When the local taprooms started opening in Rock City, I often wondered when we’d finally see a partnership between craft beer and craft coffee. Right now it’s all the rage to drink from a tap – everything from wine to beer to coffee – it’s the in-thing.
Little Rock is finally getting hip thanks to the new partnership between Blue Canoe Brewing Co. and Blue Sail Coffee. Blue Canoe will be expanding into the Brown Sugar Bake Shop store front, on 419 E. Third Street, and Conway’s Blue Sail will be a huge part of the new space.
Think growler station alongside excellent craft coffee. There will be outdoor seating and access to all of Blue Canoe’s dry goods. Plus, the new space will be open outside of current taproom hours which means you can get Blue Canoe growlers during the week, and Blue Sail coffee anytime.
Ida Cowen, a downtowner herself and co-owner of Blue Canoe along with Laura Berryhill and Patrick Cowan, was upset at the lack of excellent craft coffee available in the area. Blue Sail came to mind for a partnership because of owner Kyle Tabor’s careful attention to detail and love for the craft.
“We saw a product we needed here and were interested in – craft coffee,” she says. “Blue Sail, like us, is proud of their product. We thought, how cool would that be – to get that partnership together?”
Tabor was immediately on-board with the idea. All that separates downtowners from the new partnership is construction, although Cowan expects the new space will be ready this December.
Brown Sugar fans do not need to worry. They are maintaining the kitchen space at the existing location and rolling out a food truck to be more mobile and visible around the area.
Can’t wait for what’s in store? Get out to the taproom on Halloween for a collaborated debut brew between Blue Canoe and Blue Sail.