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Beer Today, Definitely Not Gone Tomorrow

Ada County remains the hub of beer production in Idaho’s bubbling brewery scene

By Micah Drew

It’s hard to keep track of the brewing industry these days. There’s always a new list out of the “Best Beer Cities in America,” and all have different methodologies. Take a 2021 list by Move.org, which listed Boise 12th in the nation on its list of “Best Cities for Beer Lovers.” The list ranked municipalities by breweries per capita, pulling numbers from an opensource database of breweries worldwide.

This leaves some glaring omissions in the Treasure Valley’s brewing scene— Garden City, for one. In 2021, at least six breweries popped up in the local enclave. Adjusting for the increased population (~12,000), Boise’s per capita brewery number increases from 7.4 to 9.9—firmly planting the City of Trees fifth on one national list. That’s not accounting for further omissions on the open-source list: sorry Western Collective, Western Proper, and Twisted District.

All this is to say, depending on how you count it and how many beers you’ve had— Boise’s brewing scene is either top notch or truly upper echelon. Either way, it’s a great place to be if you enjoy a pint. Or two.

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The craft brewing renaissance has been going on for at least two decades and isn’t slowing down, especially in locations with rapidly growing populations. Statewide production has increased 43% since 2016. And while Idaho’s market share still pales on the national scale, and it’s hard to find your local favorites in a store outside the 208, plenty of Ada County’s taprooms are making brews to boast about.

According to the Brewers Association, in 2021 there were roughly 9,500 breweries in the United States, an all-time high. Across the industry, openings outpaced closings. This is clearly reflected in the Treasure Valley as 2022 saw the closure of three local brands—Crooked Fence, County Line and Craft Brewers of Boise—but County Line was replaced by a second Clairvoyant Brewing location, and Craft Brewers rebranded under new ownership and is now operating as New Colony Beer Company (with one of the best logos in the business).

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Today, expansion is the name of the game in beer, as more and more mainstays are operating multiple locations. Idaho’s largest brewery, Mother Earth Brew Co., finally opened a Boise taproom in the final weeks of 2021. Western Collective opened their downtown location, the upscale Western Proper, in 2021, and recently debuted the High Peak Hangout, a new gathering space at Bogus Basin. Sockeye Brewing opened off Hill Road, Mad Swede Brewing Company has two locations and experimental expert, Barbarian Brewing, has recently upgraded its production facility.

Boise’s craft beer scene is relatively young compared to other established beer cities, so the room for growth and improvement continues to exist.

Barbarian co-owner Bre Hovley attributes the state of Boise’s beer scene to its relatively belated kickoff. “Boise’s craft beer scene is relatively young compared to other established beer cities, so the room for growth and improvement continues to exist,” Hovley said. “When you add in the local population boom, this recent growth has allowed Barbarian to expand to a new brewery location with a bigger taproom and beer garden by the Garden City Greenbelt, in addition to maintaining our Downtown Boise Beer Bar.”

In addition to straight population numbers, each of Boise’s breweries and taprooms has crafted a unique disposition over the years, honing vibes that cater to specific subsects of beer drinkers, allowing them to coexist, and thrive, together.

For that reason, it’s only fitting to raise a glass to Boise’s beer culture. Then, ask for a refill.