Warfield Distillery & Brewery

Higher end place in Ketchum, but everything is pricey here. Ski lodge look and feel, leather and wood. Menu is higher end (and priced) fare ($16 burger?) but good. 11 taps, 3 cask. Average beer.

 

amazing location for a brewery, right in the center of town, in a beautifully restored old building it seems, and with a rooftop bar and patio for the ages. there is a big downstairs dining and bar area, but upstairs is where its at, with panoramic views of the mountain, the town, and a lot of pretty people, its a great place to sit and drink and snack. they have a tv up there for sports i guess, but its not a distraction at all. everything is open and new here, but with nice rustic charm. they make their own spirits as well as beer, and we enjoyed the gin pretty well. all the beer was good, some of it was awesome, including a real nice bock and a nicely executed scottish ale. i think they are well ahead of the curve for a pretty new operation in terms of quality. i believe they use all organic malts and whole leaf hops, which is pretty rad, but i would like to see a little more innovation on the list next time, lots of classic styles, but very little to get excited about on paper. i have been here a couple of times now, and while everyone who works here has been really nice, the service has been crazy slow, even when they arent real busy. ask for a beer when you are about half way through the one you have, because for me its been close to ten minutes each time, and even longer to get a tab to settle. good people, but man, the rate is way too slow, at least in my experience, even on a weeknight. the food has been excellent here though, especially the chili, and i would definitely recommend eating on your visit. its hard to be too critical of the prices in a town like this too, but it seemed appropriate for what they offer. absolutely worth checking out, some of the best beers, grub, and views in town that i have experiences so far. ill be back in as often as i visit sun valley...

edit: i had a beer from these guys as a festival, a graf, meaning an apple beer, and it was insanely good, hands down the best i have had from these guys to date, but it remains a mystery, not online anywhere, not on tap at the brewery, jut maybe a one and done, but it sure was a special beer, and gives me a new appreciation of what these guys are capable of, even if its not always so readily on display when you drink their everyday stuff. they need to bring this one back!

edit: quality continues to improve here, as does service, albeit at a slower pace. the beer list is more diverse now and really most of it is excellent. a must hit spot if you are in sun valley!