There is a section of Boise, that is technically it’s own separate town since swallowed up by the greater Boise metropolis, called Garden City. It is a 4 square mile strip a few miles long along the river, zoned mostly industrial with a smattering of trailer parks and used car lots.
But on the bright side, over the last couple years it has been a localized hot bed for craft beer. Starting at the east end is Payette Brewing, established in 2010 and basically a brewery with a small tasting room attached. A mile or two west is Crooked Fence Brewing, a similar commercial model. And another mile or so down the road is Kilted Dragon, a decidedly simple and blue-collar joint which opened its doors just last December. Each is brewing on premises and all but the latter with their own canning line.
This stretch has been called Garden City’s “Ale Trail” and “Chinden Beer Boulevard”, by local publication contributors. I think I prefer simply, “the Beer Belt” referring to the near-by popular cycling and strolling “Green Belt” system of trails, winding along the river through town.
Whatever you want to call it, it’s a good thing. Boise is on it’s way to making it’s mark on the regional list of brew-towns like it’s big sister about 300 miles to the west.
I was at Crooked Fence recently and had one of their year-round offerings, Devil’s Pick IPA. At 80 IBUs it is plenty bitter, full bodied but not a ton of fresh hop flavor. It packs a punch though and as somewhat of a hop-head myself, it did just fine.
The place seats about 35-40 and is mostly high stools and tables with a small 10 seat bar. Very basic food choices consisting exclusively, as far as I can tell of hotdogs “crooked wieners” on a rotating warmer. But folks come here for a drink, and that’s just fine.
Looking forward to visiting the other newest members of the Boise Brewpub scene and I’ll be documenting it here.
It’s exciting to see growth in this area, in this area, and I hope this town can support a few more.
