A Viking rebirth

Used to be, you would walk into The Viking on a sunny afternoon and feel the darkness descend like a shroud. But now you can go in on a damp, blustery evening and watch your mood brighten.

The new-look Viking – which was Spokane’s go-to craft beer bar back in the day – reopened last weekend under new ownership after a 10-month closure and a major remodel.

A higher, open-beam ceiling, lighter woods throughout and refinished concrete floors (the old carpeting is gone) all contribute to the cleaner, more modern feel.

It’s still The Viking, though, with beer signs covering the walls, wooden mermaids perched above the bar and the requisite pool and shuffleboard tables (the fire pit, which wasn’t up to current codes, is gone but could eventually return). As always, there are no windows, but a second patio has been added on the north side of the building.

The menu (a work in progress) again centers around appetizers, salads and sandwiches. Friendly, attentive service rounds out the welcoming vibe.

Beer-wise, a new draft system lines one wall behind the bar, with selections listed on a chalkboard above (including ABV percentages).

Taps have been reduced from 34 to a still respectable 24. Last night’s lineup featured 18 craft selections – including seven from Inland Northwest Ale Trail breweries – along with a pair of domestics (Bud Light and Coors Light), three imports (Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Guinness stout and Optimator doppelbock) and a cider (Ace Pineapple).

Almost all of the handles will rotate regularly, says manager Steven Barclay. “It’s 10 taps fewer than it used to be, but we’ll be changing them out frequently, so you’ll still be seeing a great variety,” he says.

And local offerings will be a priority, Barclay adds: “Being Spokane’s original micro beer bar, we have a lot of people come in, even people from out of town who have heard about us, and ask what’s local. We want to make sure those are well-represented.”

Hours are daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. (midnight on Sundays). The kitchen stays open until 11 p.m.

As a new experiment, all ages are being admitted until 9, with an eye toward capturing traffic from family events at the nearby Spokane Arena. “We want to see what the general public thinks, what the response is,” Barclay says.