Cheers to Idaho Craft Beer!
Photo by CHANSE WATSON One of the commemorative Idaho Craft Beer Month glasses that Wallace Brewing gave to residents for “Pints Up Idaho” day on Thursday.
Photo courtesy of SHEILA FRANCIS/ It appears that the Center of the Universe is ready to celebrate Idaho Craft Beer Month as well!
April is certainly the time to celebrate one’s love of beer. Across the country, April 7 is known as National Beer Day.
This day commemorates the partial rollback of prohibition in 1933 when the Cullen-Harrison act was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which allowed legal consumption of beer containing up to 3.2 percent alcohol. FDR famously stated after the act’s passage that, “I think this would be a good time for a beer.”
On a more local scale, April has been named Idaho Craft Beer Month by the Idaho Department of Commerce and Tourism Development. Launched in conjunction with Idaho Brewers United, the month-long event is meant to promote the more than 60 craft breweries throughout the state and generate tourism revenue.
Tap rooms from Boise to Sandpoint will hold special events and sales all month to bring in the thirsty beer lovers from all around.
Here in the Silver Valley, arguably already known as a craft beer destination by many, the three local breweries between Wallace and Kellogg will be participating in the statewide festivities as well in there own ways.
Wallace Brewing Company took part in Thursday’s “Pints Up Idaho” day by providing patrons a commemorative Idaho Craft Beer Month glass after they purchased a pint. Chase Sanborn, Wallace Brewing’s owner and board member for Idaho Brewers United, says the craft beer month is great event that helps both Idaho and the brewers. This makes sense since the industry is expanding more and more in the state.
“It’s not huge compared to a lot of states, but it’s getting bigger,” Sanborn said. “We’re still the No. 1 producer of malt barley and we’re the No. 3 producer of hops, so as far as the craft beer scene, Idaho is pretty important.”
With roughly $50,000 spent on promoting the craft beer month by the Department of Commerce, it is apparent the state is invested in the success of local beer.
“We’re catching on that we make the ingredients for craft beer, so we should be making good craft beer,” Sanborn added. “More and more (Idaho) craft breweries are making some really great beer.”
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Sticking with the theme of state grown ingredients, North Idaho Mountain Brewing (NIMB) in Wallace and Radio Brewing in Kellogg are teaming up to create a new Session style India Pale Ale (IPA) using mostly Idaho malts and hops in honor of the month.
Radio Brewing co-owner Ashley Holden expressed her excitement for the collaboration and to have it on tap at both locations.
“Its super cool to use the ingredients from Idaho to brew this beer.”
NIMB will also have an earlier than normal happy hour from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on National Beer Day — where there beer and spirits will sold at a discount.
With these three breweries so close together, the allure of making a jaunt to the Silver Valley for some craft beer sampling is a tempting idea for any craft beer lover.
Sanborn firmly believes that the Silver Valley is a craft beer destination and backs it up by looking at where his tap room patrons are coming from.
“We get folks coming over from Missoula, Spokane, and just the regional area. And they’re making day trips out of it.”
Holden has seen similar turnouts in Kellogg as well.
“We’re getting a lot of customers from Spokane and Coeur d’Alene,” she said. “They’re making the drive over just to see us and get out.”
All this craft beer buzz even has the City of Wallace itself wanting to join in on the fun.
On April 21, businesses throughout town will host over 13 different breweries from all over the state during the Wallace Craft Beer Pub Crawl. In a city where drinking on the street is legal, this event is set to be incredibly unique compared to other brew fest type functions.
The Wallace Chamber of Commerce explains that attendees will start their craft brew journey at the Jameson Inn & Saloon to register. There they will get a souvenir Idaho Craft Beer Month glass, three 4 ounce beer fills, a wrist band and a venues & menus map.
Free Trolley Rides will also be offered through town and back and forth to Kellogg. Designated drivers will also be provided by the Metals Bar and Shoshone County Search and Rescue.
Participating breweries (so far) include:
Broken Horn- McCall
Hunga Dunga- Moscow
10 Barrel Bend- Boise
Radio- Kellog
North Idaho Mountain Brewing- Wallace
Paradise Creek- Pullman
Lewis & Clark’s- Helena
Iron Horse- Ellensburg
Selkirk Abbey- Post Falls
Boise Brewing- Boise
Wallace Brewing (on tap everywhere)- Wallace
Centennial & Hayden Beverage Distributing will be providing the beer.
Participating Wallace businesses (so far) include:
Jameson Inn & Saloon
Red Light Garage
Elks Lodge
Fainting Goat
Blackboard Cafe
Smokehouse
1313 Club
Wallace Coffee House
Metals
DayRock
City Limits/ North Idaho Mountain Brew
This list is subject to change. For more information on the event, contact the Wallace Idaho Chamber of Commerce office at 208-753-7151 or visit the Wallace Craft Beer Pub Crawl event page on Facebook.