HAZLE TWP. — A project four years in the making is finally celebrating a grand opening this weekend.
Located on the CAN DO Expressway in lower Luzerne County, Scott Gottstein’s 1,000-square-foot Tap at Humboldt Beer Depot taproom has been open since the middle of December. The taproom has 20 rotating taps with four dedicated taps, along with bottled beer.
“Over 120 choices in total,” Gottstein said.
After living in San Francisco for two years, Gottstein brought the “first of its kind (in the Hazleton area)” taproom idea home.
The taproom currently has a panini menu, which features items made by Gottstein himself. He hopes to expand into cheese plates and other foods as the business grows.
“Why pay $9 for something in New York when you can get it here?” he asked.
“It’s a good location,” Gottstein said, noting the taproom is accessible for people from Luzerne, Schuylkill and Carbon counties. The building on the expressway where the taproom is located is owned by Gottestin’s family and also houses System One and Humboldt Industrial Supply.
According to Gottstein, the taproom will “have no macrobeers (Coors or Miller Lite)” and will also sell a “mead (honey-wine) and wine.” Those who want their regular, run-of-the-mill beer fix can carry out from the beer store next door “when they’re ready to leave.”
“I’m very staunch about that (keeping only micro/craft beers in the taproom),” he admitted.
Gottstein uses a “mental bank” and “Beer Advocate (a magazine and cell phone application)” for beer ideas.
For the grand opening weekend, the taproom will have a tap takeover, where Victory Brewing Co. of Downingtown will have “swag and a representative on hand to talk to people.”
The taproom has a “bluegrass or blues vibe” and will host the Back Home Acoustic Duo Friday night — the first day of the grand opening weekend — and Coal Town Rounders Saturday.
The Tap at Humboldt is open seven days a week; 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday. No reservations are needed.
For more information, call the taproom at 570-497-4140.
