We walked into a building full of Odd Otters. They were busy Odd Otters moments after a staff meeting: one was brewing beer; one was planning marketing, two were pouring beers, one was hugged every 15 seconds by other Otters and the last Otter was chatting up Stars Wars with us. The building, built in the late 1880s, past home of a Sailors and Soldiers Club during World War I and a USO Center in World War II, will be filled with balloons this November when Odd Otter Brewing Company celebrates its first year in the building at 716 Pacific Ave. in downtown Tacoma.
The recipient of hugs was Odd Otter Brewing co-founder John Hotchkiss. He moved to Omaha, Nebraska in June for a two-year stint to finish his radiology residency. He was back in Tacoma visiting, looking fit and chatting up Odd Otter with the same vigor as the day he sparked the idea to open a Tacoma brewery with business partners and fellow military service members Owen McGrane, Pablo Monroy, Derrick Monroy and Teresa Smith — even after months and months of headaches associated with converting a historic building into a brewery.
Charles Gibb, Charlie to some, never Chuck — who flew around the world as a C-17 Globemaster loadmaster with the 10th Airlift Squadron — sells and distributes Odd Otter beer, when he isn’t tinkering around the brewery with his handyman hat on. Gibb’s worldly view of beer, his military background and his skills building the taproom’s bar and fixtures inspired Team Otter to add Gibb to their beer group. Otters are social, and Gibb fits in.
According to Gibb, Odd Otter Brewing is expanding faster than a beer drinker chasing his Gibb’s delivery vehicle full of Odd Otter Coconut Chai Porter. …
>>> Their brewing system and keg count can’t keep up with demand. Gibb says the long lines for their beer at festivals makes them nervous they’ll run out of beer before the gate closes. He’s on the road full time, “selling kegs, finding kegs, picking up kegs.”
>>> A new large fermenter and Brite tank will arrive next month, pushing the barrels to the secret room underneath Commerce Street, if they can successfully remove several abandoned, heavy, hot metal typesetters from the previous print house that occupied the building.
>>> Odd Otter will release their Ottermelon Hef in tallboy cans in the near future.
>>> They just built their own beer line cleaning system.
>>> The brewery just released their The Son of Otter Belgian Blonde with hints of spice, apple, pear and a big jump from 5% to a subtle 8% ABV.
>>> There’s Otter chatter the forthcoming Comrade Otter’s Russian Imperial Chocolate Stout will have a little mint to it.
>>> In November, before Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens hits the screens, Odd Otter will release a Schwarzbier. The Force could be strong with a “Dark Otter” or “May The Schwarzbier Be With You.”
>>> Odd Otter will host Comeback Sports’ popular “Night of Horror” Halloween costume party at 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Check out comebacksports.com for details.
>>> Odd Otter will be officially turn 1 year old on Black Friday, and they’re thinking of celebrating the next day Nov. 28. Stay tuned.
>>> The brewery leads votes in KING5’s Best of Western Washington brewpub category.
Odd Otter Brewing remains true to their original business plan goal of brewing good beer and creating community. And, of course, keeping it a little Odd.
To learn more, visit http://www.oddotterbrewing.com/.
ODD OTTER BREWING COMPANY, 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Monday-Friday, 11-2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, 716 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.209.7064
