Post Falls’ Downdraft storms in to local brewery scene
It’s been a bit of a stormy road for Downdraft Brewing.
Originally conceived as Cloudburst Brewing in September 2013 and planned for Spokane Valley, it had to change names after a Seattle brewer snagged the trademark, and locations when no suitable spot could be found west of the state line.
So it tweaked weather references and moved into new space in the Treaty Rock business plaza in Post Falls, starting renovation work in April.
A few more twists and turns later, Downdraft finally opened Nov. 1, making it the first new brewery in the Inland Northwest since March.
“We only went camping once this summer, but it was worth it,” said Aimee Brayman, one of six partners along with her husband, Nick; Nick’s parents, Dee and Jerry Brayman; and Nolan and Andrea Garrett.
“We’re just fanboys who took the leap,” added Nick Brayman, who started homebrewing with co-worker Nolan Garrett a few years ago. “We liked going to breweries and talking about beer, and we wanted to be part of the scene.”
Tucked into a rear corner space in the development, the taproom is calm and inviting with its gray walls, black furnishings and plentiful windows. Silver ductwork runs overhead, while a structure made from copper tubing frames the sparkling black granite-topped bar.
A large three-dimensional logo sign hangs over the taps on the wall behind, with hanging lights wrapped in chicken wire adding an unusual touch, thanks to Andrea Garrett.
The initial beer offerings from the 10-barrel brewhouse are equally clean and straightforward. Don’t expect to see many exotic styles or hops on the Downdraft menu.
“We like to brew the classics,” Nick Brayman said. “Simple beers sometimes taste the best.”
The lightest, Project Pale (5 percent alcohol by volume, 36 International Bitterness Units) – so named because of its experimental nature – gets its bready, slightly sweet body from Maris Otter, Munich and caramel malts, and finishes dry with hints of Summit and Cascade hops.
An Anonymous Amber (AA, for short; 5.5, 38) is equally easy-drinking, with a lightly hoppy character from dry-hopping with Cascades.
The more distinctive Seltice SMaSH India pale ale (7.2, 70) – that’s the beer-geek acronym for “Single Malt and Single Hop” – is all pale malt and Chinook hops, with fruity, floral notes on the way to a big piney finish. It goes down deceptively smooth for its strength.
While seldom seen around Spokane breweries, brown ales are more common in North Idaho, and Exit 5 (6.2, 33) doesn’t disappoint. Named after the freeway turnoff for the brewery, it’s fairly dry and toasty for the style, with plenty of crystal and chocolate malt character.
Rounding out the regular lineup is Black Beryl Stout (6.5, 50), full-flavored with some creamy smoothness and the requisite coffee and chocolate notes.
Downdraft has one red-colored tap handle that’s designated for experimental or one-off brews. First up is Half Cracked Stout (4.7, 50), which was the first attempt at the Black Beryl – except half of the chocolate malt didn’t crack properly during grinding, reducing its contribution to the finished beer. The result is a sort of session stout with the stronger flavors of black malt and Irish roasted barley coming to the fore.
Other styles under consideration for future brews include a light Belgian grisette, a porter, an India red ale and a more malt-balanced IPA.
Longer-range plans call for draft distribution to accounts around the area, likely followed by 22-ounce bottles.
“We really want to be everywhere, the same way you see No-Li and Ninkasi,” Nolan Garrett said.
Brewery watch
• Construction continues at Black Label in downtown Spokane – which hopes to have its taproom open around the end of the month – and Daft Badger in Coeur d’Alene, also shooting for a 2014 opening.
• Slate Creek in Coeur d’Alene has added a 15-barrel brewhouse to its former two-barrel system and started distributing to accounts around town. The Norse Nectar juniper pale ale was the first big batch, with Double Black IPA coming next.
Freshly tapped
• Slate Creek’s Illegal Rye IPA (7.4 percent alcohol by volume, 70 International Bitterness Units) is a bigger version of this fall’s community fresh hop beer, made with commercially grown hops.
• This year’s 12 Strings of Winter seasonal (8.1, 81) from Twelve String has a more pronounced, citrusy hoppiness on top of a slightly beefed-up malt body.
• Hopped Up’s dark, rich Destroy My Sweater (8.5, 49) is all about the malts, finished with floral spruce tips from owners Steve and Sue Ewan’s Spokane Valley property.
• The Smoked Molasses Saison (6.5, 12) at Ramblin’ Road is a dark Belgian farmhouse ale brewed with applewood-smoked Munich malt.
• River City again welcomes winter with its big, roasty Midnight Marmot imperial stout (8.8, 78), to be followed by a Deep Thaw winter warmer.
Save the date
• Twelve String will pour a dozen barrel-aged beers – half of which have not been previously released – at its first Barrelfest on Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
• Specalty kegs from Ninkasi will highlight The Lantern Tap House’s third annual Flannel Fest, Nov. 21-22. Wear your favorite flannel for happy hour prices anytime.
• Tickets are on sale at Capone’s in Coeur d’Alene for the 18th annual 12 Ales of Christmas on Dec. 6. Cost is $45 before Thanksgiving, $50 after.
Honor roll
• No-Li Brewhouse brought home three medals from Belgium’s Brussels Beer Challenge earlier this month: gold for Blackfill, its barrel-aged imperial stout; silver for Rise & Grind oatmeal/coffee/milk stout; and honorable mention for Spin Cycle Red.
And it took golds for its Wrecking Ball imperial stout and Aksel strong Belgian-style ale, and a silver for its Creme Ale, at the Great International Beer & Cider Competition in Rhode Island last weekend.