Something's Brewing for FlailFest, and We Need You to Name It
This year FlailFest gets its own beer, alongside the fresh problems on the wall! Our friends at Kaniksu Brewing, just down the road here in Post Falls, are brewing a pale ale made just for our annual climbing comp. It will pour at FlailFest on November 14.
The beer doesn't have a name yet, though, and we'd like you to give it one.
Meet Kaniksu Brewing
If you haven't been to Kaniksu yet, here's what to expect. The brewery started out as a homebrew supply store in Post Falls. After years of helping local homebrewers make their own beer, the team started brewing their own. The taproom sits right inside the shop, so you can order a pint and browse the grain bins on the same visit.
The name comes from the Kaniksu National Forest, the rugged stretch of wild country that surrounds this corner of North Idaho. That's a name we can get behind at a climbing gym that spends a lot of time thinking about getting outside.
What to order on your first visit
Kaniksu brews styles from all over the world, and several of them have won awards. A few to try:
Kaniksu Krush IPA: a West Coast IPA with citrus and pine up front and a clean, bitter finish. The hop lineup rotates, so it changes a little from batch to batch.
Black Robe Porter: an easy-drinking English porter with light roast and a hint of coffee. It's a good pick if you usually stay away from dark beers.
La Posta Cade Pilsner: a light, crisp Italian-style pilsner you can drink all year.
Rathdrum Red: an Irish red ale named for our neighbors up the road.
For the current lineup, check the full tap list, or follow along at @kaniksubrewing to see what's pouring.
Why this partnership fits
Kaniksu says great beer shouldn't be intimidating, and that it welcomes everyone from first-timers to seasoned brewers. Swap "beer" for "climbing" and you'd have a line from our own playbook. Their brewers also help customers with homebrew, so you can ask about the recipe in your glass and leave with the ingredients to try it yourself. We'd call that good beta. Both of our businesses depend on locals who love learning something new and doing it together.
A beer made for the comp
The FlailFest beer is a pale ale, an easy pick for a day of climbing, cheering, and swapping stories about the problem that got away. Built on a traditional west coast pale malt bill, this pale ale will be balanced and crushable. The hop bill should lean heavily into tropical stone fruit and pineapple characters with undertones of citrus. For the beer enthusiasts, here’s the hop breakdown:
Motueka - crushed citrus, lively lemon, basil and rosemary herbal notes
Nectaron - pineapple, passionfruit, peach, and grapefruit
Wai-iti - lush with stonefruit, citrus tones of lime and mandarin
BRU-1 - distinct sweet aroma
It will debut on tap at Kaniksu the same weekend as FlailFest! And, of course, it’ll be poured at Coeur for the competition on November 14. At FlailFest you'll find it where beverages are being served, for guests 21 and older with a valid ID.
Help us name it
This is where you come in. Here's how the naming contest works:
October 5: Submissions open. For about a week, watch our Instagram Stories at @coeurclimbing and send us your best name ideas.
Mid-October: Our team and the Kaniksu crew choose three favorites.
Next: The three finalists go to a public vote in our Stories, and you pick the winner.
Friday, November 6: We announce the winning name.
November 7: The name is final, and Kaniksu labels the keg.
November 14: We raise a glass at FlailFest.
Tips for a name that makes the final three
Climbing puns are welcome. So are nods to North Idaho or the finer points of flailing on a problem you swore you had. Words like send, crimp, beta, and pump are all fair game. Just keep it label-worthy, because the finalists need to look good on a tap handle at an event full of families.
Not following us on Instagram yet? Find us at @coeurclimbing so you don't miss the Stories →
FlailFest 2026 is coming November 14
FlailFest is our annual climbing competition. It's one of our favorite days of the year because everyone shows up: first-time competitors, kids, longtime members, and plenty of people who just come to cheer. Prizes come from our local partners, and the energy in the gym is a lot of fun.
You don't need to be an expert to compete, and you don't need to compete to come hang out. Get all the details on the FlailFest HQ page →
Two Post Falls favorites, one good Saturday
Kaniksu and Coeur are a short drive apart here in Post Falls, and that makes for an easy afternoon. Climb a session, then go pull up a stool at the taproom. Local businesses working together like this are a big part of why we love this community. Find Kaniksu's hours and directions on their Visit page.
If FlailFest leaves you wanting more wall time this winter, a Coeur membership → gets you unlimited climbing, free yoga, and a guest pass every month to bring a friend.
See you on the wall, and at the tap.
