Article by Maloree Murphy

Photos by Keely Zimmermann 

Beer has never really been about consumption. Not in Billings, anyway. From the earliest days, beer was tied to something more lasting. A place where people gathered after work, caught up on news, and built relationships. That throughline anchors the Western Heritage Center's newest exhibit, "Having a Beer in Billings," and it comes to life most unexpectedly: a beer bottle on wheels. 

When the Western Heritage Center reached out to Jon and Deb McCulloch from JD Motor and Forge about recreating the 1911 Billings Brewing Company beer-bottle car for their new exhibit, the request was both simple and completely insane. Build a fully functional vehicle shaped like a giant antique beer bottle in three months, based on a single black-and-white photograph showing only one side of the original car, which no longer exists. 

"The picture hooked us," said Jon McCulloch. "Creating this from a picture has probably been the most exciting project we've ever worked on." 

Building the car was extremely complex and required both engineering skill and instinct. The curve of the bottle's shoulder, the structure beneath the body, the placement of the radiator, and all of the unique details were meticulously thought out. The work quickly became a true collaboration. Local partners stepped in to bring the details to life, including Vinyl Monkeys, which recreated the label wrapping the bottle. 

"We didn't know how pretty it would be," said Deb McCulloch. "All we had ever seen was that black-and-white picture." When the paint and label finally came together, the reaction caught them off guard. "We kind of teared up," she said. 

That emotional response hasn't been limited to the builders. Since its debut, the car has drawn crowds everywhere it goes. People stop mid-conversation. Phones come out. Kids run to fences to watch it pass. In Absarokee, traffic backed up as people pulled over to take a closer look. The reaction feels immediate and genuine, a powerful reminder of the importance of history brought back to life in tangible form. 

Inside the Western Heritage Center, the car becomes the entry point to a much broader story. "Having a Beer in Billings" traces the city's brewing history from its earliest days. There was a brewery in Coulson before Billings even existed. In the early days, towns brewed their own beer because there was no way to ship it, and the water was not always safe to drink. 

Along the way, the exhibit highlights how deeply beer has been tied to community. "That's where they got their news, saw their friends, and relaxed after work," said Becky Luikens of the Western Heritage Center. "It was just a common meeting area." 

That sense of connection has shifted over time, but never disappeared. After Prohibition forced breweries to pivot into soda and non-alcoholic beverages, and decades of mass-produced beer followed, the culture gradually returned to something more local and personal. Today's breweries, along with a strong homebrewing community, echo those early roots. The exhibit reflects that full-circle moment, with contributions from local brewers, homebrewers, and collectors who helped shape the displays. 

It's a reminder that while the methods may change, the purpose behind it all remains familiar. And maybe that's why the beer car resonates so strongly. It isn't just a recreation of something old. It's a continuation of something that never really left. More than a century ago, the original beer wagon moved through Billings to connect with people and leave a lasting impression. Today, the rebuilt version is doing the same thing, and as a result, a piece of history continues. 

Places you will be able to see the beer car  

• Red Lodge Rodeo | July 2-4, 2026  
• Mexican Fiesta Car Show | July 18, 2026  
• Absorkee Days | July 25, 2026  
• Yellowstone County Air Show | August 22-23, 2026 
• Burn the Point | September 4-5, 2026  

Western Heritage Center - Having a Beer in Billings - To learn more about the exhibit click here!

Exhibit Sponsors: 

Bill and Anne Cole 

Montana Brewing Company 

Angry Hank’s Microbrewery 

Originally printed in the Month 2024 issue of Simply Local Magazine

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