IDAHO FALLS – Beer lovers across the country will descend on Sandy Downs in Idaho Falls this weekend for the 30th annual Mountain Brewers Beer Fest.
Gregg Smith, president of the North American Brewers Association, which is sponsoring the event, tells EastIdahoNews.com it’s happening Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. Special T-shirts will be printed to commemorate the 30th anniversary.
T-shirts are printed every year, and they’ll be available for the diehard collectors.
Aside from that, the 2025 event will be similar to what’s been in the past. More than 100 vendors from across the country will showcase a variety of beers, seltzers, ciders and cocktails. Among them is pFriem Family Brewers from Hood River, Oregon, which specializes in artisanal beers. Templin Family Brewing out of Salt Lake will also be there showcasing its array of lager beers.
“You pay your admission to get in and you get a cup of as many as you would like to sample,” Smith says. “You can wander around and try what you like.”
Qualified judges will award prizes for the best beers, ciders, meads, and sodas. Vendors from as far away as Texas, Arizona, and Washington will be in attendance.
BJ’s Bayou, Knights of Columbus, Mr. B’s Pizza and other local food vendors will be there as well, along with live music from Two Bald Guys, a cover band based in Idaho Falls.
It’s open to anyone 21 and over. A bus will shuttle people in from different pickup locations around town, which are listed on the website. Proceeds from the event benefit multiple local organizations, including Hospice of Eastern Idaho, Community Youth in Action and The Art Museum of Eastern Idaho. Breaking Boundaries is the primary benefactor.
Mountain Brewers Beer Fest began in 1995 as a fundraiser for the Colonial Theater in downtown Idaho Falls.
“We did it several years in a row for the Colonial. After the Colonial got established … we did it for a couple of different charities,” Smith recalls. “Eventually, we teamed up with Breaking Boundaries and they did such a good job, we’ve just stuck with them.”
The mission of Breaking Boundaries, according to its website, is to “help those with HIV/AIDS in Southeast Idaho live a life of independence and dignity through direct financial support, and also to increase awareness and prevention by providing HIV/AIDS education to the community.”
Breaking Boundaries receives the bulk of the proceeds each year. The rest is divvied out among other charities. A portion of the funds are used to provide five scholarships as well.
Among the three events hosted by North American Brewers Association annually, Smith says around $150,000 is raised to support local charities.
“To date, it’s totaled around $2.5 million,” says Smith. “We are 100% volunteer-powered. Nobody gets a salary or a stipend. It’s all volunteer work for everyone involved (in putting this on).”
The event is always well-attended and Smith is expecting that trend to continue.
“We’re going to have great weather. It’s always a great time,” he says.
Tickets are $50 and must be purchased in advance. To buy tickets or learn more, click here.
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