33rd Annual Garden City BrewFest Caras Park

Saturday, May 1st, 2027 | 12:00 – 7:00 PM | Caras Park

Often imitated but never replicated, this is Montana’s ORIGINAL BrewFest! Join us at Caras Park to taste over 60 local and regional beers, seltzers, and ciders in the Heart of Missoula alongside a wine and mimosa bar. While at the event, indulge in a variety of local food vendors, live music, and side quests and activities to keep you entertained.

View the event details below. Need something to do in the winter? Check out the Garden City BrewFest’s sibling event, Winter BrewFest!

 

Admission

The Garden City BrewFest is free to attend and open to all ages. Bundle up, soak in the springtime views of Downtown Missoula, and enjoy free music from local artists.

To enjoy the beverage offerings, you must be 21 or older and purchase a drink glass or mug, both of which come with three tokens. Additional tokens are available for $2 per token. Now accepting cash AND credit cards!

 

Taster Cup (7-Ounces) – $20 (includes 3 tokens)

Limited Edition Mug Cup (12-Ounce) – $30 (includes 3 tokens)

2027 Sponsors

Thank you to the 2027 Garden City BrewFest sponsors for helping make this event happen for yet another year. Want to support this great event? Learn more about Downtown Missoula event sponsorships here or email [email protected].

Volunteer

Every year, the Garden City Brewfest depends on over 100 volunteers to help make the event a success. When you volunteer, you get a free taster glass and four tokens, along with a piece of exclusive Garden City BrewFest merch! You can sign up for the following shifts:

  • Set-Up
  • Volunteer Check-In
  • Glass/Token Seller
  • Wristbanders
  • Beer Service
  • Tear Down & Clean Up
Volunteer Sign-Up Link Coming Soon!

 

Tap List

Tap-In! Full Tap List Is Coming Soon!

 

Side Quests Beyond Beer

With a taster glass or mug filled with an artisan beverage, live music, and local food trucks, you will be pretty content and entertained at Garden City BrewFest. However, to add an extra bit of fun, this year’s event will include some additional activities and offerings we are calling ‘Side Quests’. Check out which vendors will be involved below:

Farm Hand Farm Flowers

Local flower growers and experts at Farm Hand Farm will have a pop-up stand to sell fresh and dried flower arrangements, along with succulents and hot sauces.

208 Tees Apparel

208 Tees is an Idaho-based clothing company, run by a husband-and-wife team, bringing you high-quality apparel! Products range from hand-printed graphic tees to cozy sweatshirts, unique leather patch hats, and on-trend embroidered hats, all designed and printed in-house. Inspired by the great outdoors and fueled by a great sense of humor, every piece is crafted with comfort and quality.

Paws Up Beer Pong

The team that puts the glam in glamping and outdoor hospitality in the Blackfoot will be hosting beer pong on the main lawn at Garden City BrewFest. Those who play can win extra beer tokens to use at the event.  You must be 21 years of age or older and have a Garden City BrewFest wristband and glass to be eligible to play.

Pine & Iron Axe-Throwing

Back by popular demand from Winter BrewFest, Pine and Iron Axe-Throwing will provide a premium throwing experience for all ages. You can pay and fill out a waiver for just a couple of throws, or sign up for a game of first to 21 with your friends.

 

Food Vendors

2027 Lineup Coming Soon!

 

Music

2027 Lineup Coming Soon!

 

Event FAQs

Do I have to pay to attend this event?
No, the event is free to attend! You’ll only need to pay if you want to purchase a taster glass or mug and tokens for sampling drinks.

How can I pay for food, drinks, and more?
We accept both cash and credit cards for all purchases at the event.

Will the event be canceled if it rains?
Definitely not. We’ll host Garden City BrewFest rain or shine. Whether it’s in the low 30s or high 80s, we’ll be out there enjoying the day.

Where can I park?
Downtown parking is free on Saturdays. Check out available parking locations ahead of time and plan accordingly—spots can fill up quickly. Don’t want to deal with parking? Take the Mountain Line Bus Service, which offers zero-fare transportation.

What if I don’t use all my drink tokens?
Sorry, we don’t offer refunds for unused tokens. However, you can save them for Winter BrewFest or Garden City BrewFest next year, share them with a friend, or use them up before the event ends.

Can I still attend if I don’t want to drink alcohol?
Absolutely. We’ll have a variety of non-alcoholic options, including N/A beer, kombucha, soda, and water.

Past BrewFest Awards

 

2024 Winners

  • Best of Show – Kettlehouse Great Haze in the Sky Hazy IPA
  • Best of Show Runner-up – Last Chance Cider Mill Flathead Cherry Cider
  • Best Hazy IPA – Kettlehouse Great Haze in the Sky Hazy IPA
  • Best Pale/Light Ale – Lewis and Clark Brewing Prickly Pear Pale Ale
  • Best Stout – Bombastic Brewing Shilver Coffee Stout
  • Best Rice Lager – New Hokkaido Brewing Yamabiko Rice Lager
  • Best Specialty Lager – Harvest Moon Brewing Beltian White
  • Best European Lager – Bayern Brewing Festival Pilsner
  • Best Sour – Boulevard Brewing Tropic Slam Sour
  • Best Fruit Beer – Big Sky Brewing Juicy Mango Shake a Day
  • Best Seltzer – Boulevard Brewing Ginger Grape Hard Seltzer
  • Best Cider – Last Chance Cider Mill Flathead Cherry Cider

2023 Winners

  • Best of Show – Hopworks Urban Brewing “Beer Time Pils”
  • Best of Show Runner Up- Big Sky Brewing “Strub” Berlineweiss
  • Best Cider- Western Cider “Fat Robin” Cherry Cider
  • Best Dark Ale- Blacksmith “Whoever Smelter Delter Imperial Red
  • Best Fruit Beer- Stiegl “Grapefruit Raddler”
  • Best Fruit Sour- Big Sky Brewing “Strub” Berlineweiss
  • Best Hazy IPA- Sacred Waters “Hungry Horse Hazy”
  • Best IPA- Laughing Dog “New Tricks” West Coast IPA
  • Best Light Ale- Big Sky Brewing “Summer Honey”
  • Best Pilsner- Hopworks Urban Brewery “Beer Time Pils”
  • Best Seltzer- Boulevard “Quirk Pineapple Orange Whip”
  • Best Specialty- Higherground “Dusk ‘Til Dawn” Coffee Cream Ale
  • Best Wheat- Breakside “Breakside White” Witbeir
  • Best Lager- Conflux “Spezial Helles Lager”

2022 Winners

  • Best In Show: Conflux Alber Vienna Lager
  • Best Fruit/Specialty : Golden Road Mango Cart
  • Best Hard Seltzer: Upslope Snowmelt Pomegranate Acai/Tangerine
  • Best Light Ale: Neptune Siren Song Honey Rye
  • Best Wheat/Pilsner: Bayern St Walter’s
  • Best Sour: Outlaw Brewing Blemonade
  • Best Cider: Last Chance Flathead Cherry
  • Best Hazy IPA: Oddpitch Undiscovered World’s
  • Best Pale Ale: Madison River New Montana
  • Best IPA: New Hokkaido Daruma
  • Best Lager:  Conflux Alber Vienna Lager

2019 Winners

  • Best of Show: Mind Haze, Firestone Walker Brewing
  • Best of Show Runner-up: Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, Great Burn Brewing
  • Best IPA: Super Cluster, Lagunitas Brewing
  • Best Lager: Car RamRod, Meadowlark Brewing
  • Best American Ale: Centennial Single Hop, Blacksmith Brewing
  • Best IPA NE/Specialty: Mind Haze, Firestone Walker Brewing
  • Best Sour: Peach Berliner Weisse, Great Burn Brewing
  • Best Porter/Stout: Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout, Great Burn Brewing
  • Best Scottish/Red Ale: Ole Gus, Meadowlark Brewing
  • Best Wheat/Blonde Ale: Miner’s Gold, Lewis and Clark Brewing

2018 Winners

  • Best of Show: Americano Coffee Mild, Missoula Brewing
  • Best of Show Runner-up: Rupture Fresh Ground Ale, Odell Brewing
  • Best IPA: Bubble Stash IPA, Hop Valley Brewing
  • Best Brown/Porter/Stout: Americano Coffee Mild, Missoula Brewing
  • Best Wheat/Blonde Ale: Brickhouse Blonde, Blacksmith Brewing
  • Best American Ale: Rupture Fresh Ground Ale, Odell Brewing
  • Best Fruit Beer: Lemon Meringue Sour, Draught Works Brewing
  • Best Belgian/Sour: Merliner Weisse, Big Sky Brewing
  • Best Scottish/Red Ale: Mountain Man Scotch Ale, Jeremiah Johnson Brewing
  • Best Double IPA: Hop Rising Double IPA, Squatters Brewing

2017 Winners

  • Best IPA: Bruno’s IPA, Red Lodge Brewing (Best of Show)
  • Best Lager: Toasted Lager, Blue Point Brewing
  • Best Fruit Beer: Sip N Go Apricot Ale, Tamarack Brewing
  • Best Amber / Porter / Stout:  Scotty Butte Wee Heavy, Missoula Brewing Company
  • Best Pale Ale: Sidecar Orange Pale Ale, Sierra Nevada Brewing
  • Best Light Lager:  Honey Kolsch, Rogue Brewing
  • Best Belgian / Sour: Blackberry Gose, Draught Works  (Best of Show Runner Up)

2016 Winners

  • Best Light Lager: Craft Lager, Upslope Brewing Co.
  • Best Bock: Dump Truck, Bayern Brewing, Inc.
  • Best Wheat: Honey Weizen, Front Brewing Co.
  • Best IPA: Space Dust, Elysian Brewing Co.
  • Best Pale Ale: Grunion Pale, Ballast Point Brewing Co.
  • Best Stout/Porter: Fortress Rock Imp Stout, Missoula Brewing Co.
  • Best Fruit/Specialty: Mount Jumbo Grapefruit, Missoula Brewing Co.
  • Best Scottish/Irish Red: Chip Off The ‘Ol Scotch, Bowser Brewing Co.
  • Best Saison/ Belgian/ Best of Show/ Best of Montana, Rope Swing Saison- Philipsburg Brewing Co.

2015 Winners

  • Best Lager/Best of Montana: Montana Helles Lager, Bayern Brewing, Inc.
  • Best Belgian/French: Rope Swing Saison, Philipsburg Brewing Co.
  • Best Pale Ale: Alchemy Pale Ale, Widmer Brothers Brewery
  • Best IPA: Ghost Train Double IPA, Carter’s Brewing
  • Best Specialty: Montana Creamsicle, Great Burn Brewing
  • Best Stout/Best of Show: Double Stout Black Ale, Green Flash Brewing Co.
  • Best English: Double Eagle Scotch Ale, Lolo Peak Brewing Co.
  • Best Light Beer: Goose Summer Ale, Goose Island Brewery