Parking lot beer gets official at 7 Seas community beer garden
Don’t mess with breweries.
That seems to be the message 7 Seas Brewing has stuck to Gov. Inslee’s July 23 changes to Safe Start guidelines, which required alcohol-only establishments to shutter indoor seating — again. These changes, they learned just three days ago, would stick until Washington state enters Phase 4 of its coronavirus recovery — whenever that might be.
Along with their winemaking and distilling counterparts, breweries across Washington state spent the past week reconfiguring their 2020 plans for a rollback to curbside pickup and delivery of packaged beer.
Like many such manufacturers, 7 Seas does not have an outdoor seating area, but given the do-or-die reality under COVID-19 restrictions, the brewery has figured out a way to make it work.
Starting today, 7 Seas and restaurant partner 3uilt, which operates inside the Tacoma taproom at 2101 Jefferson Ave., will open a “community beer garden” in the loading dock (and employee parking lot) off 23rd Street. It will seat about 100 socially distanced guests, marketing and communications mangaer Rachyl Fojtik told The News Tribune, with the potential to expand.
A U Cool truck will host 20 taps, seven dedicated to guest pours. Those friends will include beers from Tacoma’s own Wingman, Narrows, Black Fleet and Sig, plus Gig Harbor’s Wet Coast. Two taps will feature cider from nearby Incline and Chimacum’s Finn Rivery Farm and Cidery.
By the can or glass, guests can also choose among Portland’s Schilling Cidery, Seattle’s gluten-free Ghostfish Brewing, and Mosquito Fleet Winery in Belfair, Wash.
3uilt will continue to serve its stellar sandwiches, including vegan and vegetarian options made with local ingredients, and Puget Sound oysters in the “secret beer garden,” as it referred to the forthcoming space in an Instagram post.
The project’s goal, said Fotjik, “is to feature all Washington-owned and produced products.”
“We have some fantastic local producers, and we all need each other’s help during these times especially,” the brewery wrote on social media. “Our promise to our staff and all our fans: We will continue to serve you the finest beer, in the absolute safest atmosphere possible.”
The post also encouraged beer drinkers to buy product at local grocers, bottle shops and restaurants — all of which can sell canned and bottled beer, as well as Crowlers and growlers, to-go during the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to temporary easements by the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.
7 Seas closed the Tacoma taproom Thursday to create the outdoor space. The original Gig Harbor taproom has expanded its outdoor seating area to accommodate additional guests, seven days a week.
The new beer garden will operate limited hours, 2-9 p.m., Friday through Sunday, with nearby street parking on Hood Street.
Per the updated guidelines, restaurants cannot serve alcohol past 10 p.m.
*Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with details on participating breweries.
Tacoma Community Beer Garden
▪ 7 Seas Brewing, 2101 Jefferson St., Tacoma, 7seasbrewing.com
▪ Details: outdoor beer from local breweries and food by 3uilt
▪ Hours: Friday to Sunday, 2-9 p.m.
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This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 7:00 AM.