October is a great time to explore Sandpoint’s local craft beverage scene. From beer brewed right downtown to locally made wine and neighborhood spots with carefully selected pours, there are plenty of places to try something new this fall.
And you don’t have to travel far to experience much of it. Several of Sandpoint’s breweries, tasting rooms and craft beer destinations are clustered around downtown, making it easy to choose a favorite or spend an afternoon discovering a few.
Start With Sandpoint Wine
For wine lovers, Pend d’Oreille Winery is a natural place to begin. The winery has been part of the Sandpoint community since 1995 and produces its wines locally using grapes sourced from vineyards throughout the Northwest.
Today, its downtown tasting room at 301 Cedar Street offers everything from Chardonnay and Pinot Gris to Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Sangiovese and its popular Bistro Rouge blend.
Wine tasting is only part of the experience. The tasting room regularly hosts live music, piano nights, Paint and Sip events and other gatherings throughout the year. Guests can settle in with a glass, explore several wines through a tasting or pair their selection with something to eat.
It’s a great example of what makes Sandpoint’s beverage scene feel particularly local. Pend d’Oreille Winery isn’t simply a tasting room tucked into downtown; it has been part of the community for more than 30 years.
A Town That Loves Its Breweries
If craft beer is more your style, Sandpoint offers plenty of choices.
One of the best-known names is MickDuff’s Brewing Company, a longtime local brewery with two different downtown experiences.
The brewpub is housed in Sandpoint’s historic Old Federal Building at 419 N. Second Avenue. MickDuff’s purchased the building in 2019 and moved its restaurant there in 2020, giving visitors a chance to enjoy locally brewed beer and pub fare inside one of the city’s historic buildings.
Just a few blocks away, MickDuff’s Beer Hall at 220 Cedar Street is home to the brewery’s production facility and tasting room. The Beer Hall has 16 taps along with an outdoor lawn and patio, fire pit, games and regular live music. Visitors can also call ahead to request a brewery tour.
The two locations make it easy to choose your own experience: grab lunch and a beer at the brewpub or head to the Beer Hall to sample what’s on tap closer to where it’s brewed.
Sip Your Way Through Sandpoint
Local pours, plenty of personality
From locally brewed lagers and IPAs to Northwest wines and rotating taps, Sandpoint has plenty to pour. Start with a flight at a local brewery, settle in with a glass of wine downtown or see what’s new at one of the area’s craft beer taprooms. With so many stops close together, finding a new favorite is all part of the fun.
Beer And Community At Matchwood
Over in Sandpoint’s Granary District, Matchwood Brewing Company has built its identity around the idea of being a neighborhood brewery.
Located at 513 Oak Street, Matchwood combines handcrafted beer with a gathering place and eatery. Its rotating beer selection includes a range of styles brewed right in Sandpoint, while its food menu makes it just as easy to stop for a meal as it is for a pint.
The brewery also puts an emphasis on community, regularly creating opportunities for people to gather for events, music and conversation. It’s close enough to downtown to easily work into an afternoon of shopping, dining or exploring Sandpoint.
Two Ways To Experience Utara
Utara Brewing Company adds something a little different to Sandpoint’s brewery lineup.
The local brewery produces small-batch beers on a seven-barrel brewhouse, with a lineup ranging from crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to rotating seasonal specialties.
Like MickDuff’s, Utara offers two different ways to experience the brewery. Pub on Pine, at 214 Pine Street, is its downtown location, featuring a full kitchen, Indian-inspired food and 12 rotating taps. It’s an easy stop for anyone who wants to pair a locally brewed beer with lunch or dinner.
Those interested in getting closer to the brewing side can head to Utara’s production brewery and taproom at 2617 N. Boyer Avenue. Between the two locations, you can experience both sides of a small local brewery: the downtown pub and the production space where the beer is actually made.
More Places To Explore Craft Beer
Sandpoint’s beer scene goes beyond its local breweries. Several downtown spots specialize in bringing together craft beer from Idaho, the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Barrel 33 offers a relaxed place to explore both beer and wine. Along with an extensive wine selection, the downtown spot offers rotating craft beers on tap and food for those who want to settle in for a while. Its outdoor space is also a popular gathering spot when the weather cooperates.
At Pivo Peaks Alehouse, craft beer takes center stage. Located at 119 N. First Avenue, the downtown alehouse features 24 rotating taps with an emphasis on Idaho and Pacific Northwest breweries. Because the selection changes regularly, there’s usually something new to discover, from IPAs and lagers to stouts, sours and seasonal releases. A full food menu makes it an easy stop for lunch, dinner or an afternoon tasting.
Just a few blocks away, Idaho Pour Authority combines a taproom with a craft beer bottle shop. With 16 rotating taps and hundreds of different cans and bottles, there is plenty to explore beyond what is brewed locally. The selection includes craft beer and cider, along with wine for those looking for something different.
Idaho Pour Authority also regularly hosts live music and other events, adding to its neighborhood taproom feel. Stop in to see what’s new on tap or browse the coolers for something to take home.
Together, Barrel 33, Pivo Peaks and Idaho Pour Authority add another layer to Sandpoint’s craft beverage scene. Local breweries give you the chance to drink beer made right here in town, while these taprooms make it possible to explore what breweries throughout Idaho and the greater Northwest are producing.
Make Your Own Sandpoint Tasting Tour
One of the best things about exploring Sandpoint’s craft beverage scene is how easy it is to make the experience your own.
Start with a wine tasting at Pend d’Oreille Winery, walk a block to see what’s on tap at Idaho Pour Authority or MickDuff’s Beer Hall, then continue toward Matchwood or Utara. Or skip the itinerary entirely and choose one place you haven’t visited before.
For those who really enjoy craft beer, Sandpoint can also be a starting point for exploring breweries throughout North Idaho and the Inland Northwest. But there is plenty happening within the city itself to fill an afternoon or evening.
October is an especially good excuse to explore. Seasonal beers begin appearing on tap, and downtown Sandpoint settles into a different pace after the busy summer months.
Whether your preference is a glass of locally produced wine, a flight of Sandpoint-brewed beer or simply discovering something new on tap, there’s no shortage of options.
Choose a place you haven’t tried, invite a few friends and raise a glass to fall in Sandpoint.