What are the best stores/bars/restaurants for craft beer in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Jackson? What are your local favorite beers? Thanks
Snake River is in Jackson. If Melvin is leading the charge for "new school" beers, Snake River is a far more more traditional option. Grand Teton Brewing also has some gems, too. Can't say I've ever been up that way, but I'm familiar with the beers from all 3. Whether you want one of the best IPA's around, a traditional Vienna Lager, or an American style ESB, your bases are covered.
Grand Teton Bitch Creek. One of those beers I've run into at non-geek events and am always surprised by. When it came out it must have been considered hoppy as hell for an ESB. EDIT: A quick glance at their website made me realize they're calling it an "Extra Special Brown" which I never noticed before. It's 60 IBU's, which is still pretty punchy for an ESB (of any sort) or a brown.
We just got back from over a week in Jackson/Teton area. As for breweries, nothing beats Melvin. Snake River, yeah sure nice to pop in for a beer and some lunch but it's very safe, "touristy" beer. Not that it's bad, just not at all exciting. There's one more called Roadhouse but we didn't get over there. Reviews of service & food were terrible, and I found next to no reviews of their beer. As for bottle shops, I was disappointed but not surprised. Only thing I came away with was a bottle of Deschutes Dissident from Bin22.
Maybe it was just the time I was there, but Snake River had some really good stuff when I was in last summer. I fondly remember a barrel aged sour on draft (along with their zonkers which is really good) and plenty of "tourist friendly beers". Picked up some nice beers at the beer/liquor store next to Albertsons. As for Yellowstone, there is actually a pretty decent selection in the shops at Grand Canyon and Old Faithful. And cheap too (unlike everything else in the store). You could get singles of most everything for like $2 a pop or six packs. They even had some bombers of Stone, etc.
Going skiing in Jackson Hole in February. Taking a cab/shuttle from airport to Teton Village. Any shops in Teton Village with Melvin cans? Or do I need to make a stop at a shop along the way?
Yep hit Bin 22. Straght down the road from Bin 22 is Snake River Brewing. They sell 6 packs of their flagship beers, Pakos IPA, Pale ale, Zonker stout and a few others. They also sell crowlers of anything on tap. Also hit Elanors on the way to Teton village, maybe a better selection than Bin 22, both should have Melvin cans. If you get a chance eat at Thai Me Up in Jackson on Pearl street. It is where Melvin started, still serve their beers and the food has been great every time we have eaten there. Enjoy your trip, feel fortunate to live in such a beautiful part of the world! About 3 feet of snow in my front yard, you can bet you ass on a white Christmas here!
Grand Teton's American Sour is one of the best beers to come out of Idaho the last couple of years. It's up there with what DeGarde does and better than a lot of the non-fruited JK.
I don't know that I would call the selection stellar, but if you don't spend at least some time at The Mangy Moose, you're doing it wrong...
Will definitely be spending some time at the Mangy Moose! Will keep an eye out for the Grand Teton sour.
