About
Bear Island Brewing

• SERVICE-Veteran owned, proud to have served our country and now our community
• FAMILY– Local, native family operated. Our name is derived from a family story
• COMMUNITY– We utilize local ingredients whenever possible such as Idaho® Potatoes, Red Chair Lavender, Wagner farms pumpkins, Idaho hops, Idaho barley, etc. We also enjoy working with local businesses and establishments daily

It’s a family story! – Once Upon a time in Cascade, Idaho; the Westover family was enjoying time at their to-be cabin site (aka staying in tents while building the family cabin). Being surrounded by wilderness, the children nervously asked their parents about the possibility of running into a bear. The parents told their children that when Cascade Reservoir freezes over in the winter, all of the bears go out to the island in the middle to hibernate. And when they wake up in the spring, the lake is thawed out and they are stuck out there! Therefore, there is no need to be afraid of the bears because they are all on “Bear Island.” We have affectionately used this name for the island ever since and now have proudly named our brewery after it.

Beth Bechtel (Westover)
Chief Executive Officer & Chief Brewing Officer
Boise Native, Veteran Navy EOD

Steve Bechtel
Chief Operations Officer & Lead Brewing Officer
Veteran Navy EOD

Mike Westover
Chief Financial Officer
Boise Native
“Papa Bear”

Miriam Westover
Community Brand Ambassador
Boise Native
“Mama Bear”

Mike Barrett
Transporter, Keg Ninja
“Bearett”

Matt Melby
Brewer  (Newest to the team!!! ****Still needs a nickname)

Lori Christensen
Events coordination
“Auntie Bear”

Pyra Bechtel
Brewdog/”Bier Hound”
Security and Service animal