Well, it is just about official. I have a store! I should sign the lease in the next day or two. It has been, at times, tumultuous getting to this point, and now the real work begins! I am renting a former restaurant space in Downtown Nampa, Idaho formerly called the Copper Canyon. I will turn it into a craft beer retail store, and restaurant.
It was a stuffy, and amazingly dirty restaurant that served very expensive food, and whose clientele were anyone who’s senses were dull enough to not realize that they were sitting and eating in filth, and paying a high price for it.
My vision is to turn it into a craft beer store and restaurant that serves elevated pub style food. Chicken wings, craft pizza, and sandwiches. Reasonably priced and in a clean and comfortable environment. I will have between 6 and 12 beers on tap at any given time, and the handles will rotate. No one can claim a permanent space on my tap list. I hope to have between 800 and 1000 different beers to purchase. That’s a good start.
However, in all this activity, I haven’t come up with a name for the place yet. It was going to be a Brewforia franchise at one point, but for various reasons that isn’t going to be the case, so now I need to come up with a name for the place.
I have kicked around some thoughts but want to hear from the Beer and Whiskey brain trust. Some ideas I’ve had are: Brother’s Beer Market, Galligan’s Pub, The Mash Tun, the Copper Kettle, the Beer Depot (there is an historic train depot about 1.5 blocks away). Then Jim thought of Donny Bear’s Beer Cave, and I thought of changing Cave to Den. Of course Brother’s plays off of the Beer and Whiskey Brothers. Galligan’s is pretty self explanatory.
None of these names really resonate with me. I suppose my two favorites are Brothers, and the Mash Tun. But I need ideas for the name, so let me have it. Of course as we go I will be posting more interior photos and progress.
Oh, I almost forgot, this place comes with a full liquor license, so I can serve whiskey as well.
Give me your best ideas. What should I call this place?
Beer & Whiskey Brothers 
Galligan’s Island? Because I’m sure you’ve never heard that one before.
Actually that is my e-mail address for my home PC. But…no.
A couple ideas…you could go new age…..Imbibe!
You could go classic….Don’s (I would so have a craft beer at a place called Don’s)
I like The Mash Tun, but you could also call it Sparge.
Last idea, Heady Waters
How about “The Tankard and Tumbler” Get the beer and whiskey in the name of it off the bat.
Way to go Don! I’d stay away from anything Copper, you might confuse people with the old place.
if you go with the Mash Tun, you gotta’ collaborate with The Lauter Tun (a Craft and Jazz bar in Omaha)
That would be a tun of beer!
Den of Hops, All Grain Station, Temple of the Malt…
It’s gotta have “bear” in the title. And maybe “reach around” as well…
I’d avoid Galligans pub…too cliche..and in reality, avoiding cliche stuff is pretty good in the marketting biz. I’d love to give you the name for my future beer place with Hipster Steve, but we will hold onto it.
How about..
Craft (simple, could be explaining the beer an/or the food)
The Bear Market (play on words)
Wait. What was your name again? All serious aside, I like Galligan’s Pub. If you want to be more formal, Galligan’s Public House. Simple, direct. If I weren’t a brewer I wouldn’t know any brewing terms, so I think one of those brewerylingual terms for a name would knock out about 95% of your possible clientele. But, hey, I’m just an old fart, what do I know.
Welcome back, what’s-your-name.
‘Scuse me, I need to go run some kids off my lawn.
See, King knows more’n I do.
Not so sure about that Norm!
I really like Sparge.
The Grain Bill
Brew ‘n’ Chew?
The Sudsy Sandwich?
The Drunken Ass(ortment of food)?
Kudos on your storefront! I hope it works out for you.
Pints and Plates
Pilates??? I’m not doing any yoga!
I’d reconsider – people would pay to see you try!!
That’s better than Pints and Pâtés.
Barley Bear’s Gastropub
At this point I really don’t want to call any attention to the food. Do you think Mom’s Slumgullion would be a big hit?
Anything with Bear might confuse locals from the monkey bar down the road.
“BrewTopia””””
This is good…
That was actually Brewforia’s first name, but they found out quick that that name is already trademarked.
What about “BrewTopiah”? See what I did there?
Or maybe BrewTopiary? You know…for the vegans.
Beer in Headlights
I get the play on words, but probably not the best idea to have a name that combines drinking and driving, even though I see where you are going with it.
I don’t know. Don’s Beer Depot?
What I do know is that you have to use some version of this image in your logo: https://www.google.com/search?q=beer+bear+deer&hl=en&safe=off&prmd=imvns&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=y3iRULSnIsew2gWjsYCIDA&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=1680&bih=949
Congrats, BTW!
Also, this place has a good model. They’re considering expanding into an open space next door to open a “44 Taproom” with – you guessed it – 44 taps and small plates. Be sure to check out their tap cam. http://44stonepub.com/
Galligans Pub is a no brainer and and Irish sounding! I am partial to BIG DONS. Maybe Bourbon and Beer. Then referred to as the B and B…
BandB has a good ring to it John! But we also have a place here in Idaho called Burger and Brew…might get confusing.?
How ’bout B&WB then?
How about “Don’s Place “.
Slaughtered Lamb Pub…….or any name as long as it ends in Pub…..
Appealing to the Basque folk!
Alices?
I would, but I’d have to change my name to Arlo.
But you can get anything you want…
Don G’s Craft Crib (hip hop themed gastropub). You’re welcome.
Congratulations on getting the space. I sense a Northwest road trip in the near future.
You know Alex we have more cowboys in Idaho that Gangstas. Maybe Don G’s Craft Corral?
Bear O’Clock
Getting a little complicated here. Give it something that people can easily remember and say (drunk or sober), like Donnybear’s or Donnybrews or Idabrews. Ply your local artist with alcohol to paint you a mural worth seeing on the front.
I like Tippler’s Tavern…there’s one in WI but that is miles away.
Barley’s Beer Room
The ABV
Original Gravity
The Brewer’s Plate (Stolen from annual Philly event)
The Brewer’s Daughter
Hops & Rocks
and of course: Roadhouse
Grin and Beer It, The Grizzly Beer, Hibeernation, Beer Hug …
Oh, congrats by the way! Good luck, I’ll be sure to drop in if we ever get to Idaho!
Sounds good Will. I’ll look forward to it. Idaho is far from a craft beer mecca, but there are some really goood local offerings, and you can swing through on your way to Oregon!
I Love Grizzly Beer!
That would work better in Missoula, MT.
If not Missoula, at lease Eastern Idaho where they actually have grizzlies. We have lots of them out here in the sugar beet fields, but unfortunately I don’t think Varmint Beer would go over too well.
Bear on tap
or just “On Tap”
Or maybe “What’s on Tap?”
Bear’s Head Pub – classic!!
Can’t wait for some tasty beer selections in the 2C!
The Tipsy Tankard
The Brothers Galligan
Yeah Nick, we could have a Big Bad Wolf as our logo!
Congrats! It sounds awesome! How about “What Ales You”?
Also, are you hiring? 🙂
I’m not sure about employees yet. I know I will need to hire fairly soon after we open, but I want to see what kind of traffic we generate first. So we will begin with family and friends, then look for employees once we know the kind of demand we need to fill.
Brewtastic
Maybe Beervana?
“Tap That …”
Tap that Glass
I’m not running a brothel, John! 😉
Brother Bears Beer Den
“Hibernate Here!”
Don’t wanna tangle with Disney. That mouse has TEETH!
The Half Gainer so when anyone asks you can tell them it’s a dive.
The Place We’re Spending Too Much Money In. Yeah, probably won’t work for your sign, but pretty sure that’s what my wife and I will be calling it.
I’ll hold you to it Hobart! 🙂
Nice! Congrats, Don!
I’d throw my vote to Grizzly Beer!
We need to talk my friend! Since I don’t have any good ideas of my own, I wanna steal them from you.
Anytime, just let me know! I love that craft beer is finally coming to Nampa, and downtown to boot!
My favorite watering hole is called “The Village Green”. Simple, generic even, but elegant and evokes community and good times.
Yeah, but in Idaho everything turns brown in the summer, and “The Village Brown” just doesn’t have the same ring to it. 😉
2nd Mister Larson’s suggestion:
Don’s Place – For Great Beer & Great Food
(You have to emphasize the food if you want my wife to visit)
Congratulations to you on the new venture.
Beer Session Plus
Craft Session Plus
Not Your Mother’s Craft Store
Food and Drink
Brew Bear’s Tavern
Better Barley Session Plus
Brew Session Plus
Growler’s Food and Drink
Wolfs Head Tavern
Brewcity
USA Beer Pub
Best USA Beer and Food
Bear and Weasel Pub
Pictures as appropriate
Good luck with the future.
Those certainly are a lot of suggestions. Lots to think about 🙂
How about the obvious… Beer and Whiskey Brothers. Whatever the name. Congrats!
I second that.
I’m pretty sure Jim doesn’t want anything to do with this.
I’m sure he would grant you naming rights though. Although, he might be expect to drink for free when in town…
Grizzley Beer Pub & Grub
This has got to be my sister, because she is the only person in the world that spells Wendi with an “i”.
Awesome idea guy’s best of luck with the store! As far as names maybe Cheers…lol
I’ve always been partial to the “pub & grub” descriptor. See below:
Pirate Don’s Pub & Grub
Pirate Bear’s Pub & Grub
Pirate Bros. Pub & Grub
DonnyBear’s Pub & Grub
DonnyBear’s Joint/Joynt
DB’s Bar & Grill/Pub & Grub
Beer & Whiskey & Food
Last but not least:
Please come in and spend some money
“Beer & Whiskey & Food” = BFW’s!!!
I don’t want “some” of their money, I want it all…maybe the Pick Pocket! 😉
Galligan’s is the best option. It sounds Irish, so people will assume “pub” and “beer”, which is good. Once the general population starts stopping in for a beer, they’ll realize that you specialize in “good” beer and the word will get out to all the craft beer nerds in your area. I unfortunately don’t think you can rely on the craft beer audience alone keeping you afloat…….even the best beer places around me still have Bud Light signs in the window, ya know what I mean?
Plus, Galligan’s (or any variation of your name) will build familiarity………..it’s a lot easier to picture someone saying “let’s swing by Galligan’s” than “let’s stop off at Craft Beer World and Brew Emporium”….
I think Galligan’s is a strong contender, I’m just a little wary of setting the expectation that this is an Irish pub, which it most certainly is not.
Capt. Douche’s Beer and Mush
Appetizing.
I thought you were saving that name for your place?
The Bear’s Cave!
BTW Don, congrats again and make sure to feature plenty of those beer-centered recipes that you and others have discussed.
Don – great news. Off the top of my head…..
Hop ‘n Cask
Suds and Grub
Suds and Shine
Whiskey Brewski
Barley Sandwich
Chotski’s, and don’t forget to wear your flair!
Congrats!!! Sounds like it will be a great place for beer lovers!!! I’m going to suggest:
“Not Another Beer Store”
“Don’s Crafty Beer Store”
“Hops, Barley, Water and More”
“Don’s Beer House”
“Hop to It!”
“Great Beer, Great People” or GBGP.
“Don’s Beer Tavern”
Probably for best results though….”We Sell, KBS, Hopslam, Dark Lord and Darkness!”
I want to consume beers which represent the apex of man’s (and lady’s) creativity, and have gathered in a place where they can be appreciated, in one magical spot. The Norsemen have Valhalla and Adam had the ‘Garden of Eden’, so it’s time to create a Shangri-La for humans that love beer:
“Xana-brew”
“Don’s Yeast Hole”
Gross!
Don’s Dram
Is everything OK with Jim out East?
Jim is fine for now. He came through it remarkably well. Didn’t even lose any shingles, and still has power, and has had all along. However all around his neighborhood is chaos. He is rationing gas and I’m not sure if he needs to hit the grocery store yet or not. But I know he and his family are having to deal wi that scarcity. He has been working from home because of the gas shortages and I’m not sure when he will actually be able to get back to work.
But as far as the important things are, he is in good shape. Everything and more importantly everyone came through the storm fine.
The Imbibery?
2C Pints Place
Has a decision been made???? About the Name…….
and….is there are website or facebook page for it?
ParDon me!
Any updates on the store? Name? ETA?
I think he’s going with the Idaho Hop House, but I’m not sure of the ETA – he’s working on Idaho time!!
I guess I’m late on this one, but as it’S a place to whet the appetitie, how about “Whet Dreams”
Pour Public House or just Pour would be good.
Waiting patiently for your place to open. We need a craft beer oriented establishment like this in Nampa.
Moderation (after all, you should always drink “in moderation”!)
What is the statis on your opening? That place was a mess, so I can only imagine you are doing some major renovations to the space right?
Scottie, you are correct! That place was a mess, and with a lot of elbow grease and a sazall and about 30 gallons of paint it has been transformed. Just working on paperwork to open now. Depends on how long permits take.
That’s great Don. Our office is just down the block from you. Radix Construction. We specialize in restaurant construction and design. We built most of the restaurants down eagle rd. Buffalo Wild Wings, chilies, on the border, old Chicagos through out the US. I am in Gillette Wy now building a Jordan’s Steak House. Let me know if we can be of any assistance. FYI, you scared me by telling me how gross it was there. I have had several lunch meetings there. Feelin a bit ill right now……….