Some Wyoming towns you drive through. Sheridan is one you stop in. Tucked up against the eastern slope of the Bighorn Mountains, it’s got a historic main street that actually still feels lived-in, a working ranch culture that isn’t put on for tourists, and a craft beer scene that punches way above what a town of 19,000 people has any right to. And if you ask most beer lovers what put Sheridan on their map, the answer comes back the same every time: Black Tooth Brewing.
I’ve made the drive up to Sheridan more times than I can count, and the taproom is always on the list. Not because it’s fancy. Because it’s the real thing.
Who Is Black Tooth Brewing?
Black Tooth Brewing opened its doors in Sheridan in 2010, and it didn’t take long for the rest of the state to notice. The name comes from Black Tooth Mountain, a 13,005-foot peak in the Bighorns and one of the most striking summits in the range. It’s a fitting namesake. The beer, like the mountain, is unmistakably Wyoming.
Over the years, Black Tooth has grown into one of Wyoming’s best-known craft breweries, racking up medals at national and regional competitions and building the kind of loyal following most breweries only dream about. You’ll find their cans and drafts scattered across Wyoming and into neighboring states now, but the heart of the whole operation still sits right there in Sheridan. They scaled up without losing the plot, which is harder than it sounds.
The Beer: Approachable, Award-Winning, and Genuinely Good
Here’s what I appreciate most about Black Tooth: you don’t need a vocabulary lesson to enjoy their lineup. These are beers built to be drunk, not just analyzed.
The flagship is the Saddle Bronc Brown Ale, and if you only try one Black Tooth beer in your life, make it this one. It’s smooth, a little nutty, gently sweet, and endlessly drinkable. It’s the beer that made the brewery’s name, and it’s still the one I reach for first. An award winner and a Wyoming staple, all in one glass.
From there, the range opens up nicely:
- Wagon Box Wheat — light, crisp, and easygoing. The one I hand to friends who “don’t really like beer.” It usually changes their minds.
- Bomber Mountain Amber Ale — a touch more body and caramel richness, named after another Bighorns peak. A great middle-of-the-road pour for when you want a little more substance.
- Ruck IPA — for the hop chasers. Balanced, bold without being aggressive, and the kind of IPA that doesn’t try to wallop you into submission.
The through-line across all of it is balance. Black Tooth makes beer that ranges from sessionable to robust, but never gimmicky. If you can only commit to one decision, grab a flight and let the taproom make the case for itself. (A proper tasting glass set is a fun way to recreate that flight night at home once you’ve found your favorites.)
The Taproom: Come for One, Stay for Three
The Sheridan taproom is the soul of Black Tooth, and it’s exactly the kind of place I want to send people. It’s warm and unpretentious, the staff actually knows their beer without lecturing you about it, and there’s a steady hum of locals and travelers mixing together at the bar.
The patio is the move on a nice day. It’s dog-friendly, so you’ll see a few good boys lounging under tables while their people work through a flight. There’s a real community feel to the place — the kind of spot where you wander in for a single pint after a hike in the Bighorns and somehow find yourself three beers deep, having a conversation with a rancher and a couple of road-trippers from Colorado. That’s not a knock. That’s the entire appeal.
It’s the social center of Sheridan’s beer scene, plain and simple. If you want to understand the town, spend an evening here.
What About the Food?
Let me be straight with you, because that’s what this blog is for: Black Tooth is a brewery first. The taproom keeps things simple — snacks and pub-style fare to soak up the beer, not a full sit-down kitchen experience. And honestly, that’s the right call. You’re not coming here for a culinary destination; you’re coming for the beer, and the food is there to keep you comfortable while you drink it.
Food trucks often park outside, which is the move if you want something more substantial, and Sheridan’s downtown is a short walk away if you’d rather make a full evening of it. The beer is the star. The food is a solid, honest supporting act. No complaints.
While You’re in Sheridan
Here’s the thing — Black Tooth alone is worth the drive, but Sheridan rewards you for sticking around. The historic downtown is genuinely charming, full of brick storefronts, western outfitters, and good coffee. Stop into the Mint Bar, a Wyoming institution that’s been pouring drinks under its neon sign since the 1940s. It’s the kind of place where the walls are covered in cattle brands and history practically drips off the ceiling.
And then there’s the Bighorns themselves, rising right behind town. Hiking, fishing, scenic drives up the Bighorn Scenic Byway — there’s enough up there to fill a whole weekend, and a cold Saddle Bronc waiting for you when you come back down. Pack a good road trip cooler and you can bring a few cans along for the campsite, too.
If you’re building out a proper Wyoming beer tour, Black Tooth pairs perfectly with a swing through Snake River Brewing in Jackson on the other side of the state, and it’s a fixture every year at the Wyoming Brewers Festival if you’d rather sample a bunch of the state’s best in one spot.
The Bottom Line
Black Tooth Brewing earned its reputation the honest way: by making genuinely good beer, year after year, in a town that’s easy to love. It’s not chasing trends or trying to impress anybody. It’s just Wyoming craft beer done right, served in a taproom that feels like home the second you walk in.
If you’re a beer lover plotting a Wyoming road trip, put Sheridan on the map and put Black Tooth at the top of the list. Grab a flight, find a seat on the patio, and let yourself stay for that third pint. You won’t regret it. Cheers.