Old Bull Brewing Expands to Missoula

I always get curious when I spot something new going up around Missoula.

The other day, I was driving south on Higgins toward the University of Montana when I noticed a sign on a building that simply said "brewery." That was enough to make me turn around and take a closer look.

The building is still under construction, but you can already see the brewing tanks inside and an outdoor patio taking shape. Naturally, I wanted to know what was moving in.

Old Bull Brewing Expands to Missoula

It turns out it's going to be Old Bull Brewing’s second location, bringing the award-winning Frenchtown brewery into Missoula.

After spotting the building, I reached out to Old Bull Brewing to see if I could learn more about the project.

Upcoming Opening: What to Expect

Nic Pestel with Old Bull Brewing confirmed the company is opening a second location on Southwest Higgins. While there's no official opening date yet, they're hoping to welcome customers sometime this fall.

Right now, the focus is on finishing construction, completing the licensing process, and, of course, brewing enough beer before opening the doors.

As any brewery owner knows, great beer takes time.

Award-Winning Brews to Look Forward To

If you've visited Old Bull Brewing in Frenchtown, you already know they make some outstanding beer, like their Kind of a Big Dill Spicy Pickled Blonde, Bugle Juice
Hazy IPA, and Exit 89 Blonde Ale.

I congratulated Pestel on the brewery's recent success, and he mentioned that while many people have noticed their recognition at the Montana Brewers Association awards, they also earned medals at the World Beer Cup last month.

That's impressive recognition for a Montana brewery.

Pestel is teaming up with Wade Gooden and Nic Cole on the new location. It won’t have a kitchen. Instead, the plan is to partner with local food trucks, giving customers plenty of dining options while enjoying a pint on the patio.

It’s not a massive space either. It looks like a comfortable neighborhood brewery instead of a large production facility, creating a place where people can gather, relax, and enjoy locally brewed beer.

There will be a soft opening this fall, followed by a grand opening once everything is ready.

If everything stays on schedule, the brewery could be opening just in time for Griz football season, giving South Hills residents another great local gathering spot.