Idaho is quickly making a name for itself on the craft beer scene. With more than 50 craft breweries currently cranking out mouth-watering concoctions and nearly a dozen more in development, Idaho can hold its own when it comes to making beer. So where do you start? What should you try? We asked brewers from around the state what Idaho craft beer they would recommend you try when you visit each brewery. Here’s a look at their must-sample list. Cheers to finding a new favorite!
Wallace Brewing, Wallace
1910 Black Lager
1910 is amazingly light and smooth, sporting hints of coffee and a touch of dark chocolate flavor. This is accomplished by cold steeping the dark malts for 24 hours prior to brewing and using Idaho grown pilsner malt as a base.
Laughing Dog Brewing, Ponderay
Huckleberry Cream Ale
Laughing Dog starts with its traditional Cream Ale recipe, adding Huckleberry during the last minute of the boil to lend subtle aroma and flavor.
Daft Badger Brewing, Coeur d’Alene
Summer’s Envy IPA
The Summer’s Envy IPA from Daft Badger Brewing is an American-style IPA crafted with a blend of pale and caramel malts, which provide a solid foundation of sweetness to balance out the beer’s hoppy bitterness. The selection of hops used in the brew give it a tropical fruit aroma and taste, with citrusy hints of grapefruit, pineapple and mango.
Rants and Raves Brewery, Moscow
Anonymous IIPA
Anonymous Imperial IPA has a very simple, clean body. Cascade, CTZ, and Centennial hops give big citrus and grapefruit notes that lead into a bitter finish.
Sockeye Brewing, Boise
Dagger Falls IPA
This award-winning flagship IPA boasts all of the big, bold flavors you would expect from a classic northwest IPA. Abundant citrus and pine hop aromas combined with a sturdy malt backbone make Dagger Falls a favorite among hop-loving craft brew enthusiasts.
Powderhaus Brewing, Garden City
Evans Gate Scotch Ale
Evans Gate Scotch Ale is complimented by the addition of brown sugar during the brewing process, adding a rich caramel backbone to this roast addition to the Powderhaus line-up. A recent addition to Powderhaus Brewing’s year-round lineup, the 22oz bottles are a perfect beer rain, shine or anything in between.
Mother Earth Brewing Co., Nampa
Boo Koo IPA
Bursting with flavor and aroma, finished dry, and most importantly hop-forward. Boo Koo IPA is teeming with fruit and pine notes, and its light gold to blonde color make it drink like a session beer.
Sawtooth Brewing, Hailey
Idahome IPA
Idahome is a west coast style IPA made in the heart of Idaho with fresh Idaho ingredients including Idaho Barley, Idaho hops, Idaho water, and finished with a huge dry hop using Idaho’s own Idaho 7 hops.
Portneuf Valley Brewing, Pocatello
Grog
Grog, is an English style IPA; less hoppy than the Pacific Northwest IPAs and more in line with the style’s origins. Grog is dry hopped for a complex and inviting hop aroma.
Grand Teton Brewing Company, Victor
Teton Range IPA
For Teton Range IPA, Idaho grown and malted barley makes up 90% of the grain bill. A variety of Idaho hops are used including a new favorite, Idaho 7. The combination of these unique hops makes Teton Range IPA an amazingly aromatic and flavorful beer. Pungent aromas of tropical fruits like mango and papaya, hints of pine, hard candy and citrus rind are prominent. The flavor is juicy, like fresh squeezed tropical fruit with some pine in the background. The beer has a deep gold color and strong head retention. The crisp, balanced flavors of Teton Range IPA create a delicious, drinkable beer.
Wildlife Brewing, Victor
Gem State Pale Ale
Brewed as a tribute to the great state of Idaho, this crisp & bright pale ale is perfectly balanced with Cascade, Falconer’s Flight, Northern Brewer, and German Hallertau hops along with barley locally grown and malted by Mountain Malt.
This is just a snapshot of the craft beer offerings available in Idaho. To create your own Idaho craft beer trip, check out the Idaho Brewers Trail Map.
Published on March 30, 2017
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