Brewery soft openings are for practicing and thanking.

Operators invite friends and family, their various suppliers, distributors, investors and other associates, many of whom have a vested interest in the venue's success. These types of people tend to provide two types of positive feedback: (1) glowing validation and/or (2) helpful suggestions. It's a time for brewery operators to take a moment's breath, clink pint glasses in appreciation and show fellow brewers their operation.

The staff can run through pouring procedures, test the payment system and practice their ABV and IBUs.

Soft openings are not for media types to dissect.

During Pacific Brewery and Malting Company's soft opening last night I felt foolish snapping photos. Even with all the smiles, and many South Sound brewery owners and head brewers in the house offering congratulations and support, posing for photos or answering questions wasn't apropos.

The downtown Tacoma brewery opens today at 1 p.m. It's handsome. All five beers are dialed in, priced right and worthy of 9-ounce and 16-ounce pours.  

Later, I'll dive into the beers, the beautiful wood and the pain-in-the-ass front driveway they were forced to build.

Congratulations founders Steve Navarro and Brent Hall.

Here are a few photos from last night.

PACIFIC BREWING AND MALTING CO., opens 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, 610 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.442.0596