Ales for Trails, Helena

Helena Ales for Trails strives to contribute to the community of Helena by raising funds for the Helena Trail System. 2024's event raised $20,000 for the trails, which went towards the Bureau of Land Management's Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Area Management Plan!

The event is led by a consortium of community leaders from a variety of sectors. We’re proud to partner with local businesses, city and county government, and private citizens to host and sponsor Helena Ales for Trails. In addition to the myriad of people involved in planning, Helena Ales for Trails utilizes over 150 volunteers on the day of the event. Over the first thirteen years we’ve raised $223,000 for local trails, all which was distributed to Friends of Centennial Trail (Centennial Trail Project), Prickly Pear Land Trust (Peaks to Creek Project), Helena Parks and Recreation (Ascension Downhill Project & Park City Trailhead), Helena Trail Rider, the Deford Trail Corridor and the 2019 Whyte Addition to Mt. Helena City Park, the Old Shooting Range Restroom Accessibility Project and the Limekiln Parking Area Realignment Project, and the Bureau of Land Management (Scratchgravel Hills Recreation Plan).

Keeping it Downtown - This year’s event will happen in Pioneer Park (located next to Lewis & Clark Library at the far southern end of the walking mall).

Date & Time - The 14th Annual Helena Ales for Trails is scheduled for Friday, May 16th from 3:30 to 9:00pm. (Please note that 3:30pm to 5:00pm is reserved for the VIP pre-event, while the main event experience is from 5:00pm to 9:00pm.)

Participating Breweries - Blackfoot River (Helena), Blacksmith (Stevensville), Ten Mile Creek (Helena), Wildwood (Stevensville), OddPitch (Missoula), Lewis & Clark (Helena), Copper Furrow (Helena), MT Ciderworks (Darby), Mt. Ascension (Helena), Athletic Brewing Co., Carter's (Billings), Bridger (Bozeman), Flathead Lake (Bigfork), Bozeman Brewing (Bozeman), By All Means Brewing (Billings), Sean Minor Wines, Imagine Nation (Missoula), MAP Brewing (Bozeman), Smelter City (Anaconda), Speakeasy 41 (Helena)

NEW 2025: Tamarack (Missoula)

VIP Pre Event Tickets: $50

Every year we strive to turn Helena Ales for Trails more and more toward a unique tasting experience. We invite breweries who share the vision of a beer tasting event that showcases limited production, small batch, hard to find, special reserve, artisan, experimental, barrel-aged, sour and other unique craft beers. While we recognize the place of flagship beers, we hope to showcase breweries who welcome the chance to “bring us their weird!” VIP is your best chance to experience the wide variety of beer showcased at Helena Ales for Trails.

To further enhance the VIP Event we limit the experience to 300 VIP participants (which includes event sponsors and brewers). VIP starts promptly at 3:30pm. At that time, participants can enjoy an unlimited number of beer tastings while interacting with brewers and snacking on complimentary appetizers prepared by Helena’s very own Habana406. VIP ticket sales are limited to 200 tickets, selling for $50. VIP tickets will only be available online via 406Tix, starting at 9.00am (MST) on March 1st. In addition to the opportunity to taste up to 60 beverages, VIP tickets include a custom printed 2025 Helena Ales For Trails glass and 1 token that can be used for a 6oz. pour at the end of the VIP experience (5pm). The VIP Ticket also buys entrance into the main event.

* VIP has a history of selling out within just a few weeks

Main Event Tickets: $20 - $35

Main Event tickets go on sale March 15th. They are available at participating local Helena breweries for $20, while tickets last. Tickets are also available online at 406Tix for $25. Tickets will be available at the gate the day of the event, if any remain, for $35. Each ticket includes a custom printed 2025 Helena Ales for Trails glass along with 3 tokens which can be redeemed for three (3) 6 oz. pours.

All ticketed attendees will also have the opportunity to buy additional tokens at $1 per token.

For more information find Helena Ales for Trails on Facebook or email Hannah at hannah@narratechurch.org.

MUST BE 21 YEARS OR OLDER TO PARTICIPATE. PROOF OF ID REQUIRED.