Words & Deeds

Closing its restaurant, Boise’s ‘best brewery’ gets swallowed up by Garden City brewery

After a decade of local pours, a West Boise brewery and restaurant will shutter next week.

But its beer, cider and canned cocktails will live on — under the stewardship of a larger competitor.

Edge Brewing Company, 525 N. Steelhead Way, will close after a final day July 3.

Western Collective, a Garden City brewery at 111 W. 33rd St., has purchased the Edge brand.

Although it’s associated with craft beer, Edge Brewing primarily produces cider and ready-to-drink cocktails, Western Collective owner Cary Prewitt said. Whiskey also is sold under the Edge Spirits name. On its website, Edge says it was voted best brewery in Idaho in 2020.

Manufactured in Garden City by Western Collective in the future, Edge Brewing’s Hucklebery Cider is one of the products that will continue to be sold in the Treasure Valley.
Manufactured in Garden City by Western Collective in the future, Edge Brewing’s Hucklebery Cider is one of the products that will continue to be sold in the Treasure Valley. Edge Brewing Co./Facebook

Founded in 2014 by longtime homebrewer Marcus Bezuhly and business partners, Edge expanded in 2019 with a downtown Boise pub at 205 N. 10th St. It closed in 2023.

Cider and ready-to-drink cocktails are the primary reasons that buying the rights to Edge products was attractive, Prewitt said.

“Less than 20% of what they’re doing is beer,” he said. “Their Huckleberry Cider is the one I’m most excited about. It’s fantastic.”

Prewitt said he is looking to acquire other local breweries and cideries that are interested in selling.

Edge Brewing products are available on draft, in packaged form or both. There won’t be any gap in availability during the transition, Prewitt said. Western Collective will begin making Edge beer, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails at the Garden City headquarters immediately.

Opened in 2018, Western Collective produces beer and hard seltzer. It also sells its own vodka — both at its brewery tasting room, where it has a liquor license, and at state liquor stores.

In addition to the Garden City brewery, Western Collective also operates House of Western, a sister restaurant, bar and entertainment center at 610 W. Idaho St. in downtown Boise.

Edge Brewing opened in 2014 serving more than a dozen beers made in-house — with room to expand.
Edge Brewing opened in 2014 serving more than a dozen beers made in-house — with room to expand. Katherine Jones Statesman file

This story was originally published June 26, 2024 at 8:45 AM.

Michael Deeds
Idaho Statesman
Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane. 
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