Hoppy Trail

The Spokane Brewers Festival isn’t the only big beer game around the area this weekend.

The fourth annual Ales for the Trail, on Saturday from 2 to 8 in downtown Coeur d’Alene’s McEuen Park, features 26 breweries from the region and beyond (up from last year’s 16) to benefit the North Idaho Centennial Trail Foundation.

That includes 10 from North Idaho – Daft Badger, Downdraft, Kootenai River, Laughing Dog, Mad Bomber, Post Falls, Rants & Raves, Selkirk Abbey, Slate Creek and Trickster’s – plus Boise Brewing and Grand Teton from the southern part of the state.

There’s also Eastern Washington’s Bale Breaker, No-Li, Orlison, Paradise Creek and River City; Montana’s Great Northern; and Ballast Point, Deschutes, Elysian, Georgetown, Goose Island, New Belgium, Ninkasi and 10 Barrel. North Idaho Cider also will be on hand. 

For food, there’s the Edelwagen, Wurst Man in Town, Auggies Drivin Diner and Smok’n Mikes Barbecue trucks plus Sweet Peaks Ice Cream; kids are allowed in the company of a legal guardian. Live music will be provided by The Rub and Strange Brew.  

Your first six 5-ounce drink tickets are included in the $30 admission (additional tickets $2 each). The first 500 people to register get a stainless steel pint glass; ride your bike to the event and be eligible for prize drawings.