After a long day in Sun Valley, whether spent hiking, biking, or skiing, there’s nothing like a good drink with some friends. While we’re no Boulder or Bend, Sun Valley holds its own with breweries producing craft beer. Ketchum and Hailey are also home to a distillery producing several types of liquor as well as a handful of establishments known for their excellent wine selections. We’ve compiled a guide to finding Sun Valley’s best breweries, distilleries and wine establishments.
For Brews & Spirits
Warfield Distillery and Brewery
Ketchum’s only distillery, the Warfield is a one-stop powerhouse with on-site brewery, distillery, and restaurant with an ever-rotating modern American menu. For beer, the Warfield has 14 originals as well as some beers in rotation. True to historical methods of brewing, the Warfield heats their mash with fire and bring malt in and out of the brewery by hand. The Warfield’s distillery also produces small-batch, handmade liquors. Joining the lineup of vodka, gin, and brandy is their own American Whiskey. Distilled in a 215-gallon copper pot, these liquors are imbued with full flavors unique to this distillery. The Warfield is in the process of expanding their operations to increase production of their beer and spirits.
Sawtooth Brewery
The Sawtooth Brewery has two locations: their brewery and tap room in Hailey and the Public House in Ketchum. The brewery got its start in a small spot at the former Clarion Hotel in Ketchum in 2011 where owners Kevin Jones and Paul Holle envisioned people enjoying craft beer after a long day of enjoying the beauty of the area.
Their success has led to the establishment of two locations including a brewery where they produce over 1,000 barrels of craft beer per year and sell their beer all over Idaho. Both the Ketchum and Hailey locations have 25 taps with beer, wine, cider, and kombucha as well as big screen TVs for game day, weekly trivia nights (Tuesdays in Ketchum, Wednesdays in Hailey), happy hour from 3-5:30pm, and a menu of upscale brewery items for lunch and dinner. The Hailey location has kegs available to the public and both have patios for summer enjoyment.
Sun Valley Brewery
Despite its name, the Sun Valley Brewery is actually located in Hailey. Founded in 1986 by brew master Gordon Gammell, this brewery, bar, and restaurant has made a name for itself in national and international beer judging competitions. The on-site brewery produces 12 beers and the restaurant offers a variety of gourmet pub fare. Wine and cocktails are also available and the brewery often hosts band and artists for live music throughout the year. Happy hour is 4-6pm Monday through Friday.
Powerhouse
The Powerhouse, located on Main Street in Hailey, has by far the largest selection of beer in the Wood River Valley. At any given time, there are 19 beers on tap and a menu of over 50 beers to choose from including fruit ales, stouts, ciders, lagers, and even gluten-free and non-alcoholic beers. Their form of happy hour, “Power Hour” is Monday through Friday from 3-6pm and includes burgers, pizza, and bites as well as discounts on tap beers and wine. The menu features classic brew fare like burgers, fries, and sandwiches but elevated due to their use of local, organic and non-GMO ingredients wherever possible.
For Wine
Sun Valley Wine Company
If wine is your choice of drink, look no further than the Sun Valley Wine Company. Located on the second floor on Leadville Avenue, the Wine Company offers a wide variety of wine and beer for purchase as well as roughly a dozen wines offered by the glass. Or simply buy a bottle from the shop and enjoy there! A small menu of eats including cheese, salad, and pizza is available and during the summer, the 2ndstory balcony with views of Baldy can’t be beat.
Enoteca
This restaurant and wine bar is one of three restaurants started by the Mason family in Ketchum. Each of their establishments is known for its own niche and Enoteca’s is serving up Italian eats, woodfire oven pizzas, and an extensive beer and wine list.
Saddle up to their bar seats and get a personal recommendation from their knowledgeable staff on the many wine or beer choices. Order a small plate like the artisanal cheese board or oysters to go with and you’ve got the perfect early evening!
Cookbook
A recent addition to Ketchum’s restaurant scene, Cookbook was started by two former employees of Enoteca who took their experience and transformed it into their own dining experience. Located in what was originally a church, this cozy spot features a rotating locally and globally inspired menu paired with a carefully selected group of wines. Rather than feature an overwhelming number of wines to pick from, wine expert and co-owner Burke Smith made a bold choice to have a small selection (22 wines) that included wines that aren’t usually found in other restaurants including ones from personal friends of the Smiths, wines sourced from the old world, and islands.