Sip unfiltered craft beer and eat locally sourced pub fare inside a historic 1928 brick post office, transformed by brothers Mickey and Duffy Knickerbocker.
MickDuff's Brewing Company operates its popular brewpub inside the historic Old Federal Building at 419 North Second Avenue in Sandpoint, Idaho. Founded by brothers Mickey and Duffy Knickerbocker in 2006, the brewery originally established itself nearby before acquiring this landmark 1928 brick structure in September 2019. Following an extensive adaptive reuse project designed to preserve the building's solid masonry and civic character, the Knickerbockers officially relocated their restaurant and main taps here in December 2020. The interior honors its history as a former post office and bank, featuring tall, multi-paned windows that flood the sturdy wooden tables and polished copper tap handles with natural light. It serves as a central gathering point where locals and visitors recount their days spent on Lake Pend Oreille or the ski slopes of Schweitzer Mountain.
The brewpub menu highlights sustainably and locally sourced ingredients, showcasing partnerships with regional purveyors. A signature starter is the house-made beer cheese soup, which incorporates MickDuff's own Knot Tree Porter, three cheeses, and nitrate-free bacon. For a main course, the Wildwood Cedar Plank Salmon features wild-caught Alaskan sockeye salmon sourced from local purveyor Thunder's Catch, grilled on a cedar plank from Sandpoint-based Wildwood Grilling, and served with a rich lemon butter alongside brown rice drizzled in a house tahini Glory sauce. Hand-cut Idaho potato fries are cooked in beef tallow and served with a unique huckleberry ketchup. These dishes pair naturally with the brewery's unfiltered, non-pasteurized ales, which are brewed using the exceptionally soft, clean water of the local watershed. Notable taps include the award-winning Knot Tree Porter, the Strom Hammer English IPA, and the easy-drinking Irish Redhead.
MickDuff's Beer Hall and Brewery Tasting Room, located just around the corner at 220 Cedar Street, offers a distinct, beverage-focused experience. This 2,500-square-foot production facility and tasting room features sixteen taps pouring both flagship beers and experimental, small-batch releases. The space is outfitted with artisan woodworking and local bar art, providing a relaxed setting where guests can enjoy complimentary gourmet organic popcorn or bring their own food from the main brewpub. Entertainment options abound with five big-screen televisions, competition cornhole boards, billiards, foosball, and darts, while the outdoor lawn patio features a fire pit for cooler evenings. On Friday and Saturday nights, the Beer Hall hosts live music, solidifying its role as a premier community hub in downtown Sandpoint.
Order the cedar-planked sockeye salmon or the Knot Tree Porter beer-cheese soup at the Second Avenue brewpub. If you are just looking for drinks and games, head to the Cedar Street Beer Hall for sixteen taps, free organic popcorn, and weekend live music.
Coffee & Craft — Roadside fuel stops curated by Basecamp West. The best coffee shops, craft breweries, diners, and eateries worth the detour on your next Western road trip.