A good beer and a good boulder problem have more in common than you'd think. Both start with someone who has done the work for years, has a pretty good idea of what people will love, and still wants to sneak in a little surprise.
That's the idea behind our FlailFest collaboration with Kaniksu Brewing, our neighbors here in Post Falls. Kaniksu is brewing a one-of-a-kind pale ale just for FlailFest on Saturday, November 14. To get the story behind it, we put Kaniksu's owner and brewer, Kris Herambourg, side by side with Angus, Coeur's head routesetter, and let them compare recipes.
Quick climbing translation: "sending" means finishing a climb from start to finish without falling. This beer is brewed for that moment, and for the celebrating that comes after.
Meet the Neighbors
Kaniksu is a small North Idaho brewery just around the block from the gym. Kris says you can almost see their place from ours. His official titles are owner, operator, brewer, and (his words) head janitor. Kaniksu brews in small batches out of their taproom on Riverbend Ave. They've poured at FlailFest and other Coeur events before, so they already know our crowd pretty well.
Angus is the person behind the climbs on our walls. He has eight years of routesetting experience and 16 years of climbing, and every new problem you try at Coeur has passed through his hands.
The Beer: A Tropical Twist on a Pale Ale
When Coeur asked Kaniksu for a FlailFest beer, Kris looked at what has worked at past events. Pale ales have been a hit with climbers every time, so that's where he started.
From there, he tweaked his standard pale ale recipe. Instead of the punchy orange and grapefruit flavors you usually get in a pale, this one leans tropical: smoother and lighter, with notes of mango, guava, and possibly some pineapple.
"We're going to try and push some tropical notes and make it a little bit different than what you get typically," Kris said.
Hoppy doesn't have to mean bitter
There will be plenty of hops in this beer. Kris pointed out that a lot of people hear "hoppy" and think bitter, but he thinks of hops as flavor. How bitter a beer ends up depends on how the brewer uses them.
Angus took that and ran with it: "Some people find the hops in the climbs to be bitter, but I think it's tasteful." (In climbing, a hop is a small jump from one hold to the next. Some climbers love them. Some do not.)
The Climbs: Setting for Everyone at Once
Setting for a competition is a balancing act. FlailFest draws first-time competitors and seasoned boulderers, and Angus has to give all of them a good day on the same walls.
"We're going to set something that's going to challenge everybody in a different way at a different point during the climb," Angus said. The goal is that everyone has fun, nobody feels completely thrashed, and somebody still makes it to the top.
Our walls are mostly vertical, which means the setters have to get creative. Angus likes to pair tricky footholds with a mix of delicate movement and power. Most climbers naturally lean one way, either precise and balance-focused or strong and dynamic. Asking for both rounds everybody out and keeps the competition interesting.
Same Job, Different Medium
The more Kris and Angus talked, the more their jobs sounded alike. Both start with what they personally want to make, then shape it around what their people will enjoy.
For Kris, that's the best part of brewing: thinking ahead about what people will want and then pulling it off so they can enjoy it later. Angus described setting the same way. He has ideas of his own, but the climb has to work for the climbers, with his own twist that makes it feel special.
And both rely on experience. Angus has years of watching how our community climbs. Kris has poured at enough Coeur events to know what this crowd likes to drink.
What This Means for Your FlailFest
If you're competing
Expect problems designed to play to your strengths and test your weak spots, whatever your level. FlailFest is open to climbers of all ages and abilities.
→ See what's up for grabs in our FlailFest prizes and partners roundup
If you're cheering
Spectators are always welcome. Grab food from our partners at Wellness Bar, watch the finals, and if you're 21 or older, try the new pale ale on release night. Bring your ID.
If you're curious about the name
Thanks to everyone who voted in our beer-naming contest! The votes are in, and we'll reveal the winning name on November 6. Keep an eye on our Instagram so you know what you're ordering when you walk in on the 14th.
→ Get the schedule, registration info, and event details on the FlailFest page
Local Through and Through
Coeur and Kaniksu are only a few minutes apart in Post Falls, and partnering with the businesses around us is a big part of how we build community. If you're climbing at Coeur this fall, it's an easy stop to swing by Kaniksu's taproom on Riverbend Ave after your session.
FlailFest is one big day, but Angus and the setting crew reset climbs all year long. If the competition gets you hooked, a Coeur membership keeps you climbing every week with unlimited bouldering and rope climbing, free yoga, and perks from our local community partners.
Come for the climbing, stay for the pale ale, and say hi to Angus and Kris on November 14. Cheers!
