Having lived over 20 years in McCall, Idaho and with a love for craft beer, I’m no stranger to the McCall Breweries. There’s no better place than McCall to earn your craft beer after a day of outdoor activities.
Whether it’s a day of skiing or snowmobiling, or hiking and biking, McCall has a thriving brewery scene that won’t disappoint.
So let’s have a look at the different breweries in McCall and find out what makes each unique and worth a visit. In addition, I’ll share some of my other favorite watering holes in McCall and the surrounding areas.
McCall Brewing Company
🖥️ Website
📍 Directions
🍔 Menu
🍺 Must try beer: Coconut Porter
It only makes sense to start with McCall Brewery as this was the first brewery in McCall. McCall Brewing Company opened its doors in 1994 and is the second oldest brewery in Idaho.
McCall Brewery has that old lodge feel with wood accents and that classic dark wooden bar. They serve a variety of beers like Overhung IPA and Mackinaw Red as well as seasonal brews.
My personal favorite is the Hippie Hopped Pale Ale but their most popular is the Lemon Ginger Hefeweizen. If you’re a coconut fan their Coconut Porter is awesome.
If sitting inside isn’t your jam they’ve got a great roof-top deck that’s open during the summer. You’ll get a birds-eye view of downtown McCall and Payette lake all while enjoying a tasty beverage.
McCall Brewery has a full menu with your standard pub fare and also serves wine if beer isn’t your thing.
Salmon River Brewery
🖥️ Website
📍 Directions
🍔 Menu
🍺 Must try beer: Shiver IPA
Salmon River Brewery entered the craft beer scene in 2008 and was an instant hit with the locals. The brewery started in the owners house which they converted to a tasting room. The McCall Sushi Bar even had it’s start here before they expanded and moved to their current location.
Today Salmon River Brewery is located downtown along the water in the historic train depot station. They also added a new state of the art brewery and taphouse which has perhaps the best rooftop view in McCall.
They have outdoor fire pits and even igloo like domes to stay warm for outside dining or you can grab a seat indoor.
They have a plentiful beer list with more varieties than I have time to mention including guest taps, wine, and ciders. They even just recently got their liquor license and serve up delicious cocktails as well.
My go-to beer is the Shiver IPA and my favorite food is their amazing Arugula & Prosciutto pizza.
Broken Horn Brewing McCall Idaho
🖥️ Website
📍 Directions
🍔 Food truck serving up delicious burgers
🍺 Must try beer: Hell’s Canyon Jalepeno
Borken Horn has a strong local following and is just outside the downtown area making it less convenient for tourists, thus an oasis for locals. It’s a small brewery with some inside seating as well as small 6 person bar.
Outside they have a nice patio area that is shaded by a massive overhead parachute from the neighboring McCall Smoke Jumper Base.
While they don’t have food they do have a food truck serving up delicious burgers.
Their Hells Canyon Jalepeno is my favorite with just a hint of spice. If you need a break from the crowds of downtown McCall this is a great brewery.
Other Notable McCall Watering Holes
While there are only 3 breweries in McCall I felt it would be a shame to not mention a few other unique places in McCall to grab a drink.
Bistro 45 Wine Bar
🖥️ None
📍 Directions
🍔 No online menu
🍺 Must try drink: Their Sangria is great when available
Just beneath Salmon River Brewery sits Bistro 45, an oasis of wine and outdoor seating. They have a plentiful selection of wines as well as beers and ciders.
Their courtyard is what really makes this place special. The spacious courtyard with large trees and Bocci Ball court is the perfect place to hang on a hot summer day.
The Bistro has a great menu ranging from open face sandwiches and baked Brie, to steamed clams and muscles.
Mile High Marina
🖥️ Website
📍 Directions
🍔 No online menu
🍺 Must try drink: Margarita
The Mile High Marina sits proudly on the shores of the mighty Payette Lake here in McCall Idaho. This busy spot is the hub for boat and water activities as it is home to 175 boat slips.
In addition, Mile High has a great bar and outdoor seating area. Their food menu is simple with burgers, hot dogs, and Baja Fish Tacos all of which are prepared on the outdoor grills.
What makes this place special are the tables and seating which extend out over the water. They even have a floating sand dock so you can really get the full experience.
For drinks they have a rotating selection of craft beers and a variety of cocktails, their margaritas are their most popular drink.
