Bittercreek Alehouse

Boise, Idaho

A super cellar in low-key Boise

WHAT IT IS:

Boise probably isn’t the first place you think of when it comes to western U.S. beer cities, but this gastropub is making a convincing argument that it deserves consideration. With thirty-nine options on draft, a completely stacked cellar, and a thoughtful menu that includes the likes of duck confit poutine and käsespätzle, Bittercreek Alehouse checks all the boxes and then some.

WHY IT’S GREAT:

One look at the expertly chosen draft and cellar lists at Bittercreek makes it obvious that Proprietor Dave Krick knows beer. In fact, most beer geeks will spend the majority of their time with their noses buried in the page-turner of a beer menu. While the draft list includes the one-two punch of Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain options (with the likes of Double Mountain and Odell barrel-aged obscurities), it also has a good representation of carefully selected offerings from the growing local brewing scene. But it’s the cellar list that’s the real draw. Not only is it super deep, but the laid back nature of the Boise crowd has allowed bottles such as 2010 Drie Fonteinen Gueze and various Batch #1 bottles from Anchorage Brewing Co. to still grace the pages—and at a fraction of the cost you’d expect. —Patrick Dawson

Details Hours: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 a.m. Monday–thursday, 11:00 a.m.–2:00 a.m. Friday, 8:30 a.m.–2:00 a.m. Saturday–sunday Address: 246 N 8th St., Boise, ID Web: bcrfl.com/bittercreek/