mountains Walking kitchen, and the menu can vary. The positive pizza mention suggests the kitchen is part of the appeal, but it is better to treat that as a pleasant possibility rather than a promise.

The second flight brings the total to eight beers. One person enjoyed the Pineapple-aru, though the exact spelling may differ on the menu. That is a good reminder that the tour can include unusual or fruit-forward options, but you should rely on Rich’s recommendations and your own taste rather than plan around one named beer.

How much beer do you actually receive?

The included amount is 32 ounces altogether. At each brewery, you receive four samples of 4 ounces each, giving you 16 ounces per stop.

That is enough to sample a broad range, but it is not the same as drinking four full pints. The smaller pours are helpful if you want variety without getting uncomfortably full. They also suit people who are curious about beer but do not usually drink much.

The rules are clear: no additional beer, wine, or seltzer is included or allowed as part of the experience. This may disappoint someone hoping to keep ordering after the flights begin. It will suit you better if your goal is guided tasting and learning rather than a long evening of drinking.

I see the limit as a practical part of the design. Eight beers can add up, especially when you are moving between breweries and listening to explanations. The tour is built around tasting with attention, not racing through large pours.

If you rarely drink, you can still enjoy the structure, but you should be comfortable with the total amount. The tour is not presented as a nonalcoholic activity, and the listed inclusions do not provide alternatives such as wine, seltzer, or other drinks.

Is $88 a fair price?

At $88 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit two taprooms. If you simply want to buy beer on your own, you could spend less. The value comes from the guide, the organized flights, the brewing-area visit, ingredient samples, menu advice, and hot appetizer.

You are paying for interpretation as much as for beer. Rich helps you make sense of what is in the glass, explains how the beer is made, and connects the two breweries into one experience. For someone new to craft beer, that guidance can prevent a costly evening of ordering beers that do not suit your taste.

The price also covers eight sample pours. You are not paying $88 for a single drink and a short greeting. You receive a substantial tasting portion, food, and a hosted visit at two locations.

Still, the value depends on your interest. If you already know Bozeman’s breweries well, understand beer styles, and prefer to order independently, the added instruction may not be worth the price. If you want someone else to handle the choices and explain the process, the cost is easier to justify.

The small group limit helps. A maximum of 12 people gives Rich a better chance to answer individual questions and adjust suggestions. It does not guarantee a private tour, but it should keep the experience from feeling like a large crowd being moved from bar to bar.

Who will enjoy this brewery hop most?

I would recommend it first to people who enjoy beer or want a low-pressure introduction to craft beer. You do not need much prior knowledge. Rich’s menu guidance and tasting tips are designed to help you find your footing.

It also suits couples, friends, and small groups who want a social evening with a clear plan. The short walk between locations keeps the night easy, while the shared flights give you plenty to discuss.

This can work for a person who rarely drinks, provided they are comfortable with the included alcohol. The positive account from someone who normally prefers water and tea shows that the experience does not depend on being a dedicated beer drinker. The educational side may be just as important as the drinking.

I would be more cautious about recommending it to someone seeking a long, relaxed brewery afternoon. The 90-minute schedule is compact, and the no-additional-alcohol rule keeps the event focused. It is also not the right choice if your main goal is wine, seltzer, or a nonalcoholic tasting.

The tour is offered in English, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, and the confirmation arrives when you book. These details make the outing straightforward, though the supplied information does not list specific accessibility features beyond service-animal access.

Booking timing and cancellation

This experience is often booked about 35 days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last minute if your Bozeman dates are fixed. That is especially sensible for a small-group activity with a maximum of 12 people.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 5:00 p.m. start time. Inside that 24-hour window, the payment is not refunded, and changes are not accepted. The cut-off uses local time, so check the clock carefully if you are arranging the tour from another time zone.

Should you book the Bozeman Brewery Hop?

Book it if you want more than beer samples. The strongest reasons are Rich Higgins, the practical tasting instruction, the visit to the brewing tanks, and the chance to compare two nearby breweries without arranging the details yourself.

It is also a good pick for a mixed group, especially when one person is new to beer. You can choose your own samples, ask for suggestions, and learn without needing to arrive with a vocabulary of hops and malts.

Skip it if you want unlimited drinking, a full meal, or a long brewery visit. The experience is short, structured, and limited to the included flights and appetizer.

For most beer-curious visitors, $88 is a reasonable price for the amount of guidance and food included. I would book ahead, arrive ready to taste rather than simply drink, and let Rich help you make sense of Bozeman’s beer scene.

FAQ

Where does the Bozeman Brewery Hop start?

It starts at 504 N Broadway Ave, Bozeman, Montana 59715.

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.

Where does the tour end?

It ends back at the meeting point.

How many breweries are included?

Two breweries are included: Bozeman Brewing Company and Mountains Walking Brewery.

How much beer is included?

You receive 32 ounces total, made up of two flights. Each flight has four 4-ounce beer samples.

Can I choose the beers?

Yes. You can choose your own beers at both breweries, or ask Rich to recommend selections based on your tastes.

Is food included?

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

Are additional drinks included?

No. Additional beer is not included or allowed, and wine and seltzer are also not included or allowed.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the experience are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.