Craft Beer Community news, Reviews, Homebrew
This is a re-post of my contributing article on WashingtonBeerBlog earlier this summer. Boise’s craft beer scene has grown into something far more interesting than most outsiders might expect. What started as a handful of local breweries back in the 90’s has evolved into a wide mix of taprooms. The Boise area has brewpubs, beer…
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…
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….
This site is typically about beer and its related fields of interest. Today, we are talking about Mead. Fermented beverages are typically named according to what is being fermented. Grapes make wine, pears make perry, apples make cider, barley (and some other grains) make beer. If you are fermenting honey, then you are making Mead….
Garden City, ID, has been a bit of a “hotbed” of craft beer activity for about 20 years now. Comings and goings over the years, starting with the craft beer explosion in the early 2000’s, have included a dozen or more establishments. Some have gone by the wayside, and some others are still with us,…
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…
Beer blending is becoming one of those trends that some craft breweries trot out like a flashy new haircut. A splash of this stout, a glug of that saison, maybe a dollop of fruit purée tossed in like a smoothie gone rogue. While you can typically order a pint of something on the board, eventually…
Sockeye Brewing is an icon of Boise area craft beer. Started in 1993, and for a long time it was one of THE 3 breweries in town. Well, 4 if you count the Ram, but they are a national chain, albeit with some local unique brews. Highlands Hollow and Table Rock were the others. Before…
