Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Naked City Tap House

The Naked City Tap House is the newest beer bar to open in Seattle and soon to be part brewery. My initial impressions after going there in October was a mediocre atmosphere with a killer beer selection. The bar is very new, so I expect the atmosphere to develop itself as time goes on, but it does not strike me as that great. I wouldn't mind going back for some more relaxing beers, but there are other places I prefer to go. The draft beer selection is great, 24 rotating taps that so far seem to switch up pretty frequently so you should be able to try something new every time you go.

There are two things I like about Naked City that I want to touch on (besides the beer selection). First is their use of technology. They have one of the coolest websites that I have ever seen, it takes a different angle on links and pages, how they interact. I recommend checking it out. Like most businesses they have a newsletter, but one of the links is to a Naked City twitter (probably way too advanced for me since a blog is a huge step). The twitter keeps the tech savvy up on what kegs are tapped, when they are tapped, so there is no reason you would miss an opportunity at a rare beer at Naked City. The second interesting thing is their direction into being a brewery as well. They are working on being a small scale brewery in addition to a bar. I am not sure what their ambitions are for the brewery size, but they should have a customer base established as soon as the beers start being released (first one was tapped tonight). As far as growing a brewery, the tap house will provide immediate feedback on any experimental brews and the feedback should be coming from a very knowledgeable customer.

As I check this place out a few more times I should have some more to add to this, especially after trying some of the house beers.

2 comments:

  1. My biggest beef with Naked City (aside from that last double IPA that kicked my ass) was the interior decor...you hate for something like that to be a deciding factor at a bar, but they had white walls! I felt like I was at a Subway and not drinking nice beers at a bar. The PBC Taphouse needs to balance old-school bar feel with modern technology. I'm talking wood-paneling on the walls (or at least a darker paint color) combined with free wireless for patrons. PS. I'm nursing a Lagunitas Cappacchino Stout watching the election! I love coffee beers.

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  2. Totally agree, that is what I was trying to say with the mediocre atmosphere. My comparison is to a cookie cutter restaurant in a strip mall. I do think that atmosphere is the most important aspect of a bar and we will definitely have to step it up from this.

    Had the Avery Ale to the Chief last night for the election, tasty. Even though it was labeled an Imperial Pale Ale, I still think it very much along the lines of Pliny the Elder and the 90 min.

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