Idaho

Alefort is long over… but it was a hell of a good time

April 15, 2016 by Ben Leave a Comment

As the greater Boise area continues to develop as a source for local craft beer, we’re seeing our beer festival’s grow and mature. Case in point, if you didn’t make it down at some point to Alefort, part of the Treefort Music Festival, you definitely missed out and your tastebuds may never forgive you.

All of the local players that you would expect to find (Meriwether, Cloud9, Sockeye, Slanted Rock, The Ram, Payette, Woodland Empire, EDGE, Bear Island, Crooked Fence, Powderhaus, Barbarian, Longdrop, Highlands Hollow, County Line and Boise Brewing) were on hand along with regional, representation from New Belgium and some outside sources (national and international) courtesy of Bittercreek, Bier:Thirty, The Front Door, and Prost. To say that this was an expanded event over #Alefort2015 is an understatement and then some. The brewery tent was easily 3 or 4 times larger than the year before and included secondary tent for some beer panels and belly dancing. I was more focused on drinking the beer personally, but when I stuck my head in the second tent there was a belly dancer on stage doing her thing. Bottom line, there was thankfully a lot more space to hang out, drink beer, and meet up with fellow beer lovers….

Payette Brewing Black Friday 2015

December 21, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

The Friday following the Thanksgiving holiday, for many it’s a day filled with standing in line, braving the cold, and fighting the crowds to save a few bucks on electronics. What if I told you that there was a much better way to spend your day? Payette Brewing’s “Black Friday” is day filled with a possibilities and incredible beers from around the region! You can sate your need for deals with a few minutes online in the morning before you head out to enjoy the a breathtaking selection of Stouts and Porters that will delight your palate and ensnare the spirit. Ok, ok, that may be a little deep, but seriously… this event and theses beers are worth blocking out the day on your calendar and shipping the kids off to the grandparents so you can maximize your experience.

This year, Payette Brewing hosted the event at their new facility in downtown Boise off River Street. Since the building is still being renovated, a large tent was erected in the parking lot filled with tables, music, lights, and thankfully a generator nearby to provide power and some heat! To say that it was cold out is an understatement. To say that the generator was unruly is too kind, especially for those employees & volunteers who were on-site getting everything ready hours before the event started. I arrived at 10, an hour before the “League of Outlaws” members early access and you couldn’t miss the frost that was forming on the inside of the tent walls. Once things really got hopping around 1:00 there was enough heat inside from the heaters and warm bodies that the ambient temps were getting bearable although we had some intermittent rain from all that melting frost. By that time however, I don’t think anyone noticed… or cared. There were simply to many people to talk to and way too many beers to dive into….

Boise Brewing Hoptober Freshtival 2015

November 5, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

Beer festivals! These two magic words can make a beer lovers knees quiver. Sadly, in Boise, we’ve been without a honest to goodness beer festival for the past few years as costs, permitting and other issues with the city brought about their untimely demise. Last year, I was fortunate enough to attend (and volunteer) at the inaugural Boise Brewing Hoptober Freshtival (read about it here). The initial event in 2014 brought out mostly local brewers to a central location (5th & Broad St) in front of the Boise Brewing brewery. Beer lovers heard the call and purchased their $25 tickets and received a taster mug (roughly 5oz) and were treated to unlimited tasters until the beer was gone or until 8pm.

This year, the Hoptober Freshtival was bigger and better in all the ways that count. Instead of 13 breweries we had 25+ for a total of more than 50 tap handles to choose from. All the local players were on hand and some regional breweries made the trip up as well, including Fort George, Deschutes, & Mazama Brewing. Sadly, we did loose the “all you can drink” component due to permitting changes with the city, but that may have been for the best. Who wouldn’t get into trouble at an All You Can Drink craft beer event? The new system offered attendees their taster mug and 20 tickets which, if fully redeemed, would equate to 80+ oz of beer. Still, a pretty damn good deal for a $25 ticket ($30 at the door). Once again, Broad Street between 4th & 5th was blocked off in front of Boise Brewing. At noon, with people lined up along the fence, the gates opened and people started filing inside….

10 Barrel Beer Wars Boise 2015

October 1, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

On a surprisingly hot day in late September 2015 10 Barrel Brewing put together a blind IPA tasting event dubbed “Beer Wars” in the parking lot behind the brewery in downtown Boise. While you may not be expecting to melt into the asphalt under a blistering afternoon so close to October; those in attendance were rewarded for their stamina and perseverance with a wealth of IPA goodness from around the West.

Now, I was expecting that the beers would be hidden, but I didn’t expect to be in the dark on which states the taps were from. The scenario that we found upon entering after purchasing our tulip and tokens were five stations, each with six tap handles with absolutely no identifying marks. The only information given to us was that each station represented a state. The states on hand were Washington, Oregon, California, Boise and last (but not least) the rest of Idaho. As a lover of beer this would have been a wonderful adventure to try to discern the various states and narrow down the respective beers from each had I been free to stay for the entire event. Having only an hour or so to spend at Beer Wars due to other commitments, this completely blind scenario was disheartening. I love our Boise & Idaho breweries with a passion, but it’s not every day that you can stroll up and grab Barley Browns, pFriem Family Brewers, Breakside Brewing, Backwoods Brewing, Silver City, Naked City, Green Flash, Ballast Point, 21st Amendment (just to name a few) on tap and at such a reasonable cost. I wanted to devote my time to exploring those beers that are harder to come by on tap here in Boise. But, what are you going to do.

The first order of business was to do a slow pass to see if there was any visible clue that could help my case. On this walk about, I caught sight of part of an uncovered keg which was plastered with a large Barley Browns sticker. Win! With no other visual clues I decided to pony up to what I was now sure was the Oregon tent and order my first beer. Beer in hand I retreat to a table and strike up a conversation with a few other beer lovers to compare notes and sip my beer. During my brief stint at beer wars I must say I met some great people, drank outstanding beer, and had a hell of a good (although far too short) a time. To my, and my tables credit, we were able to identify the California, Washington & Oregon tents… unfortunately, I was totally off on all my tap handle predictions. When you’re playing for these stakes though, even when you loose you win. 🙂 Beers that I ended up putting my hands on were Firestone Walker Double Jack, 21st Amendment Brew Free or Die, 10 Barrel Pearl IPA (From Portland), Breakside Wanderlust IPA, Boneyard Notorious IPA.

As the evening progressed the crowd increased substantially, at 7pm, all taps were revealed and the thirsty group gathered was able to drink to their hearts content, now knowing exactly which beers they’re drinking. I also heard that there were protesters, why I can’t imagine, across the street. Not that I need an excuse to drink good beer, but events like these seem to have a strong draw and give craft beer lovers around the valley the chance to get together, explore beers both local and regional while comparing notes and sharing beerventure tales.

Radio Boise Pre-Fat Event (New Belgium Shout Out)

August 24, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

New Belgium Brewing, not a name that requires much introduction for their wide variety of beer and of course the traveling Tour de Fat festival. This summer, on the evening before the bicycle parade and TdF festival, Radio Boise (our non-profit; community radio) hosted their annual Pre-Fat street party to raise money to support the station. This block party on 8th street between Idaho & Bannock from 4pm-11pm featured a variety of live music and Radio Boise DJ’s, street vendors, food, and of course beer.

I wanted to send a shout out New Belgium for donating all the beer, which was sold throughout the evening to raise funds for KRBX. As a volunteer, selling beer for four hours or so, I have to think that we must have sold (at least) a few thousand cans. At $5/each that adds up to a nice contribution to a local non-profit.

The evening went off without a hitch, as far as I could tell. The crowd was in good spirits, thirsty and the music was varied enough to keep the groove going. It’s always nice to see craft beer giving back and I see it it regularly on the local level, but to see large regional brewers step up to the plate as well is refreshing. Craft beer, from brewer to consumer continues to have a healthy sense of community that macro brew will never have; not to mention flavor and good beer.

Here is to the continuation of great beer, good people and incredible events.

Moscow Brewfest 2015

May 22, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

Take a moment and ponder your perfect day. Are you’re thinking about a sunny summer afternoon, 40+ regional brews on tap, live music and a bunch of beer lovers on hand? I know I am. If you’re up for a drive up North you should consider checking out the Moscow Alehouse Brewfest. If you’re not already familiar with Moscow (home of the University of Idaho), it’s a quaint college town about 5 hours North of Boise (just a few miles East of the Washington border & Washington State University) nestled in the rolling hills of the Palouse. Now, when I first rolled into town a few days before, my first stop was of course, Moscow Brewing. When you’re in the area I can’t recommend highly enough that you stop by, have a few pints and say hello. This nano brewery is a hotspot for beer drinkers to congregate, drink and talk beer. They start trickling in right at open (4pm) and by 5:00 or 5:30 you may find it hard to score a seat.

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HAFF Brewing Grand Opening

February 28, 2015 by Ben Leave a Comment

Adding to the growing list of local micro breweries in the Treasure Valley, HAFF Brewing opened their doors officially with a Chamber Ribbon cutting on February 11th 2015. If you find yourself in town looking to check them out, they are on Chinden, West of Veterans Parkway on the North side of the street. It can be a little hairy to find them with an absence of street signage as you shoot down the road, but to make it easy just turn into the COBBYS parking lot and you're there. 🙂

The ribbon cutting event was a blast and the turn out, while I was there anyway, was promising. The beer was very good. I grabbed a McCallywood Porter which left me with absolutely no regrets. In chatting with the bartender I was tempted to try the White Chocolate (Raspberry) stout? I think it was Raspberry anyway and while the three other patrons near the bar that had already tried it were singing its praises and assuring me that it didn't really taste of white chocolate… my adamant distaste for anything “white chocolate” forced me to stay away. Maybe on a return trip when things aren't quite so chaotic, I'll break my cardinal rule and give it a go.

One thing that is clear though is that Boise seems to continue to open new breweries with open arms. While I can appreciate the business sense and likely lower operating costs associated with having a brewery/tasting room on Chinden it's a pretty dreadful location to try to get in or out of during peak traffic times. Hopefully this will prove to just be a temporary issue and perhaps success will lead to expansion into the downtown corridor.

The Science of Brewing: DCI Adult Night

September 19, 2014 by Ben Leave a Comment

DCI Science of Brewing Adult Night September 2014

Science of Brewing Schedule

The Discovery Center of Idaho is a hands on science museum located in Boise, Idaho and tonight they had an “Adult Night” focusing on the science of brewing. What better way to learn about beer and brewing than with 4 local breweries serving a few of their popular bews, a few food trucks to keep everyone fed, and brewmasters with exhibits and small batch examples of some of the crazy things you can do with beer. I can safely say that I never imagined that I would have a peanut butter and jelly porter, but I did, and it was a remarkable experience. Not that I would set out to buy a peanut butter and jelly stout mind you, but that one could capture a peanut butter and jelly sandwich flavor in a beer was impressive.

Joining the regular exhibits, and the currently on display Leonardo DiVinci models were brewing exhibits from the public library which featured an impressive selection of beer/brewing books focusing on the North West (which were available for check out which I thought was even more impressive… I walked out with 2). There was also a hops tea station where not only could you gather to learn about how different kinds of hops can influence beer making, but you were able to sample a hops tea (think boiling water poured over ground up hops and steeped like a green tea). While meandering from one presentation to another you couldn’t help but strike up conversations with other beer lovers about everything from beer culture, brewing, and the wonderful growth that we’ve been seeing in the Micro Brewing scene here in the Treasure Valley with beer lovers and those doing the brewing themselves. The crowd was friendly and engaged, which always makes for a pleasant evening with strangers bound by common interests.

Aside from great beer (Boise Brewing, Payette Brewing, EDGE Brewing, & Woodland Empire) and a variety of amazing food (Riceworks, Archies Place, B Town Bistro) (if you happen to be in Boise you should hunt town Archie’s Place food truck and get your grub on) there were also presentations facilitated by local brewers about the Microbiology of Brewing, Science & Aging of Beer, and Mash. Honestly, what could be better than an evening in a hands on science museum where you can play with everything while eating good food, drinking great beer, and learning some fascinating info about the creation of the magical life sustaining elixir common people refer to as “beer”.

: The Science of Brewing

: Yummm Archies!

: BitterCreek & Crooked Fence

: EDGE & Boise Brewing

: Crowd Enjoying good beer

: Deviant Kin