Bozeman Brewery Hop

Bozeman Brewery Hop turns a simple beer tasting into a guided lesson in how to choose, taste, and understand craft beer. Rich Higgins leads you through two local breweries, from taproom pours to barley malts, hops, brewing tanks, and the small details that make one beer taste different from another.

I like the eight small samples because you can try widely without committing to full pints. I also like the short walk between breweries, which keeps the evening simple and avoids the need for a car.

The main drawback is that the tour is built around beer alone. Seltzer, wine, and extra beer are not included or allowed, so this is not a good fit if only some people in your group drink beer.

Key points to know before booking

• Rich Higgins leads the entire experience, explaining beer styles, ingredients, brewing methods, and how to read a beer menu.
• You receive 32 ounces of beer total, split between two flights of four 4-ounce samples.
• Bozeman Brewing Company comes first, with a flight you can select yourself or have Rich recommend.
• Mountains Walking Brewery includes a behind-the-scenes look, with brewing tanks, barley malts, hops, and a hot appetizer.
• The breweries are only one block apart, making this an easy walking outing from the 5 p.m. meeting point.
• The group is limited to 12 people, and the experience lasts about 90 minutes.

Why this Bozeman beer tour feels different

Many brewery outings amount to a few pours and a quick explanation of what is on tap. This one puts Rich Higgins at the center. His role is part guide, part beer teacher, and part menu translator.

That matters if you are new to craft beer. Rich explains how to approach a tasting, what to notice in the glass, and how to make sense of a beer menu without guessing. You do not need to arrive with a working knowledge of IBUs, malt profiles, or brewing terms. The point is to leave with a better sense of what you like and why.

Experienced beer drinkers have something to gain, too. Rich covers beer history, production, and common beer myths, and he invites questions throughout the visit. The tone appears relaxed rather than formal, which makes it easier to ask basic questions without feeling out of place.

I especially like the fact that you can choose your own beers at both stops. If you already know your preferences, you can build flights around them. If you are unsure, Rich can recommend beers based on your taste. That choice gives the experience a useful balance between personal freedom and expert guidance.

Starting at Bozeman Brewing Company

The tour begins at 5 p.m. at 504 North Broadway Avenue. Your first stop is Bozeman Brewing Company, where you settle into the taproom with Rich for about 40 minutes.

Here, you get a flight of four 4-ounce beers. You can select each beer yourself, or ask Rich to make the choices. The small pours are a sensible format: four samples give you room to compare styles, while the 4-ounce size keeps the tasting manageable.

Rich also explains how to read a beer menu. That may sound like a small skill, but it can save you from ordering a full beer based only on a clever name or a style you do not understand. You can ask about flavor, strength, or general character, then use the answers to guide your selections.

One useful approach is to treat your flight as a comparison rather than four unrelated drinks. You might choose beers with different flavor profiles, or ask Rich to show you how a certain ingredient changes the result. The supplied information does not promise a specific flight menu, so the exact beers will depend on what is available and what you choose that evening.

A few personal favorites mentioned by name include Fiesta at Bozeman Brewing Company. That does not mean it will be available every time, but it gives you a starting point if you see it on the menu.

The first stop is less about touring the production area and more about tasting and learning in the taproom. If you want a long brewery tour with extensive equipment access at both locations, this may feel brief. If you want a focused introduction to local beer, 40 minutes is enough to get moving without making the evening drag.

Walking one block to Mountains Walking Brewery

After Bozeman Brewing Company, you walk about one block, or roughly two minutes, to Mountains Walking Brewery. This is one of the easiest parts of the outing. There is no shuttle, bus, or transfer to arrange, and the two brewery visits remain connected on foot.

The change in setting also gives the tour a second angle. At Mountains Walking, Rich takes you into the brewery area, where you can see the brewing tanks and examine barley malts and hops. You learn what these ingredients do and how they affect the finished beer.

This short production visit is valuable because it links the taste in your glass to the work behind it. Instead of hearing only that a beer is malty, hoppy, or fruit-forward, you get a chance to see some of the raw materials involved. Rich formerly worked at Mountains Walking, so he brings a personal connection to this stop.

The brewery portion is followed by another flight of four 4-ounce samples in the taproom. Again, you can choose the beers or ask Rich for suggestions based on your preferences. This second flight brings the total to eight samples and 32 ounces of beer.

Mountains Walking is also where you receive a hot appetizer from the kitchen. That food gives the tasting a useful pause and adds substance to an outing that otherwise centers on alcohol. The specific appetizer is not fixed in the tour details, so you should not book this expecting a particular dish.

One food item receives special enthusiasm: the pizza at Mountains Walking. A participant singled it out as an exceptional favorite. Pizza is not guaranteed as the included appetizer, but if it is available for separate purchase, it may be worth asking about.

A pineapple beer remembered as Pineapple-aru was another personal favorite mentioned from this stop. Beer tastes vary widely, so use that as a conversation starter rather than a promise of what you will receive.

What the 32 ounces of beer really means

The package includes 32 ounces in total:

• Four 4-ounce samples at Bozeman Brewing Company
• Four 4-ounce samples at Mountains Walking Brewery
• A hot appetizer at one brewery

That is the equivalent of two full 16-ounce beers, though spread across eight different samples. The format works well if your goal is variety. You get enough of each beer to taste it properly, but not so much that the first few choices leave you too full or too impaired to enjoy the second stop.

The amount is also worth considering before you book. This is not an unlimited brewery crawl, and you cannot add extra beer through the package. Seltzer and wine are not included or allowed either. If you prefer one or two full pints of a favorite beer, you may find the tasting format less satisfying.

For most people, though, the small pours are the better educational tool. You can compare aroma, flavor, bitterness, sweetness, and texture across several beers. Rich can help you notice differences that may otherwise blur together.

The hot appetizer helps, but it does not turn the experience into dinner. Plan accordingly if you need a full meal afterward.

Is $88 a fair price?

The price is $88 per person. Whether that feels worthwhile depends on how much value you place on instruction and access, not just the amount of beer.

If you priced the beer alone, you might expect a lower total from buying individual samples at a taproom. But this experience also includes a guide for the full 90 minutes, tasting instruction, menu advice, access to the Mountains Walking brewing area, ingredient samples, and a hot appetizer.

I see the strongest value in the guidance. A casual brewery visit gives you beer. This outing helps you understand what you are drinking and how to choose better beer later. That is useful for someone who normally orders by brand or label and wants a clearer sense of personal taste.

The price also makes more sense for a small group that would otherwise wander between breweries without knowing what to order. Rich answers questions, keeps the evening moving, and gives you a local contact who knows both stops well.

Still, budget-minded drinkers should be realistic. You are paying for a hosted experience, not the cheapest way to consume 32 ounces of beer. If you already know both breweries, feel comfortable choosing from a beer menu, and do not need a guide, buying your own samples may cost less.

Who will enjoy it most

This is a strong choice for craft beer beginners. Rich explains the basics without requiring you to know the vocabulary first. You can ask what a term means, compare suggestions, and slowly figure out your preferences.

It also suits people who enjoy tasting rather than drinking quickly. Eight samples offer plenty of variety, and the format encourages conversation about ingredients and brewing methods.

Beer enthusiasts should find enough substance in the discussion to keep the outing interesting. The focus extends beyond flavor notes to beer history, production, and technical points. The supplied feedback repeatedly praises Rich’s ability to answer questions and make the learning fun.

The tour can also work well for a birthday or a small evening out. One person who rarely drinks beer still found the experience enjoyable because the tasting and explanation made it feel like a lesson rather than a drinking contest.

I would be more cautious about booking it for a mixed group. The package does not include wine or seltzer, and no additional beer is included or allowed. A non-beer drinker might enjoy the education, but they would not have an alternative beverage built into the experience.

Timing, group size, and practical details

The tour begins at 5 p.m. and lasts about one hour and 30 minutes. That timing places the experience neatly into an evening schedule, though you should allow extra time if you plan to stay for dinner or continue drinking afterward.

The start and finish are at the same meeting point, 504 North Broadway Avenue. Since the breweries are one block apart, the activity itself does not require transportation between stops.

The maximum group size is 12 people. That is large enough for a social atmosphere but small enough for Rich to answer questions and make recommendations. If you prefer private, one-on-one instruction, this is not described as a private tour, so you should expect to share the experience with other participants.

Your ticket is mobile, and the tour is conducted in English. Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, and the activity states that most people can participate.

The cancellation policy is friendly but strict near departure. You can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the 5 p.m. start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

What makes Rich Higgins the main attraction

The breweries provide the setting, but Rich is the part that gives the evening its shape. He explains how to taste, how to read a menu, and how to connect ingredients with flavor. He also keeps the tone approachable, which is important when a subject can become overly technical.

His time working at Mountains Walking adds useful background to the second stop. You are not simply looking at tanks from a distance. You can sample barley malts and hops and ask how those ingredients fit into the brewing process.

The strongest praise centers on his ability to teach without taking the fun out of the beer. That balance is difficult to achieve. A guide can either skim the surface or turn a casual tasting into a lecture. This experience aims for the middle: enough detail to learn something, but enough flexibility to keep the evening social.

If you have a question, ask it. The format is built around conversation, and Rich’s recommendations are most useful when he knows what you already like.

Final verdict: should you book the Bozeman Brewery Hop?

Book it if you want more than a flight of beer. Rich Higgins is the reason to choose this experience, especially if you want help understanding beer styles, ingredients, and menus. The two breweries, eight samples, brewing-area visit, and hot appetizer make a tidy 90-minute introduction to Bozeman’s beer scene.

I would choose it for first-time craft beer drinkers, curious food-and-drink visitors, and beer fans who enjoy learning how a beverage is made. The $88 price is reasonable if you value the guide and the teaching, though it is not the cheapest option for simply getting a few drinks.

Skip it if your group wants wine, seltzer, full pours, or a longer brewery crawl. For everyone else, this is a focused, friendly way to taste local beer and leave with better instincts for ordering the next one.

FAQ

Where does the Bozeman Brewery Hop begin?

It begins at 504 N Broadway Avenue in Bozeman, Montana. The start time is 5 p.m., and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour and 30 minutes. About 40 minutes are spent at Bozeman Brewing Company and about 45 minutes at Mountains Walking Brewery, with a short walk between them.

How much beer is included?

You receive 32 ounces total. This includes 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-beer flight at each brewery, or ask Rich Higgins to recommend beers based on your tastes.

Is food included?

Yes. A hot appetizer from the Mountains Walking kitchen is included. The specific appetizer is not stated in the tour details.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.