Imagine Nation Brewing

People have opinions about the location, but it is within walking distance from the truck stops and just around the corner from Big Sky, making for a nice afternoon. They are looking to expand hours and add food down the line. The staff was very nice, and their hazy IPAs were especially good, which was a big plus for me. I enjoyed chilling in their outdoor space.

Absolutely love this new location, so much better than the old with zero road noise. Outside area is so comfy and chill. Indoor is amazingly clean and so much room. Come down and see Frenchy and the owner Tim, you won’t be disappointed.

Great service. Cold beer. Good vibe. And thank you for letting me drink beer with my dog outside on the patio. Much appreciated.

Seems like the new owners have ditched what made Imagine Nation unique. They left the central location, which had an excellent patio and homey feel for one more indicative of what they think of the Missoula community. How can you be a community space if you aren't even near the community? Selling beer is fun and all, but the majority of us wanted to buy beer with our communities. Profit over people huh? Sell it to your old bartenders who were the heart of the community that used to love you.

An amazing space with great service and even better beer. I really enjoyed the vibe here and enjoyed my short conversation with the gentleman behind the bar. He was friendly and very knowledgeable. My friend and I ordered some drinks, grabbed a crib board and spent a good portion of our afternoon trying all of their offerings. The beer really is some of the best in the area...probably the best really. They have backyard patio if you feel inclined to sit outside and have a "library" for an even cozier feeling. I know I will be back to Missoula someday and this place will be at the top of my list.

If you’re seeing this and wondering if this is the same Imagine Nation that used to be in central Missoula: no, not really. Under the original management, Imagine Nation had an incredible staff, one of the best locations in town, and, in my opinion, the best and most exciting beer in the country. In just over a year, the new management lost the old staff and ditched the downtown, community-centric location for an obscure and awkward space out by the airport. And, sadly, if their most recent brew is any indication, the quality of the beer may be following in the same direction. Imagine Nation was really something special, a one-of-a-kind place devoted to community and exceptional beer, and it should be remembered for what it was, not for whatever this new iteration is.

Greatly enjoyed Open Mic Night on Monday, seemed like a regular occurrence. Staff was friendly and there's enough variety on the menu for everyone to find something they like. Weather was beautiful and the view from the patio overlooking Clark Fork River and Sentinel Mountain was spectacular. Traveling from a state that allows dogs inside breweries we were disappointed to find out they weren't even allowed on the patio. Not the fault of the brewery, but hopefully Missoula repeals this rule soon as we travel with our dogs frequently and are more likely to return to cities that are pet friendly.

Imagination went from being my favorite brewery in Missoula to a brewery I'll likely never go to again. The reason: moving the tasting room to the middle of nowhere. The location of their old taproom was so good. It was homey and comfortable inside. It had personality, charm, and a community-centered mindset unlike any other brewery IN MONTANA. The broadway location also had one of the only south facing patios in the entire town and the views were fantastic. The move to their middle-of-nowhere location (where Cymatic failed to attract patrons) is a slap in the face of the regulars who enjoyed the convenience of the broadway location. The space is awkward, there aren't views, and no one is going to ride a bike out to their new spot. Go see for yourselves.

Neat place with a very welcoming vibe. My wife and I each enjoyed two of the Harvey Milk Stouts while we were here. A group played and sang Irish music on a relaxing late Thursday afternoon. Not too pretentious but also not boring. Beertender was friendly enough as well.

Such a great indoor & outdoor space! Stage for live music. Taco truck parked out front was fantastic. Good place to drink good beers!

In the half dozen breweries we visited in Missoula, this was my favorite. All the beers in my flight were really good, the ginger beer is homemade and delicious, they had a great playlist, and vibes were on point. The bartender was also really friendly and let us try a few beers before deciding. We sat outside which had some nice views. Inside is a little smaller and I can imagine it fills up in peak hours. Definitely come here if you like beer/breweries!

I'm back in Missoula and that means checking out more breweries! Specifically INB is brewery #249 for me. INB is hard to miss as a bright blue building along the bank of the Clark Fork river. I wandered in and spoke to Adam who was working the bar. Adam was a great representative of the establishment as he was knowledgeable on the beers and enthusiastic about the business itself. He told me they gave the best patio around and after picking up a flight of all six beers they had on tap I headed out there. Yes it's a pretty great patio with an expansive view of the river and what looks like a walking trail along it. Very nice. Neozapatista is a Gose. I've mentioned this in other reviews but the first time I ran across a Gose, admittedly quite a few years ago now, I was unfamiliar with the style. I Googled that and came up with a really funny article: https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/craft-beer-is-dead-gose-ruined-craft-beer. Now I can't say I dislike the style but the humor in the article was great. This Gose was a bit sour but also fairly light and refreshing on a hot day. It had the taste of a slightly salty lemonade. I don't love the style but I liked this one. Hyperspace milkshake IPA on nitro was fruity, smooth, juicy, and smooth. Did I mention smooth? The 6 Lupujus 6 does refer to the 6th iteration but to the ABV. Thus was a nice fruity IPA. Warp Speed is another fairly fruity IPA. This was also a good one, with a little more bitterness to it. Not Your Average Common was quite good and very comparable to the common at my old hangout Sons of Liberty brewing which sadly moved to Nashville and changed names. Good beer! Ubuntu porter had the nice toasty flavor and was really good. Overall my favorite was the Hypersosce which was just a great expression of a milkshake IPA. If anyone is a glutton for punishment, please, follow my brewery, and distillery, reviews from across the U.S. and beyond! https://www.yelp.com/collection/-8iscFkpiiCI563-FDfwGg and if anyone is wondering who SWPFTD is you will have to check out my review of Black Market Brewing Co in Temecula, CA to understand. Yes, you will need to read into it a little to get the joke but I have confidence in you!

I went here with a large group after a long walk one late afternoon. The walk started off in cool weather but once the aggressive sun came out ended up being more of a challenge than we had planned for. By the time we got here, everyone was thirsty and ready for some good beers. They have a nice patio in the back including a sand area for little ones which was cool. I loved the eclectic decor inside with the paintings and other artwork. Friendly employees + tasty beer + comfy setting = solid 4 stars.

I don't get to delve into Montana breweries much and I'm glad whenever I can to provide feedback on breweries in the Big Sky state. For Imagine Nation I two different beers from here, both New England IPA'S. The first beer was Spinning Away WE Coast IPA. This IPA was pretty solid and had a good pine flavor to it. Enjoyable but not my favorite of the two. The other one was Wavelengths. This was a kind of complex IPA as it was also Milkshake IPA and it involved papaya. Some may think that this beer may be too intimidating with the papaya involved but it's actually very easy to drink and it is unique. I didn't think it was intimidating at all. Nice beer experience with this brewery!

Super friendly staff with good beers on tap and in cans. We did not stay super long but really enjoyed the chit chat with the staff. The Zeitgeist beer was so delicious - we bought a 4 pack to go!

This place was great!!! Aside from having some wonderful beers, including a foray into New England IPAs (a welcome change from the West Coast style), the service was TOPS. When my husband inquired if the cream ale was vegan, the bartender went above and beyond. She could have just explained that it is corn that gives it the creaminess (which she said), but instead she also pulled out the ingredients list to confirm.... and then checked every other beer, too! She cared that much about treating people right. Even if the beer had been mediocre (and it wasn't), this would make me give Imagine Nation a glowing review. Plus the tasting flight came in a thing shaped like a buffalo. How cool is that??

Great patio bar have a couple of delicious beers. It's away from the hustle and bustle of downtown but yet off of main Street so easy to find. Should be plenty of parking in the adjacent parking lot. The tables are old giant communication schools. Nothing fancy but Cool vibe.

Best brewery that I've been to in a while! I stop at breweries when traveling... which is a lot. Inside, you will find welcoming colors and it feels bigger than it is. The staff know their beer and are very friendly. They take the time to answer any questions when if they are busy. If you are an IPA fan you will love the Freedom Fighter IPA and DIPA. Dry hopped and smooth. The latte porter is tasty and isn't too sweet, rather light and yummy. This brewery welcomes food from outside venues also. Last year, they donated 49% of their net back to the community!

Very unique spot in Missoula. The artwork both inside and outside the place is an homage to inspirational people of the world. From Nelson Mandela to Freda to John Muir. Inside featured more artwork and unique antiques. Oh but back to the brewery. So this establishment brews their own beer and offers several on tap. I tried a few, not bad, I'm just not a big beer drinker. Looks to be a very nice after work spot as the place filled up around 4pm. Very nice staff, clean establishment.

The beer here is really different and it is really good. In enjoyed the vast different of beer options here and the atmosphere was great

Zeidegast beer was amazing. Not a fruity beer guy but it was so much like a passion juice that three drinks later was feeling it. Only draw back is low volume parking available. Though no restaurant- two meal trucks service the area from the parking lot. Good stuff!!!!

wow this place has the friendliest employees, an awesome outside area right on the river. beers were delicious. one of our fav brewery stops in Missoula.

I stopped by here yesterday with my wife and her parents for a drink. Whenever we entered I was immediately greeted by the bartender and proceeded to order. I went with my usual flight and choose 6 this time. They consisted of a summer Ale, a sparkling summer Ale, an ESB, two New England style IPAs and another IPA. As the bartender was getting my drinks the line behind me swelled to 15 or so people and the bartender literally picked up the phone to call for help. The beers came in a cute bison holder which is their logo and I proceeded to my seat with it. The inside of imagine nation is interestingly decorated with art on many of the walls, a giant bison head and even the frame of a canoe on the ceiling. All of the beers were pretty good but my favorite of the bunch was the lupujus 5. The bottom line for me is that I would head back here again in the future. It was a pretty chill place and I liked all of the beers as well.

Consistently the most complex and tastiest beers I've ever had. The staff is friendly, caring and helpful. Don't sleep on this place

Beer takes a backseat to style here, and definitely not in a bad way. With a name like it possesses, you have here a brewery who makes many nods to the intellect, to artistry and to great thinkers, based upon their artwork. I suppose with breweries becoming a virtual norm in the country and particularly in the west, and especially in college towns, you've got to find your niche. Imagine Nation does exactly that. Bravo! Their beers were, on average, delicious. And they've an advantage that is exploited considerably: the river. I'm guessing few places are better in Missoula for passing a summer day and evening. If I lived in Missoula this would be one of my go-to's. This place was made for kicking back with friends and cold ones. There you have it.

One of my absolute favorite breweries. This place is a definite must if you are in Missoula. Every time I go to Montana Imagine Nation is one of the things I look forward to.

This is, BY FAR, our favorite brewery, meeting place, and live music venue in Missoula. Down to Earth, genuine, and community-conscious owners and staff make this place feel more like a coffee shop than a bar. Try a signature New England Style IPA and your palette for beer will forever be changed. My wife hated IPAs and now she won't drink anything but these IPAs.

I absolutely love this brewery!! They always have amazing rotating beer on tap as well as kombucha and other non alcoholic drinks. They do New England IPAs well! the staff are nice and the seating is plenty including the huge outdoor patio! Would def recommend if in Missoula area! Plus the Arabian food truck that's usually there is amazing! Try the chicken kabob wrap!

Great feel, friendly staff and beautiful outdoor seating. Only problem was the beer wasn't very good. We did a flight of all 6 beers they had available. Five were a type of IPA (that weren't very good and all tasted too similar). The other was a sour which I generally don't like. Not sure if we we're just there at a time that they didn't have much.

Amazing brewery! This is definitely THE best in Missoula. The first time I tried both of their IPAs, and each was fantastic. Especially the NE citra IPA (I think it's called). But I tried almost all the beers and none were lacking. Some cool things about this brewery are the free popcorn and the kombucha on tap. If you're not so into beer, then ask for kombucha mixed with one of the beers. Seriously, trust me on this. It's delicious, and I'm kinda a beer purist (aka snob). Overall you can't go wrong with anything about this place. You won't be disappointed.

Definitely tied with Great Burn for the BEST BREWERY IN MISSOULA!! The Freedom Fighter IPA is top-notch! (ABV: 6.8%, IBU: 65). What a great new spot! Ride your bike down the river trail and sneak behind the no-tell-motel next door so you can max out your 48-oz daily allotment! Sit on the patio by the trees. Tell tall tales. Here, you have it all. Community room available for groups, and the first combination Brewery and Community Action Center - net profits will be going to worthy causes, much like the Oregon Public House in NE Portland, OR. GROWLER WEDNESDAY! Free pint with a growler fill, and TONS of growler-fill specials for as low as $5 per fill! Follow them on Instagram for instal-notification of such. Open on Mondays now! Riverside location with back patio, live music, great ambiance, and most importantly, GREAT BEER!! My rating system: 1 Ugk! 2 Meh 3 Yes! 4 Hells yeah! 5 Legendary!

Fun spot with balanced collection of brews and food trucks outside for a bite to eat (the source of the best falafel I have ever eaten, super fresh). Views of the Clark Fork River from the spacious outdoor area. Friendly staff.

I am from Portland and I am a beer snob. My girlfriend used to live in San Diego and now lives in Portland and she is a beer snob. This is not an intervention, we are ok with it. This place is fabulous. Go drink beer here.

I stopped here on a solo road trip back in September. I was getting gas in Missoula and decided to look up local breweries so I could grab some cans to bring home. This place stood out to me and Yelp said it was open so I decided to swing by. There were 2 cars in the parking lot so I walked right in (assuming it was open ha)! I browsed their merchandise and grabbed a few glasses and t-shirts to bring back to my friends. There was no one in the store so I walked out to their back patio. There was a couple and another lady outside chatting. The lady was super surprised to see me and mentioned that they were closed. She asked if the door was unlocked and I said yes. She immediately jumped up and told me no worries at all! She brought me back to the counter and rang up my items. I also selected a few hazy IPAs, a DIPA and a sour. She was so nice! We chatted awhile about my trip and I asked questions about Missoula. She told me she was glad the door was unlocked so that we were able to meet eachother and chat (Awww, me too :3)! Their mission and community involvement is also super admirable! I loved the paintings and involvement with social justice. The can labels are so creative, colorful and some of the best I've seen. The beer is also some of the best I've had and that says a lot! Because I'm always trying out different breweries and craft beer shops. This place was a breath of fresh air after traveling up from NV, WY, ID and MT. It was refreshing to see BLM posters on the door and overall support for the community and social justice. I felt like I was home in the Bay Area again. I will definitely be back as I want to explore Missoula more. She also gave me free stickers WOOT!

Hudson...and the other amazing bartender (I'm so sorry, I forgot your name along my travels)...YOU ARE BOTH AMAZING and so is IMAGINE BREWING! We visited on Sunday 5/2- NY husband, my 3 yr old son & I. A breath of fresh air not only during covid but in life! Immediately seeing the outside of the brewery I knew this place was something special! It brought me not only an instant sense of peace with their artwork & imagery but their serving was unparalleled. Not only were they instantly kind, warming & welcoming but quickly asked & remembered our names. Thank you both for the surprise soul lifting personal encounter. You both are special people and truly MADE MY DAY! Enjoy the Sour beers ;) as I did my Imagine brews! THANK YOU BOTH AGAIN!

Best greeting ever by Jenny! Asked for tastiest lighter alcohol beer and up came Casa Azul! Great intro to Missoula brewpubs! Damn fine beer evaluation by a self claimed beer snob from points west and south.

My favorite brewery in Missoula. The tastiest beer in my opinion, offering many different styles of ales the occasional lager, and making an amazing, delicious example every time. Haven't had a beer from them that I wasn't crazy about. Being from the east coast I particularly loved their NE IPA beers, they make em as good as any Bissell, Trillium, Tired Hands etc. They have food trucks on some days, and offer live music, open mics, even a small farmers market one day out of the week. Very much a community focused brewery. Worth a daily visit.

Great beer, great atmosphere. Outdoor deck overlooking the river. Meeting room for local groups to meet (teachers, non-profit workers and others regularly meet here), nice library of books to take a gander at. A true public/community house like a pub oughta be. VERY community oriented. Missoula should be proud of this jewel. P.S. Live music on the weekends, and that means Fri-Sun and culminating in a BUNCH (read: a b*ttload) of Missoula's budding musicians in an open mic on Monday night! HIGHLY recommended.

This place came as a suggestion from a colleague of mine. And they were not wrong. Great beer selection, reasonable prices, and incredibly awesome staff working there. They were very knowledgeable about the beer and helped me to find the right pick.

What can I say? I LOVE THIS BREWERY! The brews are tasty, the staff is friendly, and the brewery does tons of community focused events. The night we were there, they were doing a Humane Society fundraiser with some fun raffles and a great band. They are out there doing some good socially conscious actions and serving some good pints. I also like the layout of the place. There is a nice amount of room for people without feeling like you're packed in like a sardine. The next I'm home for a visit, I'm going back and that's a promise.

Love this place!! Great beer and really cool environment and people. Was passing by and saw this place so I decided to come back with my husband who is really picky about beer. He loved their IPA!

One of the best. Great beer. Best atmosphere. Popcorn. Art. Patio on the river. Food truck. Instruments for kiddos. Local Jewelery. Good people.

They make a great first impression, so I'm betting the 2nd and 3rd will be excellent as well. At first look the location may seem questionable but once you see the river front patio it all makes sense. The beer was fantastic, somewhat limited options, but they just opened. They have books inside that are a blast to flip through. Seems odd at first and then the next thing you know your staring at maps and reading up on tips for traveling to Costa Rica. The service was wonderful and I would expect nothing less from a brewery in Missoula. The parking lot was nearly full but there was still lots of room inside so if you need to park across the street it's worth it. Free popcorn 2 thumbs up. Whoever decorated did a stellar job. These guys really stand out from the rest of the breweries. This might be my new favorite place to go for an outdoor drink.

This place is fantastic. Stopped by passing through town. They have great beer and great prices. They also have great events seemingly every night (we saw great live music) and support great causes both financially with special beers as well as organizationally through event hosting and allowing people to table. It's a great space with good vibes and a beautiful indoor and outdoor seating area. Go here!

ANOTHER phenomenal brewery in Montana... They just don't quit!! The Good: First of all the beers are amazing. According to my husband this was the only place good enough to leave a business card for the brewer. My husband used to be a professional brewer and manages a brewery and restaurant in Minneapolis. This is high praise from a certified beer snob. The interior is gorgeous with tons of warm wood, a sitting area with all kinds of books and a gorgeous stain glass window. Their outdoor space is beautiful with plenty of seating and umbrellas overlooking a small creek and lots of trees. You can see the surrounding hillsides as well. The high fence gives it a very cozy feeling. The Sad: Now, the only reason I give this place a 4 star instead of a 5 star is because they took my husband's information from the card he gave them and put him on a generic email list. He said he wasn't expecting a response from his card, and would have preferred nothing to happen over getting generic emails. The most he was expecting as a short, "Thanks for stopping in!" You know, something personal from one professional to another. He didn't give them his card to be put on a generic email list; NOT professional if you ask me.

As breweries go this is a nice spot. Outdoor space is nice, even a sandbox for the kids. Beers are good. There was even a farmers market of sorts when we were here.

Great small brewery. Great beer and cool place to hang with books to peruse and a nice outdoor area.

The beer was ok but my husband and I will definitely not be back due to the liberal propaganda all over the place. Keep your political beliefs to yourself.

I'm not a beer snob... my palate is not refined and distinct. I just like to drink good beer with friendly folks and enjoy an afternoon. I stumbled upon this place when rolling through town. It was great. Not too expensive, crowded enough but still plenty of seats, friendly folks. I really enjoyed the beer I had because the people were nice. I leave all the fancy beer descriptions and reviews to others...

We went to 6 of the local breweries during our trip and this was the standout. We got a flight of every beer they had on tap and they were all delicious! The atmosphere is great and they have a wonderful focus on giving back to the community. Highly recommend.

Best brewery in town!!! The owners are always striving to help the comunity and making that place the best place to have a beer in Missoula! Beers are amazing, fun live shows, n a great patio !

Since moving away from Missoula, this is the one place we miss enough to bring it up on the regular. Truly some of the best beers we have ever had, not to mention the amazing atmosphere, incredible staff, and mission to better the lives of the community. We miss you, Imagine Nation! Look forward to seeing you on our next swing thru.

The beer is great and the staff very fun. Was a great time had by all. I would go back again for sure. Easy to find and the swag is sweet.

Really nice patio, great beer selection - loved the double mosaic lupujus!

This might be our favorite place to hang out in Missoula. A true public house. Not only do they have great beer (and I'm not even a beer person usually), but they've got free popcorn, the patio overlooks the river, and they host all kinds of live music, poetry, and other events. All around a great place with great people.

Best beer I had in Missoula. Great atmosphere and great service. Would come to Missoula for this beer alone!

I wish I could give them a million stars. Great beer, friendly staff and a cool building. The patio is also amazing. Imagine Nation is not only a great brewery but also a great community steward.

This place has great beer and a wonderful atmosphere. I highly recommended their IPA. Fair warning though... They do not serve food of any kind.