Surprises. Some people either love ’em or they hate ’em. Personally, I love them and the BAKFISH Brewing commercial launch at Center Court Pizza & Brew in Pearland was a pleasant surprise all around. From the venue to the beer to the people, the evening was one of celebration for BAKFISH and one of discovery for me.
First of all, most sports bars you visit make a soft effort to keep a few craft beers on tap. Usually, they might have one of two Saint Arnold beers and a couple of Karbach offerings, but that’s it. Center Court has made a clear effort to not only support Texas craft beer, but take it one step further and be one of the biggest supporters of the local brewery. Center Court stocks the typical Saint Arnold and Karbach brews, however they are also getting some of the more specialized brews like a cask of 20th Anniversary Ale slated to be released with the pub’s 10 year anniversary in June.
Talking with Peck Kuy, Operations Director for Center Court, he states that all of their locations tailor their beer menus according to the types of drinkers they have. Some locations will dedicate more tapwall space to macros since that is what sells in the area. In Pearland, they seem to have an open-minded beer drinking clientele that enjoys the variety from barrel-aged brews to the most sessionable cream ales. On the night I was there, the local support was out in full force.
BAKFISH truly did their homework and brought beers that were going to sell. Throughout the day, Pearland general manager Kevin Knupfer let us know that the best-selling beers were the Circle Hook IPA and the I Tell You Wit. I had each of them and they were both pleasantly easy-drinking and malt-forward offerings that were perfect for an initial public launch. With this being the first time BAKFISH had served outside of their taproom, it was important to bring beers that would make the locals happy and drive more business to the brewery. Brian Allen with BAKFISH said they plan on adding more commercial accounts in the future, but wanted to take care of their local support first. Long-term, they plan on being in several places throughout Brazoria County, Galveston County, and possibly Fort Bend County. However, at this time, they are just enjoying watching their beer being poured outside of the taproom for the first time.
Center Court did a great job of promoting the BAKFISH beers to their customers. I noticed many of their regulars stopped in to have a pint or two. Based on how quickly BAKFISH was selling, they may have to start filling even more orders for them in the near future. Some of the folks we talked to were raving about the Defying Gravity Double IPA and the Goat Roper Brown Porter that are currently offered in the taproom. I’m hoping that the sales success BAKFISH is seeing will create more demand so Center Court can also be carrying their other taproom offerings in their locations soon.
My interest in the brewery is piqued, so I know I’m going to be planning a visit to the taproom. Plus, with the beer and food offerings that Center Court has, there’s no doubt I’ll be returning to make more of their events. I love pleasant surprises – Center Court Pizza & Brew and BAKFISH Brewing Company are true winners in Pearland.