Beer, wine, pizza — and beavers? This new Tacoma bar has a fun name and relaxed vibe
Did you know beavers have orange teeth and can stay submerged for up to 15 minutes by slowing down their heart rate?
They mate for years and in some cases for life. They are one of just a few species that adjust their habitats, literally moving stuff around to purposely flood a certain area, which in turn limits predators to humans, mostly. In our state, they are considered “furbearers” and require a license to trap. They are our ecological friends, ones that have provided fodder for various news stories in recent years, dotted by descriptors like “enchanting” and “formidable.” They have apparently peeved enough property owners that there is a whole group dedicated to educating us all about them and how darn cool they are.
Perhaps Beavers Northwest has a new meet-up spot!
I don’t know that you’ll hear more about these Department of Fish and Wildlife-sourced facts at The Crafty Beaver, a new bar and pizza lounge near downtown Tacoma, but you will find a beaver on the logo, and behind it a cool, casual space — with images of animals (and the city) on the moody black walls — to kick back with a cold beer, cider or glass of wine and fresh pizza.
“Beavers build!” replied Jeremy McDonald when I inquired of the name. Then he elaborated: He built out the bar from a gutted space that was formerly a gym, including sanding, staining and sealing the bar and table tops. He installed booths for cozy seating options and a modest kitchen equipped with a TurboChef pizza oven.
Focusing on beer and wine largely sourced from Washington and Oregon with a heavy lean on Tacoma, the “crafty” part also made sense.
The flatbread-style pies are intended for sharing, ranging from the straight cheese or pepperoni to a Meat Lovers that adds bacon, Canadian bacon and spicy sausage. They also get a little snazzy, as in the Chicken Bacon Caesar and Shrimp Pesto finished with arugula. Pair with one of three salads to make it a meal.
McDonald envisioned The Crafty Beaver as a neighborhood bar, but he added, “I wanted to give people a reason to stay.” Referencing his neighbors at Medzo Gelato, he hopes together it can “become a little dinner and dessert block.”
Raised in Lakewood, he moved back to the Tacoma area after a few years away working in inventory management. He had always had an interest in the industry and was inspired by the growth of new and unique businesses in recent years.
Growing up, he said, “We never saw the cranes,” and Sixth Avenue was the only major stretch of bars and restaurants where bar-hopping was really feasible. Being near both downtown and Hilltop drew him to this particular nook, and he liked the intimacy of the unit, on the ground floor of a four-story residential building.
The opening tap list features Washington breweries including E9, Bale Breaker and Reuben’s. From Oregon, there’s a pilsner from Occidental and a rosé cider from Double Mountain in Hood River. In addition to frequently rotating kegs, he hopes to bring variety in packaged beer, which to start offers other IPAs, sours, ciders and seltzer. Grapes include selections from Milbrandt Vineyards in Woodinville and LUKE Wines produced in Mattawa.
In case you were wondering, McDonald also has a couple cans from the appropriately named Belching Beaver Brewery out of San Diego — a honey-laced blonde ale and a peanut butter milk stout.
Look for packaged beer to-go in the future, too.
THE CRAFTY BEAVER BAR
▪ 612 Tacoma Ave. S, 253-548-5265, thecraftybeaverbar.com
▪ Wednesday-Thursday 3-10 p.m., Friday 3-11 p.m., Saturday 1-11 p.m., Sunday 1-9 p.m.
▪ Details: neighborhood-style bar with beer, cider and wine ($5-$12) plus pizzas and salad ($8-$24)