Brewforia Beer Market. A purveyor of craft beer here in Boise and a location that I have been neglecting lately. With the exponential growth of craft Breweries and bottles shops in the Boise area, this pioneer, spearhead of the movement is getting overlooked a bit lately. At least by me it is. But it holds a special place in this craft beer industry. The place it forged.
Like most small businesses, Brewforia had modest beginnings. Opening in a strip mall on Milwaukee Ave in late 2009, and the early press releases boasted over 150 different bottles of craft beer. Nothing really to brag about nowadays but a big deal when it happened over 4 years ago. There was nothing in Boise like that.
There was a few taps there as well and I remember one of my first visits overhearing semi-panicked phone conversations on troubleshooting the CO2 system that was not working correctly.
Early May, they moved to a permanent location on the west side of Boise and have been there ever since. Larger space, 3 times as many bottled beers to choose from and 10 taps. That was when I became a regular. Always something new, usually something I had never seen before.
In May of 2011 an additional location was opened in Boise’s east end at Bown Crossing and did well, managed by Chris Oates. Several months later, after some differing visions and plans, between Rick and Chris it became clear that “Bier:Thirty” would have to become it’s own entity and the two parted ways.
In Aug 2012 Brewforia opened another location in Eagle. A location that seemed to have a bit of a more upscale feel and an expanded menu. Bringing on Ryan Embry of Life’s Kitchen and his culinary repertoire made the place a definite destination for terrific food and great craft beer. Even something as simple and cliche’ as a burger is something I can hardly resist every time I’m there. I am now starting to understand why they call it the “Belly Burger”
The two locations have now been around for a while and there are growler fill specials, trivia nights and other promotions, but there is still and always has been good beer flowing from their taps and bottles waiting patiently in the coolers for folks looking for something they can’t easily find anywhere in Idaho.
SInce Brewforia’s start, there has been at least 5 breweries opening and 2 or 3 bottleshops with their own impressive selection of bottled beer, opening up in the Boise area. But Brewforia was the pioneer. The trailblazer…the vanguard..the pointman. Riding the crest of what has become a tidal wave of a craft beer revival in the treasure valley.
I’m just glad to be swimming along with it…sipping as I go.
– Cheers
