Revamps
Tangletown’s newest beer destination has changed its name, but nothing else.
Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Mar 07, 2012 at 03:25PM
By any name, this is a fantastic place to drink beer. Photo: Olivia Brent
Just three months after opening, The Publican, the ferociously legit new beer bar from the team behind Brouwer’s Cafe and Bottleworks has changed its name to the Burgundian Tavern.
The reason: to avoid further legal wrangling with the team behind Paul Kahan’s restaurant the Publican in Chicago. Owner Matt Bonney called the whole situation “an unfortunate mess” and said the establishment had already spent more money on lawyers than made him comfortable.
While the name’s connotation as a major wine region might seem a puzzling fit for a beer bar, Bonney gave me a quick-hit European history lesson that made it all make sense: The region between present-day Belgium and France long ago “became known as a place for good food and good drink, and people from there were considered to be people of leisure and drink and food,” says Bonney. In Europe especially, the term “Burgundian” has a bon vivant-ish connotation of “fine drink and fine good and good times and perhaps a little excess.” Which, coincidentally, is what Bonney and his ilk offer at their new establishment (by way of proof, check out the Former Publican’s glorious fried chicken and waffles in this month’s breakfast issue).
Nothing has changed besides the name, says Bonney. “We might carry one bottle of French wine. That’s it.”
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Openings, Closings, Re-Openings
The Publican’s opening is semi-imminent, Uber Tavern will close..temporarily.
Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Dec 27, 2011 at 01:30PM
This most comprehensive Green Lake beer emporium is classing up the joint. Photo: Uber Tavern via Facebook.
A long and hopefully booze-laden holiday weekend has given way to some notable tavern updates. First, new Brouwer’s Cafe sibling the Publican planned to open today, December 27. The establishment then toyed with our collective hearts/livers by announcing to Washington Beer Blog this morning that the opening has been postponed (we kid about the toying; the process of opening a bar is obviously fraught with uncertainty, issues and generally aggravating delays). But once the Publican does open its doors in the former Bandolero space in Tangletown, beer lovers will no doubt flock here for the 21 taps. Lest you doubt this place’s beer bona fides, early reports from the soft opening say that Publican serves zero bottled beers. Your only non-draft option is cans, which are enjoying a bit of a renaissance these days thanks to their ability to fend off light and oxygen better than a bottle.
Meanwhile, Green Lake’s Uber Tavern announced to the beer blog world it will close January 22 for a remodel and will reopen February 10. The five-year-old tavern (and dispenser of kegs) has established itself as a reliable destination for a beer selection that’s both jaw-droppingly vast and very well curated. Owner Rick Carpenter says the remodel means a major upgrade of the layout, the actual bar, and all the seating and tables, including inlaid board games on the bar and some table tops. This is cool: A slick 12-foot-long digital menu board will keep patrons updated as to what’s on tap. However the establishment’s bottle cooler, tableside fire pit and the rafters plastered with beer labels will stay.
The bar will reopen with a shiny new keg affixed to each of its 17 taps. There is, however, the small matter of killing the existing kegs before the doors close. Hence January 21 will be dedicated to highly discounted, extremely legit beers. That day will also be the final shift for Uber’s beloved bartender, Niko McNeil. One especially noteworthy keg will be making its way here in his honor from Portland’s Cascade Brewery. And yes, it will be served up at the same discounted prices.
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Bar News Roundup
Twilight Exit, Brouwer’s Cafe owners plotting new drinking establishments.
Posted by: Allecia Vermillion on Nov 02, 2011 at 02:30PM
Former tequila spot Bandolero is making way for beer. Photo: Bandolero.
Reports of notable new bars are flying fast and furious this week. Seattle Beer News delivers some details on a tantalizing rumor circulating of late: The owners of beer destinations Brouwer’s Cafe and Bottleworks have taken over the former Bandolero space in Tangletown. According to Geoff Kaiser, plans are in the works for a bar called The Publican, slated to open in late December. The space will have 22 taps, he reports, and focus on American microbrews.
Meanwhile, the owners of the Central District’s most excellent Twilight Exit have a new bar in the works in what used to be Thompson’s Point of View near 23rd and Union. Central District News says the place will be called The Neighbor Lady and be vegetarian focused. One can’t help but be intrigued by a place described by owner Stephan Mollmann as “urban brothel, but not too westerny.”
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