Boise loved this new brewery so much it had to close. A second location opens soon
When Brown Beard Brewing Co. opened last year, owner Bryce Tuttle had never poured a beer commercially.
Boise drinkers gave him a lesson. Really quickly.
Opening weekend was so popular that Tuttle had to close shop afterward — two normal days off, three unplanned — for a total of five days dark.
“We have to brew more beer!” the Garden City microbrewery explained on Facebook.
Don’t expect shutdowns at Tuttle’s expansion location, Brown Beard’s Barrel House, 5270 W. Chinden Blvd., formerly Idawild Brewing.
(Famous last words, right?)
The ex-home brewer is now a seasoned pro. When the Barrel House taproom opens officially from noon to 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 29, Tuttle will even unveil a collaboration brew.
OG Boise beer geeks might salivate over this one — the return of Crooked Fence Brewing’s Sins of Our Fathers imperial stout. (Barrel-aged versions are in the works, too.) Reviving more history from now-defunct Crooked Fence, Brown Beard also will pour Aviator Raspberry Blonde and Hop Notion West Coast IPA at both locations by early December.
Brown Beard’s Barrel House complements the original Brown Beard location, which remains open at 9165 W. Chinden Blvd. A neighborhood hangout, it has a steady clientele of regulars, Tuttle says.
He’s moved beer production to the larger Barrel House, which is about three times the square footage. “We went from 1,300 to a total of 3,900,” he said.
Both locations are kid- and pet-friendly. And both will feature live music and other brewery events. Tuttle even envisions the possibility of regional touring music at Brown Beard’s Barrel House.
Best of all, having the bigger space will allow him to do what Brown Beard needs most, he says.
To brew more beer!
“My one setback for our business has always been production,” Tuttle said. “I have 12 taps. I’ve never had them full of my beer. We’ve never been able to keep up.”
Loose Screw opens brewery
Brown Beard isn’t the only Treasure Valley beer brand taking the next step. Meridian’s larger Loose Screw Beer Co. now has two locations, too.
And the new one is impressive.
Loose Screw’s nearly 10,000-square-foot brewery and taproom recently opened downtown at the corner of Main Street and Carlton Avenue.
The previous taproom at 1511 W. McMillan Road remains open. But the freshly unveiled brewery is “a destination,” as Loose Screw described it in a press release.
It features “multiple spaces designed to suit a variety of vibes, from intimate gatherings to lively celebrations, all with a view of the cutting-edge production facility. Atop the brewery sits a stunning event center with a spacious balcony, perfect for private parties and special occasions.”
There’s also an expansive outdoor beer garden-type space.
The new downtown Meridian operation is open from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, and noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.