IDAHO BREWERIES: A LOOK BACK AT 2025: NEW BREWERIES REPLACING OLD BREWERIES
By Bob Hubler
In 1888, there were 33 different Breweries in the State of Idaho, which were the most breweries that were open in the state at one time prior to prohibition.
Although National Prohibition started in 1919, Idaho started their own state wide prohibition in 1916. There were no breweries in Idaho from 1916 to 1934.
A few breweries came back in Idaho after 1934 when prohibition was lifted, but by 1961, they were all gone. The last one to close was the Bohemian Brewery in Boise.
Idaho was without any breweries until Tim Batt started the first modern brewery in 1984. He called it Snake River Brewing.
Idaho had more than 33 breweries for the first time in history in 2014. Eleven new breweries opened in 2014 bringing the total of active Idaho breweries to 41.
Idaho hit an all time high with 101 active breweries in January 2024. It was downhill from there with 24 Idaho Breweries closing and only 7 breweries opening in 2024.
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When I started writing this blog in 2013, it was to add a narrative to my List of Idaho Breweries website. There were only 31 breweries in Idaho in 2013. Idaho had 45 breweries that opened between 1984 and 2013, but 14 had closed in that time. It only took 11 years from my first blog for Idaho to get to 101 active breweries. Due to the downturn in craft brewing, it will a long time till Idaho ever approaches 100 active breweries again.
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Idaho began 2025 with 83 breweries! Four breweries closed in 2025 and two breweries opened which leaves Idaho with 81 Breweries at the end of 2025. Three breweries plan to open in the first part of 2026.
The recent breweries that have opened and plan to open in Idaho have one thing in common: They have all opened or plan to open in prior brewery locations!
- Ruckus Brewing opened in the former Loose Screw Garden City location
- Westwood Brewing opened in the former Selkirk Abbey Brewery in Post Falls
- The Martlet opened in the former Star Route location in Pocatello
- Knucklehead Brewing opened in the former Mad Bomber Brewing location in Hayden
- Belmont Brewhouse opened in the former Twisted District location in Garden City
- Mountains Walking Brewery in Bozeman, Montana plans to open an Idaho location in the old Laughing Dog Brewery in Ponderay
- Wild Frontier Beer Project will open in the Mad Swede Brewery location in Boise in 2026
- Gather Brewing out of Texas will open in the Spring Creek Brewing location in Avonmore in 2026
WELCOME THE NEW IDAHO BREWERIES
146 Knucklehead Brewing in Haydon
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147 Belmont Brew House
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| Bob and Chris Belmont, owners |
It only took nine months, but Belmont Brewhouse is now an official Idaho brewery. Their "Never Late, than Better" Lager is now pouring out of one of their 43 taps. Congrats to Bob and Chris on their first brewed beer. Also congrats to their head brewer Sean for returning to the brewing profession.
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THE IDAHO BREWERIES THAT CLOSED IN 2025
Laughing Dog Brewing 2005 - 2025
Sun Valley Brewing 1968 - 2025 Story
Spring Creek Brewing 2020 - 2025 BoiseBrewBlog story
Mad Swede Brewing 2016 - 2025 BoiseBrewBlog story
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IDAHO BREWERIES THAT PLAN TO OPEN IN 2026
Wild Frontier Brewing Project
This new brewery will take over the former Mad Swede location.
I look forward to trying Chris's new beers.
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Mountains Walking Brewing - Sandpoint
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| Sarah and Gustav, owners |
The following is from the Mountains Walking Website:
"Meet Your Neighbors: Sarah & Gustav from Mountains Walking Brewery & Pub! 🍻
Sarah met Gustav in Taiwan, and on their first date, he shared his dream of one day opening a brewery. Today, that dream is Mountains Walking, a family-run gathering place in Bozeman’s historic brewing district.
Gustav grew up in Taiwan & Japan and studied brewing around the world, bringing his heritage and ancient brewing traditions into every beer he makes.
More than a brewery, Mountains Walking is a place where friends, neighbors, and families come together over craft brews & freshly made bites!"
I look forward to visiting this brewery after it opens later this year.
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Gather Brewing - Boise
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| Mike and Rachal, Owners |
Mike and Rachel were in the Boise area last week meeting some of the local brewers and brewery owners to get a feel for local craft beer culture. I am happy to see that the Spring Creek Brewer building will continue to be a brewery and brew pub.
Story from their website:
"Friends! We have HUGE NEWS.
We are so incredibly excited to announce that in the coming months we are opening our second Gather Brewing location in Eagle, Idaho!
While on a trip to Idaho with family just a few weeks ago, we visited this beautiful brewery just north of Boise and learned it was about to close it's doors. We had already fallen in love with the area and could not shake the feeling that we should see if there might be an opportunity for Gather there. A week after arriving home we made a phone call just to ask a few questions, and one thing led to another. Within just a few days it became so clear that this was the right next step for our family and for Gather. It all unfolded so naturally and unexpectedly that it felt meant to be.
We hope to launch this location in March of 2026, and we cannot wait to be part of the community, meet new friends and neighbors, and make Eagle home for our family.
Don’t worry. Everything you know and love about Gather Universal City stays right here! We have an incredible team in place, and we’ll be traveling back often. Our heart is still very much with our Gather family here in Texas.
Thank you all for being such an important part of our story. We’re so grateful for you and excited for everything ahead.
-Mike & Rachel"
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MISCELLANEOUS IDAHO BREWING NEWS
Western Collective Update
Is Western Collective on the Move?
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Payette Brewing Update
Payette Brewing production has returned to Idaho from a short stop at Upslope Brewing in Colorado. Mother Earth Brewing in Nampa will handle the brewing for Payette Brewing in 2026.
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| pallets of Payette beer at MEB |
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Loose Screw Brewing Update
Loose Screw will close their McMillan location and concentrate their resources at their new downtown Meridian location.
The following announcement from their facebook page:
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Brown Beard Brewing & Noble Meadery Update
Brown Beard will close their original Garden City location. Their focus will now be on their new larger location in Garden City. The original location will continue on as a taphouse and meadery. Noble Meadery will make mead and braggot.
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