Without a little bit of exploration, one might think Vancouver’s Heavy Metal Brewing is just another beer joint – offering a mix of music, craft beer and an Italian menu. But, that’s not the case. There’s so much more to this restaurant. It’s a tap room, bottle shop and a family-friendly establishment where live music dominates, along with craft brews from Heavy Metal Brewing and a variety of other places.
David Miner and Todd Anderson started Heavy Metal Brewing after years of playing music and brewing beer, in separate endeavors. The duo opened the doors of the tap room/bottleshop/restaurant in December 2015, and already they’ve found a niche they are comfortable with.
“Heavy Metal Brewing is a hobby grown out of control,” quipped Miner.
Miner, a musician for several years and a home brewer of beer for the past decade, said that he was interested in moving to a bigger scale. After some discussion and a lot of hard work, he and Anderson created their own place, combining the music both love with the brewing of craft beer.
The restaurant spans more than 3,000 square feet in the Heights area of Vancouver – there’s a 1,000-square-foot kitchen, 2,000 square feet of customer seating, and, of course, a stage for bands to play. There’s live music four nights a week, from 6 to 9 p.m., open to all ages.
“Bands can bring their families, play and have a meal, have a beer, then enjoy other music,” Miner said.
On Wednesday nights, the venue holds an open jam for participants of all ages. On Thursdays, it’s singer/songwriter night where independent artists are showcased. On Fridays and Saturdays, Heavy Metal Brewing typically hosts a blues or rock band.
According to Miner, the family-friendly atmosphere is one piece that sets Heavy Metal Brewing apart in the crowded restaurant world, and it’s possible that their efforts to expand could further set them apart. Miner said that he and Anderson are interested in building a brewery and tasting room in the Ridgefield area.
The owners also make it a point to try and source as much of their product as locally as possible, and to offer the freshest foods possible. These are challenges that the duo are learning to navigate: keeping items in stock that customers like, navigating regulations for zoning and staying on top of health codes and learning to run a restaurant.
“We have 25 beers on tap, including two of our own,” Miner said.
One of those beers is called Slippery When Wet, which is brewed in Washougal, and named for Bon Jovi’s hit record, and as a nod to Miner’s history in music.
“For me, heavy metal is ‘80s hair metal,” Miner said with a laugh. “That’s why we named our light summer ale ‘Slippery When Wet.’”
The other house variety they have on tap is the Heavy Metal Brewing/Doomsday Metal Meltdown IPA.
After just four months in operation, Miner retains a positive focus. The plans for the rest of 2016 are as follows: “We hope to continue to grow, and we want to focus on opening a brewery with a five barrel system in Ridgefield,” Miner said.
Heavy Metal Brewing is located at 809 MacArthur Blvd., in Vancouver. The taproom/bottle shop/restaurant is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
To learn more, visit www.theheavymetalbrewingco.com.
