Just got back from attending the long awaited opening of the cascade barrel house. Stopped by after work and had a bourbonic plague, vlad the imp aler, and nightfall, along with a grilled ham and Gruyere cheese sandwich and salad, which was delicious and affordable. For a barely announced opening, things were being run real smooth and professionally, the place was well staffed, and the crowd was large.
I don't have much else to say, other than it was worth the wait!
This is the quietest opening of all time. Sally was walking by and texted me, asking, hey, is the barrel house open? Hell if I know! Gots to get me down there.
ReplyDeleteYeah, the crazy thing was that for an opening that was basically just announced on twitter, and then removed a bit later, there were probably 10 people on staff, the kitchen was open and serving all their options, and everything was running super smoothly.
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard they kinda might be open, I was expecting to have to be a little patient as they worked out a lot of kinks, but they hit the ground running. I was impressed.
Is it just me, or is that place ugly as sin? Cheezy with a capital Z.
ReplyDelete@Anon:
ReplyDeleteI don't think they're going to win any awards for design or anything, and it could certainly be a lot nicer, but it seems inoffensive enough to me. I like the big exposed ceiling beams, and the use of barrels all over as design elements.
The long picnic style communal tables and benches could be nicer. Dimmer switches on the ceiling lights could help a bit too w/ the atmosphere; it IS too bright in there.
There is something kinda cheesy about it all though, you're right. I think it's that throwback, 1990's raccoon lodge aesthetic that pops up here and there: the font used for the beer lists over the bar, all the brushed aluminum, and that light blond finish on all the wood.
If it were me designing the place, I would have left a lot of exposed brick, gone heavier on the wood use (and used a darker finish on it), and just gone more rustic over-all.
When I think "barrel-house" I think of a dark, musty, subterranean lair. It seems that with this place, they were using "high school gymnasium" as their inspiration.
Still, this place is special enough to let me overlook it. If there was another barrel aged sour house a few blocks away that looked nicer, Cascade might have a problem, but I don't think they have too much to worry about.
I think Hair of the Dog used the same "get out of jail free" card when they completed the design over at their place as well. They did some stuff real nice over there, but there's also a lot of "what were they thinking?" design mistakes over there too. But who cares?
It's about the BEER!
@ anonymous:
ReplyDeletewhen I went back last night, every other light on the ceiling was turned off. Good start!