New self-pour taproom opens in Poulsbo

A New Concept in Poulsbo: The Sip Offers Self-Serve Drinks

After the closure of the Slippery Pig Brewery earlier this year, a new taproom has taken its place in downtown Poulsbo. This fresh venture, called The Sip, features a self-serve concept that is quickly gaining attention from locals and visitors alike.

Co-owners Jay and Brooke Huffman opened The Sip during Viking Fest weekend in May. This timing was intentional, as the event brings a large number of people to the area. Brooke emphasized how important it was for them to open by then. “I was super adamant that we open by Viking Fest,” she said. “Opening day was our busiest day that we have had since we opened three months ago. They knew the Slippery Pig, they knew the space. It was raining, so people wanted to come inside. It was crazy but awesome.”

Before opening The Sip, the Huffmans were part owners of Fletcher Bay Winery on Bainbridge Island from 2017 to 2020. They eventually sold their share back to the winemaker. Brooke had always been interested in creating her own space with a self-pour concept. She met with the owner of The Redd Dog, a pub with multiple locations across Puget Sound, which uses a self-pour system through a technology company called PourMyBeer.

“He had really positive things to say about the concept, and that’s when we got serious and started looking and talking to property managers,” Brooke explained. The couple, who live in Poulsbo, had been searching for the right location to open a taproom. They almost signed a lease for a different spot but changed plans when they learned about the Slippery Pig's closure.

“I really wanted something with outdoor seating because that’s so crucial in the summer here,” Brooke said. “We actually saw on Facebook that the Slippery Pig was closing and then we contacted the building owner and one thing led to another and we got it. It was really quick once we found the space.”

The self-serve concept at The Sip allows guests to pour their own drinks and pay by the ounce using a technology system. The process begins with checking in with a greeter and opening a tap card, which is linked to a credit or debit card. Guests then grab a glass and tap their card on the reader above the tap to activate it. Once activated, they can pour their drink into their glass. Everything is charged by the ounce, meaning guests only pay for what they pour.

The Sip offers 36 taps featuring a rotating lineup of beer, wine, cider, craft sodas, cold-brewed coffee, seltzer, and wine cocktails. According to the taproom’s website, the selection changes regularly, keeping the experience fresh and exciting.

“I think people are surprised how easy it is,” Brooke said. “It’s kind of a lot to take in when you first come in… but once you do it once, it’s simply tapping and opening the tab handle and closing when you’re done.”

While the start-up costs for such a system are high, Brooke believes it is worth it in the long run due to savings on labor and the convenience it offers customers. “I think that is something that is catching on with people; the ability to be in control, and also something that’s experimental, new and different,” she said. “You don’t have to staff servers, hosts and greeters. We have that, but it’s on a much smaller scale.”

In addition to drinks, The Sip serves food that is “as clean and organic as possible.” Everything is made fresh, with no dyes or high fructose corn syrup. The menu includes board-themed dishes like charcuterie boards and nacho boards.

The space itself looks quite different from the previous incarnation of the Slippery Pig. Brooke mentioned that they knocked down walls, painted everything, and redid the entryway as part of the expedited renovation process. “From the time we signed our lease to the time we opened, it was three months,” she said. “We did an entire remodel, got all the permitting, hired, trained, figured out our food menu, and marketing. We were like ‘ok, let’s get open’ because I didn’t want to miss the busy summer tourist season.”