Kellogg’s only brewery makes plans to brew and serve more beer

The Radio Brewing taproom in Kellogg is designed to reflect the days of old-time radio. | Photo by Carol Woolum Roberts

This story is the third stop in Project FARE’s 2022 Idaho Brewery Tour. We’ll be featuring breweries around the state throughout April for Idaho Craft Beer Month and May for American Craft Beer Week (May 16-22). Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter for more stories.

Story and photos by Carol Woolum Roberts

When it opened, Radio Brewing Company was the first brewery in the town of Kellogg—and five years later, it remains the only one. Owners Ashley and Fred Mehaffie bring years of brewing experience to Idaho’s Silver Valley, and they’re planning to use those skills to expand.

Currently Radio Brewing Company has a taproom serving lunch and dinner, with the brewing facility right next door. The Mehaffies recently purchased the former Kellogg City Hall, Library and Firehall building that is next to their current taphouse. They plan to increase the brewing area by using the former firehall, open another taproom in the current library location and add a speakeasy in the basement.

The expansion is needed to keep up with their production needs.

“Since we signed up with a distributor, our beers are now sold across the state, and this exposure has tripled our production,” Ashley said. “We need more space and equipment to brew more beer.”

Ashley Mehaffie adds hops to the boil kettle as part of the brewing process. | Photo by Carol Woolum Roberts

Fred and Ashley both have a long history brewing beer.

“I grew up in the brewing industry,” said Ashley. “I’ve gained experience working in breweries in California and Colorado. Fred also brings over 20 years of brewing experience to our business.”

The name Radio Brewing Company is a take-off of Ashley and Fred’s initials, AM and FM, the two kinds of frequencies radio stations use to broadcast their programming.

“Our approach to brewing is similar to the AM and FM distinctions,” said Ashley. “I want to take over the world with production beers, and Fred enjoys experimenting with one-off beers.”

Some of these experiments include beer aged in bourbon or sherry barrels.

“We are trying to use more Idaho ingredients in our beers,” Ashley said. “Our Beyond Midnight Coffee Stout uses coffee from a local coffee roaster.”

Ashley Mehaffie's original art designs are used on Radio Brewing’s beer cans. | Photo by Carol Woolum Roberts

In sticking with the radio theme, their goal is to name the beers based on old-time shows from the early days of radio. Wild Cat Wire Wheat is based on an old radio show. Currently, their most popular beer is Idaho Sexy Huckleberry Wheat.

Each beer can label is designed by Ashley, who is also an artist.

“I have always enjoyed creating the ’30s and ’40s pin-up girl art,” she said.

Visit Radio Brewing Company
319 Main Street, Kellogg
11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday
11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday
radiobrewingcompany.com