(San Francisco, CA) – Speakeasy Ales & Lagers, one of San Francisco’s favorite local brewers since 1997, has partnered with DIY/Indie Mart maven Kelly Malone to transform an underutilized corner of the brewery into a full-time tasting room and retail space. The dark, subterranean space was perfectly suited for creating a “speakeasy” ambiance, complete with secret hideaways, vintage-inspired lighting and, of course, a heavy duty door with working peephole.
Built almost exclusively with salvaged and recycled materials, the Speakeasy Tap Room will have a rustic, industrial aesthetic with period nods to the era of flapper girls and bootlegging.
“We wanted to take advantage of the vibe of the space to create something that would evoke a real 1920’s basement speakeasy,” said Director of Sales, Brandon Borgel. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring people out here for a unique experience, tour the brewery and enjoy a brewery-fresh beer with us.”
Coinciding with the start of SF Beer Week, the Speakeasy Tap Room will debut on Saturday, February 9, with events planned daily throughout the week. The new space boasts 12 Speakeasy beers on tap, exclusive merchandise, and some beers you might not find anywhere else: “The Tap Room will allow us to experiment with new ideas and get feedback at the source,” says Head Brewer, Kushal Hall. “We put the taps a few feet from my office door, so just…knock.”
Customers can create their own tasting flights and take their favorite brew home, either in a refillable growler or in one of the brewery’s many bottled varieties. For those who want to enjoy their IPA amidst the stacks of kegs and grain, the brewery’s popular Friday Happy Hour will live on as the newly christened Brewhouse Bar, open Fridays at 3 pm and featuring $3 beers until 5pm.
Although the Speakeasy Tap Room won’t be serving food, look for local food trucks such as Le Truc, Del Popolo and The Rib Whip to make appearances during Beer Week. For a full listing of Speakeasy’s SF Beer Week events, visit sfbeerweek.org.
Speakeasy Ales & Lagers is located at 1195 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA.
