#1 Daft Badger Brewing

Daft Badger Brewing is my favorite brew pub in CDA. When you’re driving there, you’ll probably ask yourself, am I going the right way? It is hidden in a little older neighborhood in Coeur d’Alene, and it doesn’t look like a place where a brewery or restaurant would typically be. But when you arrive, you’ll see a cute place with an inviting and shaded outdoor space called Daft Badger Brewing. Don’t miss this place! There are so many things that impress me about Daft Badger. The first thing is their beer. There is passion and art behind their locally crafted beer. Just ask them about it! I’m not usually a big IPA fan, but they make the best blood orange IPA that will convert any IPA doubter. It’s amazing! Their food is also great– creative, modern, fun, and delicious. We loved their pulled pork nachos and their cup of bacon starter drenched in a spicy huckleberry glaze. Who knew bacon and beer go so well together? Another thing that makes Daft Badger stand out is their service. The servers here make you feel like an old friend, and that for me puts Daft Badger over the top in the CDA beer scene.

1710 N. 2nd St.

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#2 Paragon Brewing

Paragaon Brewing is my second favorite beer pub in CDA. They make fantastic beer and have turned me into a “beer girl,” words I’d never previously use to describe myself. I love their Hefeweizen called, “Haymaker Here.” It tastes like banana bread, and it brought me into total comfort food mode. I also tried another beer with notes of guava and tropical fruit, and I loved that one too. It’s hard to find a beer here that I don’t like! They have an outdoor space, it is small and can get really hot mid-day, but it is still a nice place to be especially on Thursday nights when they have live music. I loved all of the food that we tried here– roasted brussel sprouts, hamburger with tater tots, fish n’ chips, and their fried pickles. Their peanut butter burger sounds weird, but it is so good. You gotta try it. They know how to make food that really compliments their beer. They also have a beer garden area with corn hole and other outdoor games. It is available to rent out for parties if you’re needing a fun space for your next get together. Go check them out!

5785 N. Government Way

Paragon Brewing_CityNibbler_Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

#3 Trails End

Trails End is the most family friendly beer pub in CDA. While the outside doesn’t look like anything special, the inside is full of beautiful murals, fun lighting, and tables decorated with stickers from breweries across the world. I love the chill and relaxed vibe. There is a kids’ area upstairs with games like shuffleboard and darts. They also make house-made root beer and ginger-ale that the kids will love, and probably adults too. Yum! While they do have an outdoor space, it is very small, only fitting a few guests. Trails End is the only brewery in CDA that serves pizza, and in my opinion, you can’t get a better combo than pizza and beer. Their pizza is made in a brick-oven giving it a little char on the crust and the perfect amount of chewiness. Their pretzel bites and garlic twigs are great if you’re just wanting some small bites with your drinks. They have a wide beer selection with several IPA’s as well as other types of beer, so there is something for everyone. I love their huckleberry sour. I’ve always been a fan of sours and this one is locally inspired with real pieces of huckleberry in it. There are tons of cider options too made from other local breweries! If you can’t choose, get their beer flight. Nice staff, good service, and a chill atmosphere. Trails End is a fun addition to the beer scene in Coeur d’Alene!

356 W. Bosanko Ave.

Trails End Brewery_City Nibbler_Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

#4 Jeremiah Johnson

Jeremiah Johnson is located in the new hip part of Coeur d’Alene, right in the middle of midtown. While their food selection is more limited than other brew pubs in town, they make great beer. Their menu is simple but their beer is always consistent– Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, Hazy IPA. My favorite was the Citra IPA with hints of grapefruit and orange peel. It was easy to drink and so refreshing for summer. Their raspberry blonde ale also is great in the heat. And if you aren’t crazy about beer, they have rotating local ciders available too. While I don’t believe their pretzel is house-made, it is still a good food option here and looks impressive when brought to your table. They serve it hanging in the air for a wow factor, and it comes with some delicious dipping sauces. You really can’t go wrong with pretzels and beer! Check out their happy hour from 4-6 PM where you can snag an ice cold pint of beer and a pretzel for only $10. Live music starts at 6PM!

(If you are craving something sweet afterwards, go across the street to Panhandle Cone and Coffee for some locally made ice cream!)

826 N. 4th St.