Late last year ago, Spring Creek Brewing, on Highway 55, a few miles north of Boise, closed its doors. You can read my write-up about that here.
Rising from the dust and cobwebs and after a couple of months of “soft opening”, Gather Brewing is now at the location and their Grand Opening was Saturday. Based in Universal City, TX, Gather is expanding into its second location at the Avimor community. CO-owners Mike and Rachel Voeller learned that the location would likely be available while vacationing in the area last fall.
Texas Beginnings
Gather Brewing, pouring beer in Universal City since December 2021, quickly developed into a popular local gathering place. From the beginning, Gather has been focused on the experience of getting together with good food and good beer. Focusing not on the beer per se, but rather on the bigger picture of a comfortable, family-friendly environment. Meeting old friends, making new ones, and enjoying time being together. The beer is secondary and really, more of a mechanic for the vibe they have developed and are striving for. As much as it has developed and gotten them plugged in to the local area, they are driving to forge the same community involvement and feel here in Idaho.
The tap list on their TX site is a pretty standard mix of a couple of hoppy beers, a wheat, a Blonde, a Golden stout, a Porter, and a Belgian Tripel. A few other options are available as well. It may not be a very eccentric taplist, but there are plenty of options to go with a broad flavor gamut of their menu options. Gather inherited the 7 barrel brewing system already in place. They didn’t indicate to me that they will stray far from their flagship beers and tap handles that have been running at their original location.
I met with the Voellers this past spring during the remodel. I got a few thoughts from them on what they’ve been doing and where they are headed.
An Idaho Presence
Visiting Idaho on a Fall 2025 trip, looking to relocate the family to somewhere with actual mountains and public land. Hitting an open house event in Avimor, with its own brewpub and coffee house it felt right. They checked in on Spring Creek then and discovered it was literally in its last days, and wheels started turning. Having no prior intentions of expanding their Texas business, the idea still grew on them.
After returning home, they began to inquire about the brewpub. While the move to Idaho was likely going to happen, having an additional plan or purpose, in the form of “Gather II,” added to the enthusiasm of it all. A few phone calls and meetings later, the local powers that be gave the Voellers the nod over a few other suitors for the recently vacated property. Packing up their 4 school-aged kids and saying goodbye to some deep, plugged-in friends and family, they relocated 1600 miles to Eagle, ID.
“Gather Eagle” will be a full restaurant and taproom, similar to its former occupants. There will be the usual burgers, salads, and pizza that most of us would probably expect. But there will also be some Korean Fusion-inspired items. According to their current menu at the Texas location, Spicy Korean Wings, Won-Ton chips, and something called Kim-Chi Fries will be on the list. Not sure which of their beers pairs best with Kim-Chi, but I’m game. Lots of seating and parking, that long time vistors are accustomed to, and right off the highway.
Rachel and Mike love Idaho, (shocker) and are excited to put down roots, contributing to the community in the form of Gather Brewing. No doubt the Avimor community will be glad to see the beer taps running again in their neighborhood. I will as well.
-Cheers
