The Copper Door, a new Tacoma taproom and beer bottle shop, is set to open Thursday, April 3, in the Stadium District next to Gibson's Frozen Yogurt. I think. Owner Craig Moore planned on opening yesterday, but a pesky sink wouldn't fit in the front bar delaying final inspection. He told me his beautiful copper door won't swing open until tomorrow, when it exposes 1,700 square feet of taproom space and another 866 square feet of store space for 750 bottle refrigerated brews. That is, if Moore passes inspection. I've been hounding him for answers since the weekend, but the busy man who crafted beers in Portland before landing on Tacoma Avenue North has been silent the past few days.
BEER NEWS
Yesterday, the Emergency Food Network was presented with a $2,550 check generated from sales of Neo Noir, the Black Belgian IPA brewed earlier this year during a group hug by Jeff Carlson of Harmon Brewing Co., Steve Navarro of Pacific Brewing & Malting Co., Beth Carlson and Cressencio Rodriguez of Ram Brewery, Morgan Alexander of Tacoma Brewing Co. and Ken Thorurn of Wingman Brewers.
Neo Noir made its debut during Tacoma Beer Week. A portion of proceeds from Neo Noir sales went to EFN. "This donation will provide for approximately 15,000 meals," said Jeff Klein, development director for EFN, in a news release. On an annual basis, EFN supplies more than 15.6 million pounds of food during 1.4 million visits.
Odd Otter Brewing Company, a new craft microbrewery in Tacoma, has reached 100 percent of its Kickstarter funding goal a week before the campaign concludes. The campaign, which ends Saturday, April 5, sought $15,000 to open a brewery at Seventh and Pacific Avenue in downtown Tacoma. You can still have your name on their founder wall, nab a T-shirt or join the found mug club if you donate before Saturday.
You might be seeing a bit more of the award-winning Silver City Brewing out of Silverdale and Bremerton. Its Ridgetop Red Ale and Saint Florian IPA are now available in 6-packs of 12-ounce bottles.
BEER TASTED
I arrived late to Speakeasy Ales & Lagers Draft release party at Pint Defiance March 23. Owner Barry Watson said its Metropolis Lager was the best lager he has ever tasted. It blew in 40 minutes. I arrived in time to taste the San Francisco brewery's Massacre Belgian Stout, an absolutely delicious black wheat wine made with cherries and aged in bourbon barrels.
I dropped by the Crown Bar March 24 for Tournament of Burgers research and to get in on the Scuttlebutt Brewing Co. Beer Night. Dig its Chain Breaker IPA. It's a lemon zinger, with sweet honey and bready wheat malts. Hello sunshine.
BEER HERE
Friday, April 4
Narrows Brewing head brewer Joe Walts hosts Skip Madsen with American Brewing for a brewer's night beginning at 5 p.m. Dark Horse Band kicks it at 8 p.m.
Saturday, April 5
The Harmon Restaurant and Brewery is one of the venues participating in the Gray Sky Blues Music Festival. From noon to 5 p.m., expect to hear Fistful of Dollars, The Mark Riley Trio, Maia Santell and House Blend, Jack Gaffney out of Boulder, Colo., and Nolan Garret. Admission is free.
Too much free time ...