Wyoming’s Incredible Beer Love Story Is Over 100 Years Old

With over 40 breweries operating, the Cowboy State is a state where there is no doubt that beer is loved. The history of beer in Wyoming is impressive, going back to the 1800s.

Snake River Brewing in Jackson is the oldest Wyoming brewery producing beer. In 1994, it became Wyoming's first brewpub; in 2024, it celebrated its 30th year in business. Twelve beers are currently on tap at the brewpub, and their beer is available for purchase statewide. 

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Even though Snake River Brewing is Wyoming's reigning longest-running brewery, the Sweetwater Brewery (also known as the Green River Brewery) gets credit for being Wyoming's first and (for now) the brewery to make beer in Wyoming the longest.

According to the National Register of Historic Places, Sweetwater Brewing began making beer in its new facilities in 1900 in Green River. The brewery and beer date back to 1872, when German Beer maker Adam Braun started the business. At that time, there wasn't a school or courthouse in Green River, but sure enough, there was a brewery.

The facility produced beer until 1919 when Prohibition went into effect. After that, the brewery began making a non-alcoholic 'near beer' known as "Wyoming Beverage" and other types of drinks. However, due to illegal moonshining, the drink never took off, and the business closed. 

After Prohibition ended, Tom Flaherty attempted to start making beer again in 1936. According to historical documents, the beer wasn't good, and Flaherty was looking to make a quick buck. When the beer failed, he skipped town, and beer was never made at the facility again.

The Sweetwater Brewery building remains a staple of Green River's history. It is currently a bar known as 'The Brewery.'

Wyoming's history of beer continues today, with breweries in operation all over the state. Per capita, Wyoming is #6 on the list of craft breweries, with 7.70 per 100,000 people.

Beer is so prevalent in Wyoming that you can jump on a beer tour and travel around the state, trying nearly every beer brewed.

One of those is the Reel Craft Pass, with a guide to over thirty breweries across the state. Most of the booklet's breweries are near one of Wyoming's great fisheries. Giving you the option of grabbing a beer after fishing.

I've done the Reel Craft Pass tour since 2022 and still haven't been able to cross every brewery off my list. Luckily, 2025 is a new year, and the opportunities are there to hit them.