Finishing its first term

For a fairly small establishment, Beerocracy is planning a pretty big party for its first anniversary.

From Friday through Sunday at the Garland District pub, says owner Tyler Riggs, “We will have almost every handle packed with rare, one-off and hard-to-find beers. It’s going to be a special event.”

The lineup features three custom infusions from Fremont that Riggs designed with brewers there: Interurban IPA with grapefruit and Amarillo hops, Wandering Wheat with blood orange and Citra and a firkin of Universale pale with tequila barrel staves and experimental hops.

From Deschutes, there's the new Passion Fruit IPA and Cultivateur barrel-aged Brett saison, usually a pub-only offering in Portland and Bend.

Other assorted treats include the first local keg of this year’s much-anticipated 3-Way IPA from Fort George, a hazy New England-style collaboration with Great Notion and Reuben’s; the Space Ghost Golden Session Barleywine collaboration between Ecliptic and Melvin; and pFriem's limited-release lemon saison.

Live music begins each night at 8, with Ruthie Henrickson followed by Brian Stai on Friday; Abraham and the Old Gods plus The Holy Broke on Saturday; and Tyler Aker and Chad Moore on Sunday.

Over the past year, Riggs has quietly built one of the most distinctive taplists in town, starting with 12 taps that recently expanded to 19 including a nitro handle.

There typically are five IPAs, a lager, pale, red/amber, Belgian, sour, two dark beers, two ciders and a “retro rotator” for domestics like Rainier, Oly, Molson and Labatt, plus a few random selections. “I can pretty much please just about any beer drinker,” Riggs says.

It’s all served up in a cozy space with a funky lodge feel, with wood paneling and animal heads hanging above the bar. You’re likely to be greeted by the very much alive and affable Woodrow, the designated door-dog.

Seating has almost doubled from the original 26 people to 46, thanks to more tables and expandable leaves that take them from three-tops to four-tops. Those are in place for trivia on Tuesdays, when patrons prefer to stay seated, and come down to allow more standing room for music nights (at least two Saturdays a month).

It’s not unusual for the place to be packed. Riggs says year one “has exceeded my expectations by a lot. I vastly underestimated how thirsty people were here for good beer.”

With regulars ranging from Colville to Seattle, he says, “It continually amazes me how supportive the neighborhood and the whole region have been. I’m on my way to hopefully becoming a beer destination.”