Greetings, Great Beer Now fans and followers! This is the sixth in a multi- part series of blog posts relating to the Great Beer Now Spuds and Suds Beer Tour, which took place in southwestern Idaho, from Boise northward to the mountain resort city of McCall. I got to experience the burgeoning Boise craft beer scene and several impressive breweries in the small but vibrant resort towns. Open a can or bottle of your favorite beer and follow along on my journey through the Gem state of Idaho and my discovery of the beers that make it famous. Cheers!
Resort cities offer a pleasant respite from the daily grind and when you live in a large metropolitan area like I do, you savor the quiet moments spent away from crowds and concrete. The American west is home to countless small resort towns and one of them happens to be the city of McCall, Idaho. The pleasantries of this city are many, and among them are its large number of craft breweries, especially for a city of its size. One that I visited and liked very much is Salmon River Brewery, located at 411 Railroad Ave., in McCall, Idaho
Small Town Charms
Salmon River Brewery is situated on one of the main streets in McCall, Idaho, a town with a permanent population of about 3,500 people. The brewery is a brewpub, with a full restaurant, and they even serve craft root beer and ginger ale on tap, if soft drinks are more to your liking. They serve wine, too.
This brewery features indoor and outdoor seating. There is a section on the rooftop that offers open views of nearby Payette Lake and the mountain wilderness. There are separate taps up on the deck, too, so beer is never very far from reach.
Outside of the main building, guests will discover a side building that houses another taproom. This is perfect for those who want a sip on beer but not be in the midst of the often large crowds in the main area. The taproom has an open space in the middle that looks down to the brewhouse below.
Mountain Beer
Salmon River Brewery had a large selection of beers on tap when I visited- somewhere between 20 and 25. Here is a list of the beers I sampled when I visited, listed alphabetically by name followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a 5- point scale:
- Buzz Buzz, Coffee Porter, 4.5
- Co- Chillin, American IPA, 4.25
- Comfortably Numb, Belgian Tripel, 4.25
- Dark Villain, Imperial Milk Stout, 4.25
- Fairy Dust, Belgian Quadrupel, 4.5
- Night Beaver Chocolate Stout, Milk Stout, 4.25
- P.F.D. Pale. American Pale Ale, 4
- Passionfruit Wheat, American Wheat, 4.25
- Shiver IPA, American IPA, 4.5
Overall Average Rating: 4.31
I sampled an excellent cross- section of beers when I visited Salmon River Brewery. I mostly stuck with small samples, but I ended up included larger servings as well. There was too much good brew to pass up and I loved having so many excellent choices. I’m grateful, too, that Salmon River Brewery was walking distance from my hotel!
Brewery with a View
Salmon River Brewery is one of those rare treats among craft breweries. It’s a place where you can not only find delicious hand- crafted suds, but also a place where you can enjoy a good meal and chat with good friends or make new ones, all while soaking up the scenic views of the nearby lake and mountains.
I visited this brewery as part of an organized tour and my interest and satisfaction seemed to grow with each passing minute. We started off with food and beer, then took a tour of the brewhouse and learned a little more about Salmon River Brewery and the local craft beer scene. I then roamed around the place, checking out the rooftop deck, side taproom, and other features.
Speaking of the side taproom, it was not something I expected at first and didn’t realize it was there until later. When we first approached Salmon River Brewery, we headed directly into the main entrance where we were seated promptly. I could recall seeing a building off to the side, but at first, I didn’t know it was part of this establishment. It seemed more like its own bar, owned by someone or someplace else. I was intrigued when I later discovered that this was part of Salmon River Brewery. I love the idea because it means there is more space to find a seat on busy days. It’s also nice because it offers a separate place to go when your focus is more on the beer than on the food.
Walking onto the upper deck of Salmon River Brewery presented several Instagram moments. There is a view of nearby Payette Lake and I couldn’t help but imagine what this view must be like on a clear day and/or on a winter day, when the lake is frozen and the mountains are covered with a fluffy blanket of freshly fallen snow. The view from the deck invokes your imagination, that is for certain. And coupled with so many fine craft beers, it truly presents the perfect excuse to relax and dream.
Living in a large city is good when you’re a working professional. But it sure does feel good to get away from the crowds, the traffic congestion, and the flat terrain and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Salmon River Brewery provides that much- needed escape that big city dwellers need from time to time and it’s a great place to savor the beer and the scenery while you feel the stress melt away. It’s a therapeutic experience you don’t want to miss, so be sure to visit Salmon River Brewery the next time you’re in Mccall, Idaho. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.
Special thanks to Visit McCall for sponsoring this visit!
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