Big Sky Brewing Company
Montana's largest brewery, founded in 1995 by three partners.
Big Sky Brewing Company operates a brewery and taproom in Missoula, Montana. It is the largest brewery in the state and has been run by the same three owners—Bjorn Nabozney, Neal Leathers, and Brad Robinson—since it opened in 1995. The brewery produces both seasonal and regular ales.
The company traces its start to 1990, when Leathers and Robinson moved from Michigan to Missoula. There they met Nabozney, a Montana native. Leathers and Robinson began working on starting a brewery, and Nabozney, while a student at the University of Montana, wrote a business plan that gave their idea a concrete shape. Big Sky Brewing Company was founded in 1995.
After raising money, the partners bought their first location at 120 Hickory Street in Missoula, a 7,000-square-foot space. The brewery opened there in 1995 as a “draft only” operation—it did not bottle beer. Wanting to grow into a regional brewery, the owners planned to add bottling, but the Hickory Street site was too small. They arranged to brew beer at Portland Brewing Company for a few days each month, which also bottled and shipped Big Sky’s beer to distributors. While that arrangement ran, Big Sky raised funds and worked toward building a larger brewery where it could bottle its own beer. In 2002, the company moved to its current location at 5417 Trumpeter Way, a facility over 24,000 square feet. There it now brews and bottles its own beer, with a production rate of roughly 40,000 to 47,000 barrels per year. The brewery employs more than 45 full-time workers and sells beer in 24 states. In 2017, Big Sky lobbied the Montana Legislature, helping pass House Bill 541, which allowed breweries to produce up to 60,000 barrels of beer. The company also built an amphitheater on its property for charity events and concerts, as a way to give back to the Missoula community.
Quick Facts
- Location
- 5417 Trumpeter Way, Missoula, Montana, USA
- Owner
- Neal Leathers, Bjorn Nabozney, Brad Robinson
- Opened
- 1995
- Production
- 40,000-47,000 USbeerbbl
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Big Sky Brewing Company began when Neal Leathers and Brad Robinson moved to Missoula, Montana from Michigan in 1990. There they met Bjorn Nabozney, a native Montanan, who created a business plan for a brewery while studying at the University of Montana. The company was founded in 1995 after raising capital and purchasing a 7,000-square-foot location at 120 Hickory Street. That original brewery was draft-only, meaning it did not bottle beer. To pursue bottling and become a regional brewery, Big Sky Brewing arranged to brew beer at Portland Brewing Company for a few days each month, which also bottled and shipped their beer to distributors. In 2002, the company moved to its current location at 5417 Trumpeter Way, a 24,000-square-foot facility where it bottles and brews its own beer. The brewery produces both seasonal and regular ales.
Reader's Guide
Big Sky Brewing Company holds significance as Montana's largest brewery, a status achieved through steady growth from a small draft-only operation to a regional producer. Its move to a larger facility in 2002 enabled in-house bottling and increased production to 40,000-47,000 barrels annually. The brewery's influence extends beyond brewing: in 2017, it lobbied the Montana Legislature to help pass House Bill 541, which allowed breweries to produce up to 60,000 barrels of beer. Big Sky Brewing also built an amphitheater on its property for charity events and concerts, contributing to the Missoula community. The company has maintained the same three owners for twenty-three years and sells beer in twenty-four states, employing over forty-five full-time workers. Its legacy is tied to its role in expanding Montana's craft beer industry and its ongoing commitment to local engagement.
Did You Know?
- Big Sky Brewing Company was originally a draft-only brewery and did not bottle beer at its Hickory Street location.
- The brewery temporarily brewed and bottled its beer at Portland Brewing Company before moving to a larger facility.
- In 2017, Big Sky Brewing helped pass Montana House Bill 541, raising the production cap for breweries to 60,000 barrels.
- The company built an amphitheater at its current location to host charity events and concerts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Big Sky Brewing Company?
Big Sky Brewing Company is a brewery and taproom in Missoula, Montana, recognized as the largest brewery in the state. It has been producing both seasonal and year-round ales since it opened in 1995.
Who owns Big Sky Brewing Company?
Three partners—Bjorn Nabozney, Neal Leathers, and Brad Robinson—have operated the brewery together since its 1995 launch. Leathers and Robinson relocated to Missoula from Michigan in 1990, where they met Nabozney, a Montana native.
Where is Big Sky Brewing Company located?
The brewery currently operates out of 5417 Trumpeter Way in Missoula, Montana, a 24,000-square-foot facility. It originally opened in a much smaller 7,000-square-foot space at 120-A Hickory Street in the same city.
How did Big Sky Brewing Company get started?
The venture traces back to 1990, when Leathers and Robinson moved to Missoula and connected with Nabozney. Nabozney, then a student at the University of Montana, wrote a business plan that gave their brewing idea a concrete framework, and the doors officially opened in 1995.
Why is Big Sky Brewing Company significant to Montana's beer scene?
As the state's largest brewery, Big Sky has anchored Missoula's craft beer culture for nearly three decades. Its stable three-owner structure since 1995 makes it a long-standing local institution rather than a passing trend.
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