The Libation Lodge: A New Taproom from SLBC
The rumors are true!
South Lake Brewing Company is currently preparing to open our second taproom in South Lake Tahoe!
Our second taproom will be a mountain oasis in the tourist core of South Lake Tahoe called The Libation Lodge by South Lake Brewing Company. It will feature a bar with a variety of craft beverages on tap, a kitchen serving tapas and shareable plates, and a welcoming atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating located at the Tahoe Village Center adjacent to the Heavenly Village.
This new venture has been in the works for quite some time, but South Lake Brewing Company’s, or SLBC’s, original location at the “Y” is where it all began. When owners Chris and Nicole Smith first opened SLBC in 2017, they chose the West side of town because it was closer to where they grew up in South Lake Tahoe. Located a short 15-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Stateline, this area of town is less hectic and features a higher concentration of Tahoe locals. These factors made the “Y” a perfect location for SLBC’s first production brewery and taproom.
“We’ve known from the beginning that when people come to town they don’t always have convenient transportation or want to drive far to their destination,” Co-Founder and Head of Brewing Operations Chris Smith said. “We want all South Lake Tahoe visitors to have the chance to experience South Lake Brewing Company, and by opening this new location we’re bringing the experience of our craft beer to them.”
Owners Nicole and Chis Smith at the construction site of the Libation Lodge by South Lake Brewing Company.
SLBC’s first location just celebrated its 5th anniversary in May 2022. Despite facing recent challenges, including continuing impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Caldor Fire in 2021, this location has continued to grow and flourish as a community hub for craft beer. A second location has been a dream of Chris and Nicole’s for awhile, and the opportunity presented itself in October 2020 when the location at the Tahoe Village Center was first introduced to them.
“The stars aligned with this new location,” Co-Founder and Vice President Nicole Smith said. “The time is now in terms of growth. The next natural step for our business is to expand to a second satellite tasting room so more Lake Tahoe visitors and community members can experience our beer.”
It’s not just craft beer that Libation Lodge visitors will experience. The new location will also feature wine, seltzer, cider, guest beer taps, and a kitchen serving elevated pub food and shareable plates.
The food menu will include tapas and small plates that complement the craft beer and beverages offered. The goal of the shareable plates is to provide visitors with a community-focused experience of enjoying craft beverages, small dishes, and quality time together. Dishes will be influenced by Pacific Rim fusion cuisine with a focus on offering menu items that are new and not currently offered to South Lake Tahoe visitors and community members.
Chris snaps a photo to document the construction progress.
Under Alcohol Beverage Control regulations, having a kitchen will allow SLBC to sell guest beers, hard kombucha, cider, seltzer, and locally sourced wines from El Dorado County at the Libation Lodge. These additional beverage offerings have been requested at the brewery’s original location since its opening but were never an option until now.
“We can finally highlight our beer friends in North Tahoe, Sacramento, and beyond,” Nicole said. “We now have this opportunity to feature all of the craft breweries we love in Northern California and Nevada as well as offer wine and other craft beverages that customers have requested for years.”
The vibe of the Libation Lodge will differ slightly from SLBC’s original taproom. The original taproom features a mountain-industrial vibe and is spacious with stark hues of blue and gray adorning the walls. The Libation Lodge will be what we’ve coined a “mountain oasis” with warmer hues of green and cream and upscale forest-inspired decor. Both taprooms will continue to feature the same welcoming feeling of a community hub that is already well established at SLBC’s original location. The name Libation Lodge originated as a fun way to differentiate the two locations.
“Lodge has a lot of different meanings,” Chris said. “A lodge is a place of shelter and safety in the mountains and a gathering point where people can stay awhile before continuing on their adventures. We create libations and offer enjoyable beverages that allow people to gather together.”
The Libation Lodge by South Lake Brewing Company!
The Libation Lodge is estimated to open no later than early 2023. Interested in working at the Libation Lodge? We’ll be hiring a few months prior to opening with a focus on employing kitchen staff first. Follow us on Instagram or sign up for our email newsletters on our homepage for hiring news and construction updates.
