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Drake's Dealership, the long-awaited East Bay brewpub from Drake's Brewery is finally on the horizon, with an early August opening in the works. The enormous temple of beer is located in The Hive, the mixed-use development at 23rd and Broadway in Oakland (also home to the upcoming Mexican restaurant Calavera, Firebrand Artisan Breads and Numi Organic Tea).
John Martin, who owns Drake's brewery and taproom in San Leandro as well as Berkeley bars Jupiter and Triple Rock, is behind the large-scale project that will feature a 350-seat restaurant and beer garden, with a large private room for parties. And although there won't be actual beer production on site, Drake's will use their 32 taps as something of a test kitchen, featuring the entire Drake's beer portfolio and including many unusual and experimental beers that aren't usually available outside the brewery. To that end, beer-lovers can take advantage of a full-service growler station and a continuously rotating selection of beers to take home. And while the taps will be mostly dedicated to Drake's own beers, they'll save space for guest breweries, too. For non-beer drinkers, plans include wines on tap, as well as cold brew coffee from Highwire Coffee Roasters.
As for food options, plans include a full lunch and dinner menu with "refined pub fare," including a selection of salads, burgers and sandwiches. However, like Jupiter, pizza will be a main focus, with two giant pizza ovens on hand to churn out pies for day-drinkers.
The main dining room features a huge, custom-made fireplace with communal tables and seating for 150. Meanwhile, the brick-walled, open-air beer garden will feature communal tables and bleacher-style seating, with an outdoor stage for live music. Built-in Adirondack booths and fire pits will complete the outdoor space, which pretty much sounds like a beer drinker's dream at this point. The entire shebang should be open early August; stay tuned for more details.
