Craft Beer Community news, Reviews, Homebrew
Announcements and commentary on area Craft Beer events. Grand Openings, Holidays, Festivals etc.
Last week I posted a rundown of some upcoming festival dates and locations. This past Saturday, I took my own advice and stopped in on a few of them. Staying within the confines of Garden City, I visited Powderhaus Brewing, Bert’s Brewing and Barbarian. While each was busy and had a good crowed, they were…
As the summer draws to a close, as the trees are turning colors, the best part of the season is upon us. Oktoberfest. You may not know who the Bavarian Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese are. But if you are reading this you probably know why they are famous. They got married in 1810…
Not-So-Hostile Takeover Taprooms, craft beer bars, and beer-themed restaurants often host something called a “Tap Takeover.” Typically, the establishment will work out a deal with a craft beer producer and relinquish several (sometimes all, if the place is small) of their beer taps to the visiting brewer. It’s a bit of a party usually; hats,…
The ski resort, touristy vacation town of McCall, ID, has a lot of things going for it. Its a popular fun spot, about 90 miles north of Boise. While the long-time locals may not be too fond of its busy summer (and winter) weekends full of out-of-towners, these visitors do leave some of their money…
Powderhaus Brewing, situated at the West end of Garden City, got started in late 2015. Its Bavarian Alpine style and log building style distinguished itself aesthetically from other craft beer locations. Its leanings toward offering European lagers also helped set it apart. The population of craft beer venues in the area had been growing fast…
Destination Beer 2026, put on by Idaho Brewers United, and sponsored in large part by Idaho Hopgrowers Commision was this past weekend in McCall, ID. On a cool, clear Saturday afternoon, 25 or so Idaho brewers were represented “under the big-top” in the parking lot just East of the McCall Hotel. Your ticket got you…
This weekend marked Gem State Brewing Company’s second anniversary. Over that time, Chris and Kristl have added another year of experience and produced approximately 70 unique beers. I’ve done my best to sample every one of them along the way. From the day it opened, Gem State has been a popular destination and has continued…
Happy Birthday, Ruckus Brewing In East Garden City, near a small cluster of wineries tucked into a commercial cul-de-sac shared with a popular sandwich lunch spot, is a little brewery in a location that has previously hosted a few others. Since 2014, 4340 W. Chinden has been home to Haff, Bella, Loose Screw, and, for…
This past weekend kicked off the first annual “Freshies & Friends” fresh hop beer festival in downtown Meridian, ID. Several local breweries pouring unique and one-off fresh hop beers to celebrate the hop harvest of 2025. This is a popular and busy time of the year for craft beer, and there have been these kinds…