[UPDATED] Sneak a Peek at the Lamplighter Brewing Co. Taproom

The taproom at Lamplighter Brewing Co. / Photo provided

UPDATE, Nov. 10, 9 a.m.: Cofounder Cayla Marvil reports Lamplighter passed its final inspection. The taproom softly opens tonight through Sunday, and the official kick off is Tuesday, November 15.

PREVIOUSLY:

If you’re a Camberville beer fan, chances are you’ve already popped into Lamplighter Brewing Co. to try Tyler Fitzpatrick’s brews, like Metric Systems gose, and Easy Tiger brettanomyces IPA. The Broadway brewery has been filling growlers and offering samples since late September. Now, Fitzpatrick and cofounders AC Jones and Cayla Marvil are putting on the finishing touches in hopes of opening a taproom and coffee bar this week.

Lamplighter is sharing its Cambridge space with Longfellows Coffee, which will offer a full range of Barrington Coffee Roasters espresso drinks, hot coffee, and cold-brewed iced coffee on tap, along with a nitro line once the taproom debuts. Mem Tea, seasonal, house-made sodas, and kombucha will also be among the non-alcoholic options.

Longfellows has partnered with local companies like Area Four, Taza Chocolate, 88 Acres (a Dorchester granola-maker), and Union Square Donuts to bring in Belgian-style liege waffles, overnight oats, doughnuts, and more daytime snacks. In December, Lamplighter will roll out a P.M.-menu of creative, loaded tater tots and hop dogs.

As soon as the taproom opens, though, Marvil—a culinary school graduate—promises fancy and free bar bites, like spiced honey mustard peanuts, dill and butter pretzels, mixed nuts with bitters and thyme, and curried sesame sticks. The crew is hoping to line up a food truck for opening weekend, and the taproom will always have a bring-your-own food policy, too.

“We want to make sure people don’t view us as a traditional restaurant. We are a beer tasting room first and foremost, and not a place to sit down for a formal dinner,” Marvil says.

It will certainly be a place to linger, though. The bar has 16 seats that overlook the production area, and the taproom can accomodate about 70 guests. The shelves are stacked with board games, and two weeks after its grand opening, Lamplighter will launch a Tuesday night trivia series. Zoning currently prohibits live music and comedy nights, but that is something the Lamplighter crew is looking to amend eventually.

“We’re hoping to have a lot of fun different events throughout the course of each month, like weekly oyster nights with Island Creek, cheese plate and beer pairing days, classes on baking/cooking with beer, coffee and beer tastings, board game tournaments, etc.,” Marvil says. “We really want to create a community-focused environment.”

Cambridge’s newest brewery has already built up quite a following: The Mug Club sold out the day it was announced. Lamplighter sold 70, one-of-a-kind steins by ceramicist Lainey Fink, which will remain behind the bar for Mug Club members to fill for a discount.

“The majority of mugs were bought by people in a two-block radius which is pretty incredible, and exactly what we were hoping for,” Marvil says.

Lamplighter commissioned the unique pottery as an homage to the Bobcat, a beloved brewpub in Bristol, Vt., which has a ceramic mug club.

“We always thought they were so fun and beautiful. Lainey, our friend who did the mugs, is also a budding and super talented ceramicist, so we were excited to support her and source them locally. They also play in nicely to our coffee and beer program,” she says.

Lamplighter plans to keep the cap on the inaugural Mug Club to start, but next year, they may open it up to more fans, Marvil adds.

The team is awaiting two, final inspections this week before that taproom can open its doors. Marvil is hopeful they can pour their first flights and pints this weekend, but stay tuned for confirmation.

Once open, Longfellows will serve coffee and pastries Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and on Saturdays from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Lamplighter beer will Tuesday-Sunday from 11 a.m.-midnight. Lamplighter’s growler bar and retail counter is open Thursday and Friday from 4-8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon-4 p.m.

Lamplighter Brewing Company, 284 Broadway, Cambridge, 617-945-0450, lamplighterbrewing.com.

Lamplighter Mug Club / Growler Counter and retail area. / Photos provided