clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

High-Tech SLU Beer Bar Opens October 18

Teku Tavern is betting on better beer

Teku Tavern/FB

South Lake Union's newest craft beer bar, Teku Tavern, will open its doors to the public on October 18, according to a press release. The bar, which Eater revealed back in April, sits at 552 Denny Way, near the corner of 5th Avenue and Denny Way.

This marks the booming Amazonia neighborhood's second dedicated beer bar in just a few weeks, as Josh Henderson's Cantine Bar and Bottle Shop landed last month; a notable difference is that Teku is also licensed for retail sales, while Cantine is not, though it also has some to-go options.

Teku Tavern borrows its name from the long-stemmed, wine-like drinking glass designed to showcase a beer's flavor and aroma to the fullest. Owners Rich Powell, a product manager for Amazon, and Karrie Stewart, a former Flight Test Engineer for Boeing, say they're demanding a higher-caliber drinking experience, ensuring draft lines are cleaned after each keg is kicked and focusing on employee and customer education. Given that, expect carefully selected, often local options as the norm here — no frosted pint glasses brimming with ice cold Budweiser.

Plan to choose from 50 beers on tap, three cask stations, and a 29-cooler selection of bottled beer, plus some mead and cider. There will be sports on television, with store hours scheduled to accommodate all major sports, and a limited selection of snacks, as well as the option to bring in food from other eateries. Your dog can come, too.

Appropriate for the neighborhood, Teku will feature a bit of high-tech fanciness, as the owners will serve the draft beers through a custom-built, four-gas-blend system that regulates the precise flow rate and carbonation level for each beer. There's also a Digital Pour beer inventory system displaying the amount of beer left in each keg. The tap list will be available on table-top digital kiosks and on the Teku website.

Teku will seat around 140 at a 40-foot bar and 9-foot beer-hall tables, with plans for a patio to open next spring. The space will be able to accommodate large parties and private events, and there will be brewer's night events, classes on topics like beer and food pairings, and tasting panels.

552 Denny Way, (206) 466-1764, website. Monday through Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday and Friday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

TeKu Tavern

552 Denny Way, , WA 98109 (206) 466-1764 Visit Website