The brewpub project announced last month in the former Dock at Linden Street space, Old Kan Beer & Co., is now officially open as of today, and partners James Syhabout (Hawker Fare, Commis) and Adam Lamoreaux (formerly of Linden Street Brewing) tell Inside Scoop that both the new brewery and the restaurant are aiming to keep things simple, in contrast to the ever growing geekiness and trying-too-hard-ed-ness of the Bay Area beer scene. "We’re taking that out of this," Lamoreaux tells the Scoop, "so you can enjoy what drinking beer is all about, posting up with your friends, drinking a few beers and just having a good time It’s simple. It shouldn’t feel complicated.”
To that end, Old Kan an anagram of Oakland is opening with just three low-ABV beers, all being brewed in San Jose until they can get the on-site operation licensed again (Linden Street, which had been brewing on site, has moved its operation to an under-construction taproom and brewery near Jack London Square, and it's now been redubbed Oakland United Beerworks). Those are: Old Kan Original, Old Kan Dark, and Old Kan Light, all clocking in between 4.5% and 5% ABV. A seasonal fourth beer will get added once the brewery is fully up and running.
With ten total taps at the bar, there will always be a selection of a half dozen guest beers as well.
In what had been the beer bar next door to the Dock there are now seats for 35 with 60 more on the patio, and a menu of beer-friendly, easy going stuff like burgers, open-faced meatball sandwiches, and salads. But, as Syhabout tells the Scoop, "There’s still going to be a focus on ingredients and execution." Main courses top out around $16, so that's nice.
And it sounds like the main Dock space is now going to be a private dining room and event space with seating for 48, and there is also a beer garden outside on the loading dock and where Linden Street formerly had their open-air taproom, which will host occasional live music.
Check out some more photos via Syhabout's Instagram below, including some delicious looking pork meatballs.
