Boise is a legitimate craft beer town, and Totally Boise is here to help you find your next favorite pint. Download the Totally Boise app to stay on top of tap takeovers, brewery events, and the best deals happening at Boise breweries right now.
Boise Is a Craft Beer Town
Idaho ranks as one of the top producers of hops and barley in the nation, and Boise's brewery scene makes great use of that. What started with a handful of pioneers has grown into one of the most diverse and interesting collections of taprooms in the Pacific Northwest. From a massive 11,000-square-foot beer garden along the Greenbelt to a certified organic nano pub doing salted caramel stouts, Boise craft beer covers every style, vibe, and occasion. Whether you're a hop head chasing the latest hazy IPA or someone who just wants a solid pint after a long hike, the best breweries in Boise have you covered.
Best Breweries in Boise
Payette Brewing Company
Payette is the flagship of the Boise craft beer scene. Established in 2010 and committed to sustainability, Payette has built a reputation for consistently excellent ales, IPAs, and seasonal brews that have earned them loyal fans across the region. The Mutton Buster IPA is the classic order, and the rotating seasonal releases keep things interesting year-round. Tours of the production facility are available before you settle in for a tasting flight.
Boise Brewing
Boise Brewing is one of the most unique brewery concepts in Idaho. The community-supported model allows locals to become part-owners, and that sense of investment shows in the atmosphere. The Hip Check IPA and Snowboarder Porter are local favorites, and the rotating tap list keeps regulars coming back to see what's new. Family-friendly, dog-friendly, and consistently welcoming, it's the kind of brewery that feels genuinely Boise.
Barbarian Brewing
For serious craft beer fans, Barbarian Brewing in Garden City is essential. Known for small-batch experimental styles including funky sours, hazy NEIPAs, and the award-winning Juniper Gose with hints of lime, lavender, coriander, and juniper berries, Barbarian consistently produces beers that wouldn't be out of place in Portland or Denver. The Movin' To The Country NEIPA is the standout if it's on tap. A must-visit for anyone who wants to see what Boise craft beer is capable of at its most ambitious.
Lost Grove Brewing
Lost Grove has two Boise locations, one in Hyde Park and one on La Pointe Street, and both are worth visiting. The La Pointe taproom lets you watch the brewing process through large windows, and the Hyde Park location adds craft cocktails and Asian-inspired dishes to the mix. A wide selection spanning IPAs, sours, stouts, and more, with a sustainable sourcing ethos that locals respect.
Mad Swede Brewing
A family-run brewery on Cole Road and downtown with a farm-to-table approach to craft beer. The tasting rooms are welcoming for kids and dogs, and the award-winning beers have earned Mad Swede a devoted following across the Treasure Valley. Regular events make it a community gathering spot as much as a brewery.
Sockeye Brewing
Established in 2002, Sockeye is one of Boise's original craft breweries and still one of the most reliable. A longtime local favorite with a solid year-round lineup and a comfortable taproom that feels like it's been part of the neighborhood forever. The Dagger Falls IPA is the classic order.
Best Brewery Taprooms for a Night Out
10 Barrel Brewing
Originally from Bend, Oregon, 10 Barrel's downtown Boise brewpub has been a fixture since 2006 and remains one of the most popular spots on W Bannock Street. Award-winning ales, a comfort-focused pub food menu, and generous happy hours make it a great all-around night out. The Peanut Butter Bacon Burger with City Peanut Shop Thai peanut butter sauce is the food order that keeps people talking.
White Dog Brewing Company
White Dog is the brewery for people who like to try something different every time. Constantly experimenting with new ingredients and techniques, the rotating tap list is unpredictable in the best possible way. The cozy atmosphere and laid-back vibe make it an easy place to spend a few hours.
Western Collective
Bold and creative beers alongside frozen slushies and an aesthetic that makes it one of the more visually distinctive taprooms in the valley. Western Collective draws a younger crowd and has built a following for its willingness to push beyond traditional styles.
Best Breweries for Outdoor Seating and Beer Gardens
Payette Brewing Company
Payette's 11,000-square-foot beer garden along the Boise River is the gold standard for outdoor brewery drinking in the city. Bocce courts, fire pits, rotating food trucks, and live music throughout the summer make it a destination in its own right. Dog-friendly, family-friendly, and one of the best places in Boise to spend a warm afternoon.
Lost Grove Brewing (Hyde Park)
The Hyde Park location's outdoor patio is one of the best spots in the North End for a post-hike pint. The neighborhood energy, great beer selection, and Asian-inspired food menu make it an easy choice when you want something a little more than just a taproom visit.
Powderhaus Brewing Company
A down-to-earth Garden City taproom with a woodsy, lodge-inspired space that feels like a mountain getaway without leaving town. The outdoor area is relaxed and unpretentious, and the beers are crafted with the same simplicity and quality the whole place is built around.
Cloud 9 Brewery
Boise's first certified organic nano pub, Cloud 9 does small-batch creativity with an emphasis on quality ingredients. The salted caramel stout is a signature, and the intimate, neighborhood feel makes it one of the more charming spots in the Boise brewery scene.
Best Craft Beer Bars in Boise
Bittercreek Alehouse
Bittercreek is the standard-bearer for craft beer bars in Boise. An excellent rotating tap list heavy on local and regional breweries, a full food menu that's legitimately great, and a patio on 8th Street that's one of the best people-watching spots downtown. The nationally recognized Huntsman Cheeseburger makes it easy to turn a beer stop into a full meal.
Payette Brewing Downtown Taproom
In addition to the Greenbelt beer garden, Payette has a beautiful downtown taproom where the full tap list is available in a more intimate setting. A great option when you want Payette's beers without the sprawl of the main location.
The Boise Brewing Taproom
Worth mentioning separately from the brewery itself: the downtown taproom is a standalone experience with a relaxed atmosphere, the full Boise Brewing tap list, and the community energy that makes this brewery so distinctive.
Boise Brewery Crawl: How to Do It Right
Boise's best breweries are spread across a few distinct areas, and a well-planned crawl covers a lot of ground in a single day.
Start in Garden City: Kick things off at Barbarian Brewing for the most ambitious craft beer in the valley, then walk or rideshare to Powderhaus for something more laid-back. Garden City's Greenbelt access makes it easy to walk between spots.
Move downtown: Head to Boise Brewing for a flight and a snack, then cross to 10 Barrel for happy hour and pub food. Payette's downtown taproom is a short walk away if you want to compare notes on local IPAs.
End in the North End: Finish at Lost Grove's Hyde Park location for a final pint on the patio with the neighborhood energy of Boise's most beloved community. If you've still got room, White Dog is close by for a nightcap with something unexpected on tap.
The whole crawl is doable on foot, by bike along the Greenbelt, or with a rideshare app. Check the Totally Boise app before you go for current tap lists, events, and happy hour deals at each stop.
Find Your Next Pint with Totally Boise
Totally Boise is your local guide to the best breweries in Boise, from tap takeovers and seasonal releases to the everyday spots worth making a habit.
Download the Totally Boise app and never run out of great Boise craft beer to discover.