Take a Tourism Break at McCall Brewing

Greetings, Great Beer Now fans and followers! This is the seventh 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!

When you visit a resort town, you come to expect several things. You expect more places of entertainment. You expect a disproportionate number of eateries. And in this day and age of craft beer dominance, you expect a significant choice of craft beer and at least one brewery, even if the city is small. McCall, Idaho is a small town and it does, indeed, have breweries- a few to be exact. One of them is the city’s namesake, McCall Brewing, located at 807 N. 3^rd Street in McCall, Idaho

What’s in a Name

McCall Brewing is a brewpub with an emphasis on both beer and food. The interior features a good deal of wood with t-shirts, banners, oars, and other objects on the walls. The inside tends toward the dark side, due the wood and color scheme.

This establishment is a brewpub and it serves a limited menu of sandwiches, burgers, a few entrees, etc and a kid’s menu. The inside isn’t very large and there is limited space for the brewhouse, which is right there, in open view of the customers, providing a comfortable feeling for those who like to be close to the beer.

If the weather is right, McCall Brewing has an rooftop patio, nice for its fresh air and views of the surrounding mountains and lake. They have shirts, accessories, and bottled beer available for purchase to go.

Beer to Serve

McCall Brewing has about 10 to 14 beers on tap at any given time. Here is a list of the beers I tried when I was there, sorted alphabetically by name followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a 5- point scale:

• Coconut Porter, American Porter, 3.75
• Hippie Hopped Pale Ale, American Pale Ale, 3.75
• Lemon Ginger Hefe, Hefeweizen, 3.5
• Mackinaw Red, Amber Ale, 4
• Overhung IPA, American IPA, 3

Overall Average Rating: 3.6

I sampled set of beers in a flight. I loved the flight paddle- it’s in the shape of the state of Idaho. I found the beers good and agreeable overall, with Mackinaw Red as my favorite in the group.

Mountain Hospitality

McCall Brewing is a cool place to make a pit stop during the day or evening for a bite to eat, a beer to drink, or both. It’s one of a few breweries that call McCall home and a pleasant way take a break for food or brew.

I visited McCall Brewing for lunch and when I was here, there were only a few others present. We got seated quickly and waited to get served, which didn’t take long at all. It also didn’t take long to discover the beer selection- it is on display right there, on the wall, complete with a few quick facts about each beer.

I ordered food and beer during my visit and I found everything pretty good overall. With the beer, I was pleasantly surprised that the Mackinaw Red ended up being my favorite. It’s not every day that you find amber ales in the beer lineups of most breweries because the style isn’t that popular. For it to rank as my favorite, then, really says something for this brew. I only wish I would have had time to sample more of the beers, as several sounded tempting.

I like any brewery that has a rooftop patio and McCall Brewing has exactly that. It was a little chilly for outdoor dining and drinking when I visited, but this is likely where I would gravitate toward if I frequented here during the warmer times of the year.

The interior of McCall Brewing is warm and friendly in appearance, thanks in large part to the preponderance of wood. I found it pleasant and quiet when I visited, but I would imagine that it does get busy during the evening hours and during the peak tourist season. It’s a pleasant enough stopover for food and drink between entertainment, skiing, and other activities, so be sure to take the time to visit McCall Brewing 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!