Downtown Boise Breweries: A Beer Lover's Guide
Posted by Lisa Kohl on Sunday, September 17th, 2017 at 3:54pm
When you think of Idaho, you probably see a mental montage of stunning mountains, majestic wildlife, and winding rivers. Add this to your reel: some of the best craft beer in the Northwest.
Yep, that’s right: on top of the scenic vistas and unparalleled outdoor recreation, Idaho is the 3rd largest hop growing region in the nation. Boiseans can enjoy local beer produced right in our own backyard: around 75% of the state’s hop production happens just west of the city in Wilder and Greenleaf. If you drive through the rolling hills of Parma, Wilder, Greenleaf, and the surrounding areas in the summer, you’ll pass green fields of towering hop vines. Events throughout the year celebrate this growing community of brewers, including Alefort (part of the Treefort Music Fest), Boise Brewing’s Hoptober Freshtival, Old Boise’s Oktoberfest and many others.
With the rich local hop production culture, it’s no wonder the list of Boise breweries is continuing to grow every year. Some of the very best have set up shop downtown with tasting rooms, tap rooms, and pubs for locals and visitors to enjoy. Add these stops to your Boise bucket list and get in on the delicious fun.
Boise Brewing Tap Room
521 W Broad St, Boise, ID 83702
In the words of this brewery, “The path from farm to pint glass has never been shorter.” Boise Brewing uses a model of Community Supported Brewing that encourages locals to join as members and receive craft beer every month while forging a connection between the brewer and the consumer. Their downtown tap room is a popular choice for beer lovers with its constantly rotating menu on tap and its vibrant atmosphere.
Payette Brewing Company Tap Room
733 S Pioneer St, Boise, ID 83702
This Boise-grown company has been making waves with delicious beer and a new downtown tap room. Drop in to sample 20 rotating beers, wine, and cider and get an up close and personal view of the brewing process. Although Payette Brewing's tap room doesn’t serve food, they’ve partnered with local food trucks so you can enjoy lawn games, fresh air, and delicious eats and beer all at the same time.
Woodland Empire
1114 W Front St, Boise, ID 83702
We love how this local brewery played on Boise’s nickname, “City of Trees,” to develop their own catchy moniker. The owners of Woodland Empire, husband-and-wife duo Rob and Kelly Landerman, say they fell in love with beer together and wanted to bring that love to Boise. Their tasting room on Front Street downtown offers a delicious rotating menu of popular beers with great names like “Hall and Oatsmeal Stout” and “Old Boise Lager.”
Longdrop Cider House
603 S Capitol Blvd, Boise, ID 83702
Think beer is the only local brew you’ll find downtown? Think again. Longdrop Cider’s tasting room on Capitol Boulevard brings the cidery craft to town with a small lunch menu and a killer tap list. Founded in 2014, this cidery is dedicated to the craft of turning organic, Idaho-grown apples into something delicious.
Cloud 9 Brewery
1750 W State St, Boise, ID 83702
Boise’s first nanopub also boasts the label of the only certified organic brewer in the state of Idaho. On top of these claims to fame, Cloud Nine also serves up food that locals give five stars and a rotating menu of craft beers on tap. Their emphasis on small batch beer and sustainability allow them to include high-quality ingredients and seasonal brews. Located in the North End, this pub offers a unique experience.
Bittercreek Alehouse
246 N 8th St, Boise, ID 83702
Although not a brewery, this spot is a beer lover’s paradise and no downtown Boise list would be complete without it. Bittercreek Alehouse—and the connected Redfeather Lounge—are local staples of incredible food, great atmosphere, and craft brews. Their large and carefully-chosen selection of 40 beers pairs like a dream with food sourced from around the Treasure Valley. In their own words, they “curate food on the basis of flavor, distance traveled, and the relationships” between farmer and restaurant. That’s a concept we can get behind!
Boise’s burgeoning local brewing scene is a source of pride and enjoyment for residents and visitors, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. What are your go-to downtown spots for a cold one and a bite to eat?
Lisa Kohl
Lisa is an Idaho Realtor and creator of WeKnowBoise.com. She helps each client just as she would a member of her own family, and cherishes the friendships she’s created. From Southeast Boise to the North End, up to Eagle and west to Meridian, or right in the middle of the Boise Bench and downtown - We Know Boise. Whether buying or selling a home, we provide full-service real estate solutions dedicated to helping our clients achieve their goals.
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