Loose Screw Beer Co. is bringing its beer downtown. The Meridian-based brewery plans to open a taproom in early 2027 at 211 N. Eighth St. in Boise, taking over the space currently occupied by Rustica and building its first in-house kitchen into the deal.
The announcement, first reported by KBOI, comes after Loose Screw spent much of the past year searching for a new taproom location following the January closure of its McMillan spot in Boise. The new Boise taproom will serve beer brewed at the company’s downtown Meridian brewery, with core beers and rotating seasonal releases on tap alongside a main gathering area and a private event space for hosting.
Ryan Poffenbarger will lead menu development and oversee the kitchen, a first for Loose Screw, whose prior locations operated without one. The Boise menu is expected to include handhelds, pizza, salads and shareable appetizers, according to the station’s report. Co-founder Mike Garcia said the company feels fortunate to join downtown Boise’s restaurant and beer-bar community and to contribute to its beer culture, per the same account.
From Garden City Startup to Downtown Expansion
Loose Screw’s path to downtown Boise traces back to a 2020 launch in Garden City, followed by a 2021 expansion into a 2,200-square-foot McMillan location and the 2024 opening of its flagship downtown Meridian operation, as reported by idahostatesman.com. That Meridian space, a remodeled former Chapel of the Chimes funeral home, now houses the brewery’s entire production facility along with the taproom and an events center, according to BoiseDev’s 2024 report on the opening…