Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Ray of sunshine

Rick Bonino

Sometimes, all you really need is a calm, comfortable refuge for taking shelter from life’s storms.

Downdraft Brewing (formerly Cloudburst), which officially opens today in Post Falls, is shaping up to be just that sort of place. It’s the painstakingly shepherded project of two homebrewing couples, Nick and Aimee Brayman, and Nolan and Andrea Garrett.  

Tucked into a rear corner space in the Treaty Rock business plaza on Seltice Way, the taproom is cool and inviting with its gray walls, black furnishings and plentiful windows. Silver ductwork runs overhead, while a structure made from copper tubing frames the sparkling black granite-topped bar.

A large three-dimensional logo sign hangs over the taps on the wall behind, with hanging lights wrapped in chicken wire adding an unusual touch.

The initial beer offerings from the 10-barrel brewhouse are just as clean and straightforward as the surroundings.

The lightest, Project Pale (5 percent alcohol by volume, 36 International Bitterness Units) – so named because of its experimental nature – gets its bready, slightly sweet body from Maris Otter, Munich and caramel malts, and finishes dry with hints of Summit and Cascade hops.

An Anonymous Amber (AA, for short; 5.5, 38) is equally easy-drinking, with a lightly hoppy character from dry-hopping with Cascades.

The more distinctive Seltice SMaSH India pale ale (7.2, 70) – that’s the beer-geek acronym for “Single Malt and Single Hop” – is all pale malt and Chinook hops, with fruity, floral notes on the way to a big piney finish. It goes down deceptively smooth for its strength.

While seldom seen around Spokane breweries, brown ales are more common in North Idaho, and Exit 5 (6.2, 33) doesn’t disappoint. Named after the freeway turnoff for the brewery, it’s fairly dry and toasty for the style, with a hop presence that’s likely to get dialed down a bit in future batches – so if that sounds like your sort of thing, get it while  you can.

Rounding out the regular lineup is Black Beryl Stout (6.5, 50), full-flavored with some creamy smoothness and the requisite coffee and chocolate notes.

Downdraft has a red-colored tap handle that’s designated for experimental or one-off brews. First up is Half Cracked Stout (4.7, 50), which was the first attempt at the Black Beryl – except half of the chocolate malt didn’t crack properly during grinding, reducing its contribution to the finished beer. The result is a sort of session stout with the stronger flavors of black malt and Irish roasted barley coming to the fore.

Other styles under consideration for future brews include a light Belgian grisette, a porter, an India red ale and a more malt-balanced IPA.

But for now, the Downdraft crew is just happy to finally get the doors open. Check it out today from 1 to 9 p.m., with the Shameless Sausages food truck due to arrive at 4:30.