Kootenai River Brewing Co. brings home bronze!

October 10, 2016

Out of 7,227 entries submitted by 1,752 breweries, a panel of 264 beer experts hailing from 12 countries awarded a small brewery in North Idaho a prestigious bronze medal in the 30th annual Great American Beer Festival, held October 6-8 in Boulder, Colorado. Bonners Ferry's own Kootenai River Brewing Company Tap Room and Restaurant, which just celebrated its fifth anniversary, took the medal for its McGreagor Scottish Ale in the Scottish-Style Ale category. Only one other Idaho brewery, Boise Brewing, Boise, brought home one of the 286 medals awarded, taking silver in the American-Style Scout category. The Great American Beer Festival is the largest commercial beer competition in the world, and recognizes the most outstanding beers produced in the United States. Mike and Don Naumann with Festival founder Charlie Papazian. “We are very pleased to win this award with our new brewer, Daniel Simpson, who has tweaked the recipe to be what it is now,” said Mike Naumann, co-owner with his brother Don Naumann since 2011. Kootenai River Brewing Company was recognized in the Scottish-Style beer category for its McGregor Scottish Ale, a dark colored ale with a smooth light taste and a slight smoky finish. Kootenai River Brewing Company is a ten barrel brewpub that specializes in gourmet pub food with handmade burgers and wild caught salmon brought in fresh from Bristol Bay, Alaska. To get a taste of Kootenai River Brewing Company's prize-winning McGreagor Scottish Ale, or their fine Osprey Pilsner, Two Tail Pale Ale, Grizzly IPA, Barrel Aged Stout, Huckleberry Wheat, Black Mountain Porter or Oktober Rye, stop in at Riverside and First in downtown Bonners Ferry, between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday or 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. any Friday and Saturday. Before you go, you can check out what's on the menu or if there are any special events going on at www.kootbrew.com.