# Big Sky Brewing Company

46°55′19″N 114°04′22″W﻿ / ﻿46.922°N 114.0727°W﻿ / 46.922; -114.0727
Big Sky Brewing Company is a brewery and taproom located in Missoula, Montana. It is owned by three partners, Bjorn Nabozney, Neal Leathers, and Brad Robinson. It is Montana's largest brewery. It first opened its doors in 1995 on 120-A Hickory Street, but eventually moved to its current location at 5417 Trumpeter Way. The brewery features both seasonal and regular ales and has continued to function under the same owners for twenty-three years.

## History

Big Sky Brewery began when Neal Leathers and Brad Robinson moved to Missoula, Montana from Michigan in 1990. This is where they met their future business partner Bjorn Nabozney, a native Montanan. Brad and Neal began work on starting a brewery. Bjorn created a business plan while studying at the University of Montana for a brewery that put Brad and Neal's idea into perspective. Big Sky Brewing Company was founded shortly after this in 1995.
After raising capital, they purchased their original location at 120 Hickory Street Missoula, Montana, which spanned 7,000 square feet. Big Sky Brewing began brewing beer at their Hickory Street brewery in 1995. Big Sky Brewing's Hickory Street brewery was known as a "draft only" brewery, which means that they did not bottle beer at this establishment. With their eyes set on becoming a regional brewery, Big Sky Brewing planned on bottling beer, the Hickory Street location did not constitute enough room to add bottling production. After an arrangement, Big Sky Brewing began brewing beers at Portland Brewing Company for a few days each month. Portland Brewing also bottled and shipped Big Sky Brewing's beer to distributors. During this arrangement, Big Sky Brewing raised money and worked towards building a new brewery where they could bottle their own beer. Due to this plan they were forced outside of Missoula in 2002 to their current location at 5417 Trumpeter Way, which is over 24,000 square feet. At this new building they bottle and brew their own beer, and their current production rate is around 40,000-47,000 barrels. With their production moving at full speed, they now employ over forty-five full-time employees and sell beer in twenty-four different states. In 2017, Big Sky Brewing lobbied the Montana Legislature, helping pass Montana House Bill 541 allowing breweries to produce 60,000 barrels of beer. Big Sky Brewing also built an amphitheater, where they hold charity events and concerts, in an effort to give back to the Missoula community.

## Awards

| Beer | Category | Medal | Year | Bestower |
| 406 Series Saison | Strong Belgian Ales | Bronze | 2010 | North American Beer Awards |
| All Souls Imperail Saison | Other Belgian Style Ales | Silver | 2013 | North American Beer Awards |
| Barley Wine | Barley Wine-Style Ale | Bronze | 2001 | North American Beer Awards |
| Barrel Aged Power Wagon | Barrel-Aged Strong Beer | Silver | 2015 | North American Beer Awards |
| Bière de Noël | Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale | Gold | 2006 | North American Beer Awards |
| | | Gold | 2003 | North American Beer Awards |
| Big Sky IPA | English-Style India Pale Ale | Silver | 2021 | North American Beer Awards |
| Big Sky Irish Stout | Dry Stout | Silver | 2011 | North American Beer Awards |
| Big Sky Octoberfest | Marzen-Oktoberfest Lager | Gold | 2021 | North American Beer Awards |
| Bobos Robust Porter | Robust Porter | Gold | 2010 | North American Beer Awards |
| Bourbon Barleywine | Wood- and Barrel-aged Strong Beer | Silver | 2005 | Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer |
| Heavy Horse Scotch Ale | Scotch Export | Silver | 2005 | North American Beer Awards |
| Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout | Imperial Stout | Gold | 2003 | Festival of Wood and Barrel-Aged Beer |
| | Imperial Stout | Gold | 2016 | North American Beer Awards |
| | Strong Ales | Bronze | 2024 | Montana Brewers Association |
| Ivan the Terrible Imperial Stout - 2015 | Barrel-Aged Strong Beer | Bronze | 2016 | North American Beer Awards |
| Moose Drool Brown Ale | | Gold | 2003 | North American Beer Awards |
| | Brown Porter | Silver | 2006 | Los Angeles County Fair Competition |
| | American-Style Brown Ale | Gold | 2013 | North American Beer Awards |
| | English-Style Brown Ale | Silver | 2021 | North American Beer Awards |
| | English-Style Brown Ale | Silver | 2022 | North American Beer Awards |
| Powder Hound Winter Ale | Old Ale | Bronze | 2003 | North American Beer Awards |
| | | Gold | 2002 | North American Beer Awards |
| Power Wagon | Other Strong Beer | Silver | 2013 | Great American Beer Festival |
| | Other Strong Beer | Silver | 2014 | World Beer Cup |
| Scape Goat Pale | American-Style Pale Ale | Gold | 1999 | North American Beer Awards |
| Summer Honey Seasonal Ale | Honey Beer | Silver | 2000 | North American Beer Awards |
| | | Bronze | 2002 | North American Beer Awards |
| | | Silver | 2003 | North American Beer Awards |
| | | Bronze | 2006 | North American Beer Awards |
| | Specialty Honey Beer | Gold | 2006 | Los Angeles County Fair Competition |
| | Honey Beer | Silver | 2013 | North American Beer Awards |
| | Honey Beer | Bronze | 2016 | North American Beer Awards |
| | Honey Beer | Gold | 2021 | North American Beer Awards |
| Trout Slayer | English-Style Summer Ale | Gold | 2013 | North American Beer Awards |