When you’re located in what amounts to a concrete bunker underneath a Ross Dress for Less store, you’d better have something good going on. On that front, the Manito Tap House has it covered. Spokane, WA’s newest spot for great craft beer boasts 50 taps and a varied menu of locally sourced food. You can find it in Spokane’s South Hills at 3011 South Grand Blvd and on facebook here.
Sure, the exterior of the restaurant doesn’t exactly beckon, but step in side and the concrete walls, beer label artwork, wood bench seating, and beer bottle light fixtures combine to form a warm, inviting atmosphere. We settled in to a small table and stared wide-eyed and all smiles at the beer list. It not only tells you what’s on tap, but let’s you know what’s coming soon, too. The variety is excellent, with not a single American macro to be found. Instead, there’s a nice mix of craft IPAs to Belgians with a particular focus on the west coast. Our visit was on a cold, Thursday night while taking a short trip to Spokane for some Christmas shopping. As we’d seen reported, the place was quite busy with a short wait for tables and no room at the bar. People are digging this place and it’s easy to see why.
For a first round, we selected Back in Black, a 21st Amendment Brewing Co. black IPA and a Don’t Fret Porter from the local 12 String Brewery. The black IPA was excellent. As for the Don’t Fret Porter, they should. For food we went for the 29th Ave. Wrap and a Tap House Steak. The Wrap was good, but the yam chips it came with were a fantastic crispy mixture of salty sweet goodness. The steak was simply excellent. Here’s the description: 8-oz Misty Isle Farms Hanger Steak marinated in Laurelwood Organic Free Range Red, served with mashed yam potatoes, topped with an agrodolce sauce & fried capers.
Round two brought us a Supergoose Double IPA from Hale’s Ales in Seattle and a Chocolate Oak Aged Yeti Imperial Stout from Great Divide Brewing in Denver, two very fine beers among many in the impressive line up. It’s a popular place and our only thought was why the bar isn’t twice as big? Really, there isn’t room, but with the lineup of taps they’ve got, it’s the type of place that attracts craft beer lovers who like to hang out at the bar and try the wares.
After a long round of Christmas shopping we decided to hit Manito again for a snack and a couple beers early Saturday evening. Pints of Old Jubilation Ale from Avery Brewing Co. in Boulder, CO, and Humboldt Brown Hemp Ale from Nectar Ales in Pasa Robles, CA impressed. Again, the place was busy, lively and welcoming. During both visits we found the service to be quite good and attentive with knowledgeable bartenders.
The Manito Tap House. It’s where to find beer.
