Turning one, turning west

Having established a foothold in North Idaho in its first year of operation, Downdraft is setting its sights on Spokane.

The Post Falls brewery, which celebrates its first anniversary Saturday, has signed with KBI Craft for distribution in Eastern Washington. The first kegs shipped Thursday and a sales push starts Monday.

“That kind of hits home for us,” says Aimee Brayman, a partner in the brewery along with her husband, Nick; co-brewer Nolan Garrett; and Nick’s parents, Dee and Jerry Brayman.

“We all live here in Spokane, so once we see those first taps pop up around here, it’s going to be like, whoa, we’re actually a brewery.”

With new accounts to supply, adding more tanks to boost production is a priority for the 10-barrel brewery’s second year. Longer-range goals include canning, and possibly adding some small-scale food offerings at the taproom.

And while the focus so far has been on the core lineup, Downdraft also hopes to produce more small-batch beers for its Winds of Change pilot tap. Another arrives Saturday for the anniversary party, a Vanilla Stout infused with vanilla bean pods.

There also will be a full-batch seasonal Gingersnap Stout, with candied ginger, molasses, cardamom and cloves. If that sounds familiar, it’s because Downdraft brewed a five-gallon test batch last December that was a taproom hit.

And the Project Pale will be pouring over orange, cinnamon sticks and cloves through the brewery’s newly installed Randall.

That all starts when the doors open at 1 p.m. Things hit full stride at 6, with the arrival of live music by Fair 2 Middlin’ and food from Nick’s Shameless Sausages.

Also look for free homemade soft ginger cookies and pumpkin bar bites with cream cheese frosting, while supplies last.