Boise is home to a mushrooming craft beer scene, with at least a few new establishments in the last couple of years, and one or two ore in the near future. It is getting to be a great place for a beer nerd to call home.
Even still, a road trip is an opportunity to sample the wares of other breweries that are just outside of the range of someone who has a full time job and limited travel resources. This weekend I am off to central Washington where I am participating in a triathlon, and there are at least a few stops I plan to make on my way there and 1 for sure on the way back.
The little town of La Grand, OR is home to Mt. Emily Ale House. Its a small place in a renovated turn of the century bank building right down town. I’ve been there once or twice before and it is strategically located about 2 and a half hours drive from Boise. I am thinking a nice place for lunch.
Pendleton, another 50 miles down the road, has Prodigal Son Brewery and Pub. A bit larger place with a full menu and more of a restaurant feel. They have something called “Max Power IPA” on right now and I just hope it is still there in a few days when I roll in parched and thirsty.
After that, there are a few in the tri-cities area, one of which is Atomic Ale Brewpub and Eatery. They have a cool beer naming scheme that relates to Nuclear Physics and atom splitting I mean, how can you go wrong with something called Oppenheimer Oatmeal Stout, or Plutonium Porter”
Whitstran Brewing is in a little town called Prosser about 30-40 miles West on I-82. Boise sports fans may recognize this as home to former BSU quarterback, Kellen Moore. It’s a small mom-and pop type place with a restaurant attached.
Ellensberg is my destination and that is home to Iron Horse Brewing, the most famous of their beers is Irish Death.
Looking forward to hitting a few of these places on my journey either on the way out or on the way back.
-Cheers
