WEST SEATTLE BEER: The Best of Hands Barrelhouse’s plan for ex-Corner Deli space


(WSB photo)

One month after John’s Corner Deli closed in Sunrise Heights, we know more about The Best of Hands Barrelhouse, which is taking over the space at 7500 35th Avenue SW. When we first contacted co-proprietor
Nicholas Marianetti last month, after we found an early-stage site plan in city permit files, he said he’d be happy to comment once they finished negotiating a lease. Now, he tells WSB that’s happened, and they’re signing this week, so here’s what’s planned:

The Best of Hands Barrelhouse is a startup specialty brewery with a target launch date of late fall/early winter 2017.

The Barrelhouse will specialize in barrel-aged and barrel-fermented beers as well as wild ales that utilize different souring methods and multiple strains of Brettanomyces. While these sour and/or funky beers will be the brewery’s main focus, we will also produce “clean beers” fermented exclusively by Saccharomyces (brewer’s yeast) that have a proven following here in the Pacific Northwest. We aim to yield styles such as IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, farmhouse ales (such as saisons), and beers crafted in various traditional brewing methods from around the world.

The brewery and taproom will be managed and directed by co-owners Nicholas Marianetti, Gregory Marlor, and Chris Richardson. All three are longtime West Seattleites and veterans of the food and beverage industry. Nicholas and Gregory are Certified Cicerones®, and award winning homebrewers. Chris is a small business owner with 20 years experience in small business operations.

The team is excited to bring their brews and vision to the West Seattle community later this year!

As part of the permit process, the city has to grant a permit for changing the building’s use from retail to “drinking establishment”; Monday’s Land Use Information Bulletin included notice of that application, opening a comment period until March 13th.

56 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE BEER: The Best of Hands Barrelhouse's plan for ex-Corner Deli space"

  • Westside February 28, 2017 (11:49 am)

    I can’t begin to express how awesome this is. Bring on the Brett funk! You know, and IPAs too. 

  • inthehood February 28, 2017 (12:05 pm)

    Keeping the Cow?

    • L Richardson February 28, 2017 (2:41 pm)

      I have it on very good authority that the cow is staying put.

  • Peter February 28, 2017 (12:07 pm)

    This sounds great! Welcome to the neighborhood!

  • Bart February 28, 2017 (12:07 pm)

    Sure, but what about the cow?

  • pagefive February 28, 2017 (12:11 pm)

    You had me at ‘sour’.

  • Devon February 28, 2017 (12:15 pm)

    Jonesin’ for a quality brewery in West Seattle. Can’t wait.

  • jg February 28, 2017 (12:20 pm)

    But what will become of the cow?!?

    • WSB February 28, 2017 (12:28 pm)

      We reported in our original story about John’s closing (link is above) that the building’s owners told us the cow is staying.

    • Jethro Marx February 28, 2017 (1:14 pm)

      I, for one, hope they hang a little keg around its neck, a la Saint Bernards of old. Maybe stick a hop vine up there, too.

       #bovinelupulin!

  • Paul February 28, 2017 (12:22 pm)

    Congratulations, boys!  Can’t wait to become a regular.

  • Kim February 28, 2017 (12:22 pm)

    Very excited for you to open!

  • sg February 28, 2017 (12:48 pm)

    Will they still accept EBT?!?! :)

    • Swede. February 28, 2017 (1:20 pm)

      Just write a check. For each beer! 

  • Charles February 28, 2017 (12:49 pm)

    Great news! Looking forward to tasting 

  • Swede. February 28, 2017 (1:21 pm)

    This sounds promising and fun. Will definitely check it out when open. And. The cow stays, Woo! 

  • Wseattleite February 28, 2017 (1:23 pm)

     Am missing the corner convenience store that seemed to have everything, but wishing best of luck on the new venue.  Keep the Cow!

  • S&F February 28, 2017 (1:40 pm)

    Congrats guys! Can’t wait to check it out. 

  • Space Dust February 28, 2017 (2:43 pm)

    Woohoo, more Beer.

  • West Sea Neighbor February 28, 2017 (2:53 pm)

    From what I understand, the cow is staying!

  • Michael Phelps February 28, 2017 (2:54 pm)

    Congratulations! Look forward to visiting the new place in the fall. 

  • Jim February 28, 2017 (3:12 pm)

    kid friendly?

    • S-bean March 1, 2017 (11:48 pm)

      God I hope not. There needs to be more spaces for adults that aren’t dive bars. Also keep all “dog babies” at home too. 

  • Tony S February 28, 2017 (3:48 pm)

    I hear the cow is staying.

     

    :-)

     

    • WSB February 28, 2017 (3:53 pm)

      As noted above, we reported this in our original story about the Corner Deli closing.

  • Blinkyjoe February 28, 2017 (4:01 pm)

    LOL, the use of Brett and the cow above is just a delightful juxtaposition!

    #notesofbarnyard

  • Wild One February 28, 2017 (5:18 pm)

    IPA… We like IPA…

    Congrats and see you when you open!

  • Brian February 28, 2017 (5:48 pm)

    Look forward to trying the IPAs … I’ve two questions: kid friendly? food options? {both are equally important for this neighborhood! 

  • unknown February 28, 2017 (5:57 pm)

    And a quote from our dear departed friend and neighbor John Dobmeyer…he would say as he did at his nightly stops at the Super Deli on 35th & Barton…”one sip over the line sweet Jesus”!!! He loved his beer.

  • Jaylaw February 28, 2017 (6:55 pm)

    @SG- that was hysterical!  Nicely played.  

    @ everyone else who asked, “kid friendly?” Please God (or insert your deity or lack of one here) I hope not!

    Rant…

    Pretty sure  if it’s just a barrelhouse/brew house/taproom  probably not.  But propietors please chime in!  Very excited for this business regardless.  

    As a reminder, your kid-friendly place, ‘Shelby’s,’ that you all clammored for closed because you didn’t go, so let the grown-ups spend some money on adult beverages instead of insisting on a kid friendly place that spends capital on food costs that are never returned.  Besides, there’s very little parking so you won’t drive your Subarus over there to park on the street anyway.





    • Someone Give this Baby some Booze February 28, 2017 (9:35 pm)

      I’m going to open a bar and allow kids and everyone else except @Jaylaw whom I will send to Shelby’s. 

      But seriously, many breweries allow families (see Fremont brewery for example: kid and dog friendly beer Hall).  Just cos you allow kids doesn’t mean it’s has to be an ice cream parlour with white walls.

    • Westside February 28, 2017 (10:28 pm)

      Kid friendly or not, I’m fine either way, but I don’t think Shelby’s failed because there is not enough support for family-friendly restaurants in WS. At that location, with that business model and that rent, it wasn’t going to last (but neither, for that matter have the previous incarnations, kid friendly or otherwise). Also, kid friendly doesn’t have to include food; see for example: WS Brewing, Ounces…

      • Kathy March 1, 2017 (8:36 am)

        Is this thread going there…? If so I will pose a potential theory why businesses have been failing at the former Shelby’s location. It’s not a pedestrian friendly location, and the parking lots are far enough away that it needs to be a location that is more inviting to pedestrians. With that in mind, I submitted a “Your Voice, Your Choice” suggestion to improve the Edmunds/California/Erskine intersection for people walking and biking to include an all ways pedestrian light signal cycle.

    • Neighbor March 1, 2017 (7:11 am)

      Optimism is another great example of a kid (and dog) friendly brewery/tap room. And there’s nothing like it in West Seattle, unfortunately. 

      • S-bean March 1, 2017 (11:54 pm)

        Ounces is kid and dog friendly (unfortunately) also if I’m not mistaken there is an all ages place next door to this place. 

  • Natalie February 28, 2017 (7:18 pm)

    Any chance there will also be a small food menu? 

  • Lisa February 28, 2017 (8:48 pm)

    @Jaylaw, exactly what I was thinking! 

  • LarryB February 28, 2017 (10:26 pm)

    I’m sorry to see a convenient place to grab milk go away, but it’s nice to have another food choice in walking distance from my house.

  • Jake from State Farm February 28, 2017 (10:27 pm)

    Way to go Jawlaw!!!! I have kids and I don’t want them at this place….this will be my little oasis.

  • Nick M February 28, 2017 (11:41 pm)

    Hey all,

    Thanks for all the interest and excitement over the brewery, we’re excited too!!  I want to give some answers to the questions that have popped up on here regarding our business model.  First, we will be a 21+ establishment (though if you’re only stopping in to fill a growler, you can bring your youngsters in with you).  We will offer some snacks, and hopefully some cheese and charcuterie plates will be available once we get open and gauge interest.  Otherwise, we will allow outside food to be brought in, and we aim to host rotating food trucks in our front lot.  Well behaved pets will be welcome on the patio, but only service animals will be allowed inside the taproom.

    Lastly, I’d like to put any fears to rest — the cow is definitely staying!!

    We look forward to serving you some tasty beers soon!

    Cheers!

    Nick Marianetti
    Co-owner/Brewer
    The Best of Hands Barrelhouse

    • Laura March 1, 2017 (2:23 pm)

      Hi Nick!! 

      I live across the street, and I am very excited for you guys to start renovations and move in! I am looking for a new job, so if you are looking for some good help for anything from administrative to servers, please let me know. 

      Thanks!! And welcome to the neighborhood!! 

  • Justsayin' March 1, 2017 (9:24 am)

    This is just my opinion on if the Barrelhouse should be kid friendly or not and you can take it or leave it… but my brother, sister and myself  growing up with 2 alcoholic parents back in the 60’s remembering to be left out in the car while they drank it up in the bar was not fun at all and you wanting to bring your children into a bar environment exposing them to alcohol and seeing “adults” having what looks to be a “good time” I think some of these children will think “oh to have fun you must drink” and will think this is “OK”…again this is just my opinion and I’m not saying all children will think this or go that way but just saying.  I think there’s just a place for kids and adults and there’s a place for just adults and a business catering to alcohol only should be for adults only.

    Good Luck to you Barrelhouse, I know the hubby is looking forward to trying out some of your brews! 

     

     

     

    And just a FYI… us 3 kids  turned out to not be alcoholics

  • sam-c March 1, 2017 (9:55 am)

    Goodness, what a discussion!   If you want to bring your kids, the Tap Station is right down the street.  They have great beer and great food.

    Looking forward to being able to check out Barrelhouse and their brews.  

    (However, I will miss the convenience store.  It saved me more than once when i forgot to pack a healthy snack for  ‘in between school and soccer practice’! peanut butter crackers to the rescue)

  • BlairJ March 1, 2017 (11:26 am)

    I love it!  “Turn left at the beer cow.”

  • West Seattle Hipster March 1, 2017 (11:46 am)

    Will there be any domestic beers?  

  • MOGUL March 1, 2017 (1:58 pm)

    WS Hipster….why? These Brew Masters take pride in what they make why would they have Budweiser or Millers there for consumption?

    • West Seattle Hipster March 1, 2017 (2:55 pm)

      I was hoping for Schmidt or Old Milwaukee.

      .

      To each their own.

  • seaopgal March 1, 2017 (2:51 pm)

    How much more domestic can you get than brewed in-house?!

  • Eman March 1, 2017 (4:57 pm)

    Nick & Gregory….Congrats!

  • Kristen Mitchell March 1, 2017 (7:09 pm)

    I am super excited for you guys!!! Will definitely be visiting, you can’t get rid of me because you are opening your own place…….

  • TreeHouse March 1, 2017 (9:19 pm)

    Ahhh! I’m so excited. I can’t wait to take the 21 to and from your brewery. 

  • aimless blade March 1, 2017 (10:26 pm)

    No food.

    No liquor.

    No survive.

    • DownNout March 6, 2017 (7:40 pm)

      I’ll take that bet. 

  • New Neighbor March 3, 2017 (3:12 pm)

    I too live down the street.  If I want to go escape my kid I go to the Westy, if the family goes we hit the Tap Station.  It would be nice to have another venue that has a small area for families in walking distance.

    Take a look around the area you will be setting up your business and you will find far and wide that it is littered with new families.  Phinney Ridge has capitalized on kid friendly places. Took a while but smart move on their part.  

    Sorry dog folks but your dog is not a child.  To the new owners, thank you for keeping the dogs, the dog fights, the dog hair out of the brewery.  Take your dogs to two beers they already have dog hair everywhere. 

  • Me March 4, 2017 (2:20 pm)

    Oh great.

    Another bar.

    I was just thinking how there weren’t enough of those around here.

    Specialty beers.

    How unique.

    Yay. 

Sorry, comment time is over.