Blackfoot River Brewing is a smaller, more neighborhood-oriented taproom than Lewis & Clark, tucked into a converted space a short walk from downtown. The atmosphere is relaxed — wooden tables, a bar that fills up with regulars on weekday evenings, no particular effort to impress anyone. The beers are well-brewed and rotate frequently, with an emphasis on IPAs and seasonal styles alongside the core lineup. The Blackfoot IPA has a following.
What makes Blackfoot River worth the visit, beyond the beer, is the sense that you're in an actual Helena bar rather than a visitor destination. The conversations at the next table are likely to be about state politics, fishing conditions on the Missouri, or what's playing at the Myrna Loy. If you want a single stop to take the temperature of local life in Helena, this is a reasonable choice.