WARFIELD DISTILLERY AND BREWERY OPENS IN KETCHUM

My wife was in Sun Valley for a Conference last week and brought me a Growler of IPA from The Sawtooth Brewery.  She mentioned that there was a new brewery in downtown Ketchum.  This one was not on my radar.  So after some on-line research, I discovered the Warfield Distillery and Brewery.  So I added to my Idaho List of Breweries at #47.

The Warfield Distillery and Brewery opened July 15th at 280 N. Main St. Ketchum, Idaho.
Alex Buck, Heidi Giordano and Jo and Ben Bradley are the owners of this new brewery plus distillery plus restaurant.   Bradley and Buck will be the brewers at Warfield.  Their “beer garden" will be on the roof of he older downtown building.

 According to an article in The Idaho Mountain Express: “The rooftop features some of the best Baldy views in town. It’ll have an enclosed bar and three fire pits, as well as a canvas awning. The owners plan to keep it—and the whole restaurant—open year round.”

I believe that this will be the first distillery/brewery in the state of Idaho.  The distillery part will lag behind the brewery opening due to additional red tape issues.  They plan to have a very limited selection of their own beer starting with Toothy Grin British Bitter and Short Pants Hefeweizen. It looks like they will brew the European beer styles in contrast to most Idaho Breweries.

Visit their webpage and Facebook page for more information about Idaho's newest brewery.

CHURCHKEY BEER COMING TO BOISE

Boise is fast becoming a Craft Beer Mecca in the mold of Bend, Oregon.  Unlike the rest of the country where Craft Beer Sales hover around 14% of the market, it is double that here in Southwest Idaho.  One of the big advantages of being a Craft Beer Mecca is that we attract great beer from around the country.  Breweries are taking notice and they are distributing their beer in Boise.

One of the most unusual of the new craft breweries that will be adding Boise to their market is Churchkey Beer Co.  Maybe you have heard of them, they are the guys the do not have a pull tab on their beer can.  Indeed, you have to use an old fashioned "churchkey".  For the younger generation, do a google search on churchkey to understand what I am talking about.  There is also one in the photo above.  In my younger days, all the guys carried a churchkey in the front pocket.  You used them to open cans And bottles.  I carried different device these days.....but it only opens bottles.

Anyway, but the subject at hand, here is a copy of the Churchkey Beer Co. press release:

THE STORY BEHIND CHURCHKEY BEER CO.

THE DREAM: A FLAT TOP BEER CAN

Why the flat top beer can? Why the hell not? We’re just a couple of guys who wanted to experience drinking beer straight from the original beer can. 

Over dinner in the summer of 2010, Adrian Grenier and Justin Hawkins both shared an interest in someday drinking a beer from an old flat top style beer can – to experience a great beer in a simple can as the generations before them had enjoyed. Wondering what it was really like, this conversation quickly lead to the realization that this type of can no longer existed. So the seed for Churchkey Beer Co. was planted. Through many meetings, beers and meetings with beers, the two founders brought in industry veterans to join the cause and get the flat top can just right.

Now, for the first time in nearly 50 years, we are able to introduce a great beer enjoyed straight from an original flat top can. Much like in the past, thoughtfulness and integrity mean 

something and should have a place. It’s why we find ourselves attracted to the artisans and craftsmen in our world. To us, it’s worth to putting a little extra effort back into our modern-day lifestyle. 

THE HOMEBREWERS: LUCAS & SEAN 

After perfecting the flat top can, our next step was to find the perfect recipe. Our Portland-based home brewers Lucas Jones and Sean Burke have been home brewing beer together in their garages for many years. They share these homemade brews with their friends at backyard BBQs and give them as gifts during the holidays. Lucas and Sean love this hobby, and are passionate about their beer and the community they cultivate with it. We are very excited to have these two all-American guys create the recipe for the Churchkey Pilsner. 

THE LIFESTYLE:  IT’S WORTH THE EFFORT

Resurrecting the flat top can may not make sense to some.  Why make it harder to get to your beer? Well, because to us anything great is worth the effort.  It’s why Churchkey Beer Co. celebrates the skill of craft brewers, artisans, makers and doers of every ilk.  

Whether it’s turning the wrench on your bike, building your own backyard smoker, growing your own garden or any other pursuit that requires a bit more effort, Churchkey is there to reward a job well done.  

Cheers!

ABOUT CHURCHKEY BEER CO. PILSNER

FLAT TOP CAN 

Back to simple times with simple tools that transform an interaction into an experience. For the first time in nearly 50 years, an often forgotten beer experience is available once again in the form of the original flat top beer can. Protected from both light and oxygen by highly recyclable aluminum, we make great beer in the most classic can because it’s worth the effort!

WHAT IS A CHURCHKEY?

The opener used to open a flat top beer can is called a churchkey for several reasons. The original openers used on bottles (before beer cans existed) looked similar to a large old fashion keys used by monks to not only open the church, but keep the precious beer they brewed safe. The name was then adopted to all tools used to open beer–with an ironic twist–for it is said if you used a churchkey opener (i.e. if you drank beer) you would be less likely to open the door of a church to attend service.

TASTE & INGREDIENTS

Churchkey Pilsner is a refreshing, crisp, Czech-style pilsner delivered in a flat top can using only high quality traditional pilsner malts grown in North America. Hopped with Nugget and Saaz hops to provide the classic pilsner finish that delivers thirst quenching satisfaction and a want for more. 

SPECIFICS

• Size: 12 oz cans & six-packs
• Packaging: Flat top can
• Flavor: Subtly hoppy
• Hops: Saaz and Nuggets
• Malts: Pilsner
• Yeast: Czech Pils
• Color: Golden
• ABV: 5.5%
• IBU: 29

Boise Brewery Boom Over!!!

BOISE BREWING BOOM OVER?

In the next few months, Powderhaus Brewing  and Barbarian Brewing will open to become the 16th and 17th Boise Area Breweries.  Both will join Payette Brewing, Haff Brewing, Crooked Fence Barrel House and the recently opened County Line Brewery in Garden City.  Also opening in Boise will be the 18th Boise Area Brewery: Clairvoyant Brewing .

On the Horizon:
1 - Black Bird Brewing
2 - Charters House Brewing,
3 - Summit Ridge Brewery
4 - Accomplice Brewing

The 4 Breweries listed above are still in the early planning stages and are probably one to two years away from opening.  I am not sure any of these will ever open. Over the last few years since the opening of Payette Brewing, Two or Three Breweries have opened every year.  Looks like the trend will end in 2016 unless the rumored secret Brewery from a prominate local craft beer icon opens in 2016.

The list did have 5 breweries, but Amagi Brewery dropped out.  Josh Paulson decided to go a different direction and start Amagi Mushrooms.  Good luck to Josh.

Back to the Breweries that ARE slated to open in the new few months:

Powderhaus Brewing :will  be Opening in 2015 at 9716 Chinden Blvd. Garden City. I have been watching the building progress with each trip to Boise.  Looks like a great floor plan and the only brewery in Boise to build from ground level.  The combination of Tyler, Tyson, and Tyler look to have a great chance of success.  I have been drinking Tyler Evens Beer for awhile now and he is a veteran brewer with a talent for brewing.  Tyler comes from Edge Brewing where he did many collaboration beers with Kerry Thomas.  

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their building progress.

Barbarian Brewing will  be Opening in 2015 at 5270 Chinden Blvd. Garden City.  Barbarian is founded and operated by husband and wife duo, James Long and Bre Hovley.  Head Brewer, James will create Belgian and European style Sour Ales, Imperial Ales, and a variety of other beers that will require two to eighteen months of aging time in oak barrels or stainless steel vessels.
I really like this concept.  They will be the only brewery in Boise that will barrel age a lot of the beer.

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their building progress.

Clairvoyant Brewing plan to open in 2015 at 2800 W. Idaho Street, Boise Idaho.  From their webpage: "There are three passionate brewers involved in the creation of Clairvoyant Brewing Company.  We are Ryan Kowalczyk, Mike Edmondson and Tim Carter.  We are creative brewers each with a different style of brewing. This unique amalgam of brewing will make for a fun, enjoyable, flavorful kaleidoscope of beers."

I should also mention County Line Brewery which open several months ago. They are located in the old Kilted Dragon location next the HomebrewStuff.  County Line is owned and operated by husband and wife Zack and Laura Kiehl. They have a very nice selection of beer including my favorite, Shade Tree IPA.

Keep checking their Facebook page to see their latest news.

THE ORIGINAL GROWLER GUYS COMING TO IDAHO

A couple of years ago I wrote a story about my first experience at a Growler Fill Station.  It was The Growler Guys East Side Bend Oregon Growler Station where I filled 2 growlers with Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA for $9.99 per growler before heading back to Boise with my Bend Ale Trail Silipints in hand.

Upon my return to the Boise Area, I told everyone about my experience at the Growler Fill Station and how I wish we had Growler Fill Stations in the Treasure Valley.   One of my friends in the Snake River Brewers Club told that a Growler Station would be opening in Boise and it would be called the PreFunk Grower Fill Station.  Well since then, it seems like everyone has a Growler Station.

But now the guys that started it all are actually coming to Idaho.  And they are looking for Staff Members to work at their Meridian Location: Craigs List.

Here are some details provided by Boise Beer Buddies:

*** THE GROWLER GUYS *** 

Grand Opening! April 10th & April 11th @ 2020 E Overland, Ste 100, Meridian (next to Harry's Meridian Grill);

Show your BUDDIES card opening weekend and receive a FREE Glass Growler w/purchase of a fill! Now the newest BUDDY HUB: Receive $2 Off Growler Fills all the time with your BUDDIES card! (Cannot be combined with any other offer);

Grand Opening Events:

Friday April 10th 4-6 pm Sockeye - Todd Marshall - Dagger Falls, Sockeye Maibock

Friday April 10th 6-8 pm - Payette - Nick Harvey - TBD
Saturday April 11th 2-4 - Sierra Nevada - Michael Morehouse - Hoppy Lager, Hop Hunter
Saturday April 11th 4-6 - Woodland Empire Ale Craft - Keely Chanteloup - City Of Trees
Saturday April 11th 6-8 - Lagunitas - David Hatteberg - Capp Stout, Undercover Investigation Shut Down Ale
AND Laughing Dog -  Greg Barnes - 219 Pils, Laughing Dog IPA
Saturday April 11th 8-10 - (Other events TBD with more local brewers incl. Crooked Fence, Grand Teton, and others)

I assume that their staffing for their Meridian Station is complete, but the good news is that they are also opening a Boise Location..

I would like to Welcome The One, The Only, Original Growler Guys to Idaho!!!

GROWLER FILL STATIONS.....Everyone's Got One!!!

My first experience with a Growler Fill Station was in Bend, Oregon last Summer.  We were headed back to Idaho after spending two days visiting every Brew Pub and Brewery in Bend.  We did the Bend Ale Trail and were awarded Silipints at the end. We had a trunk full of craft beer not available in Idaho.  After visiting every bottle shop in Bend and not finding any Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA, we stopped to fill up with fuel for the trip back to Idaho at the Shell Gas and Growler Guys Fill Station.  I was blown away buy the selection and low and behold, they were pouring Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA for $9.99 for a Growler fill.  I got two.

Upon our return to Boise, we raved about Bend, their breweries, bottle shops and Growler Fill Up Station.
We heard the rumour that Boise would have a Growler Fill Station in the near future.  Then a few weeks later the PreFunk Grower Fill Station opened on Front Street in Boise. It was only the beginning.

Fast Eddys Growler Fill Station opened a few months later in three Boise Area Locations and PreFunk recently announced that they would open a Nampa location in the Summer of 2014.  The Gem Stop on Middleton Road in Nampa Idaho added a Growler Fill Station.

Now the Idaho based Albertson's Grocery Chain has announced their first Growler Fill Station inside their store on 36th and State.  It will be the first of many Growler Fill Stations in their stores.   Rumor is that the Boise Area Fred Meyer Stores will also add Growler Fill Stations.  M&W Markets, Chevron Gas Stations, Jackson and Stinker Station Convenience Stores are all adding Growler Stations.

Soon, most of us will live within a few miles of our nearest Growler Fill Station.

A Partial List of  Current Treasure Valley Growler Stations:

  The Growler Stations listed here are all part of The Growler Station Franchise

Gem Stop - Nampa 1520 S. Middleton Road , Nampa, Idaho 83687 P: (208) 467-9908	Fast Eddys - Ustick 770 West Ustick, Meridian, Idaho 86346 P: (208) 898-0034	Fast Eddys - Ten Mile 750 North Ten Mile, Meridian, Idaho 83642 P: (208) 884-8822
Fast Eddys - Locust Grove 770 West Ustick, Meridian, Idaho 86346 P: (208) 898-0034	Jacksons Food Store - #7 Boise, ID 3110 W State St, Boise, Idaho 83703 P: (208) 343-6926	M&W Market 1835 Warm Springs Ave., Boise, Idaho 83712 P: (208) 342-1744
Beacon Light Chevron 12795 Highway 55, Garden City, Idaho 83714 P: 208-939-2340	Stinker Store 32 1620 N. 13th Street, Boise, Idaho 83702 P: 208-387-0430	Albertsons, Boise - 36th & State 3614 West State Street, Boise, Idaho 83703 P: (208) 426-9614
Gowen Chevron 6450 S. Eisenman Road, Boise, Idaho 83716 P: (208) 342-1006

WELCOME BOISE BREWING (IDAHO BREWERY #41) TO DOWNTOWN BOISE

It has been a whirlwind ride for Collin Rudeen over the last two years since he started a kickstarter project to build Bogus Brewing somewhere in Boise.  The official opening of the BOISE Brewing Brewery will be next Friday, June 13th, with their Grand Opening on June 21st.  Boise Brewing will become the 41st Idaho Brewery and the 14th Boise Area Brewery.   Read the Michael Deed's story to see the story about how Bogus Brewing became Boise Brewing here.

John Lemp owned and operated the Boise Brewery from 1864 to 1907 on Main Street between 3rd and 4th street.  This new incarnation will be roughly 5 blocks away south and west of that location at 512 West Broad Street, Boise, Idaho 83702.  It will also be Boise "Brewing", not Boise "Brewery".  The original served beer and cold cut sandwiches to their patrons. Boise Brewing will be a Brewery with a tasting room similar to Payette Brewing and will not serve food.

Visit the Official Boise Brewing Website here.  It may take several months to change the name on all the website/facebook and other other social media and of course the name on the building and all the glasses, shirts etc.   But by the time ski season rolls around, Bogus will only refer to the Ski area.

Boise Brewing on Twitter

BOGUS BREWING.....NUMBER 40.....NOT SO FAST

Over the last few months, Idaho has been of the verge of 40 Breweries.  Seems like every time we get to number 40, we lose a brewery.  First there was the closure of Biplane Brewing in Post Falls.  The latest is the closing of the landmark Table Rock Brewery in Boise.

We were waiting on the opening of Bogus Brewing in Boise to become Number 40 when we received the unexpected news that there will be no Bogus Brewing.  Latest casualty in the Craft Beer/Brewery Copyright wars is "Bogus" Brewing. Apparently, the Bogus Basin Ski Resort has issues with a brewery using the name Bogus.  So in an agreement to appease the Ski Resort People, the Bogus Brewing Owners will change their name.  You can have input on the new name...click here.

I guess this will make all those growlers, beer mugs, t-shirts and stickers with the Bogus Brewing logo instant collector items.

This will make their June 13th Grand Opening very suspenseful.  Come to the Opening to try their beer and to find out the name of the Brewery!!!!!