The line "Tiger Tiger burning bright," from William Blake's "The Tiger," has been stuck in my head ever since I heard the owners of
Blind Lady Ale House were opening
Tiger!Tiger! at the convergence of Normal Heights, University Heights and North Park. But after talking to the bartender last night, I learned that the name has nothing to do with the poem. Apparently, in the process of coming up with ideas, one of the owners, Jeff Motch, threw out "Tiger!Tiger! Tavern" and they all laughed at the fun of having to say a name like that. And when they made a very serious, James Bond-looking tiger for the logo, it became even more fun. So it stuck.
The new pub, on El Cajon Boulevard off 30th Street, just soft-opened today and is serving up sandwiches, wood-fired oysters and an amazing selection of beer from over 20 taps. Aside from all the reclaimed wood on the walls, the most stand-out things in the space are the wood burning oven and the custom built cooler right behind the bar. Just on the other side of the taps, this "direct draw draught system" keeps the lines (which will be stainless steel) as short as possible and your beer pure and clean.
Tiger!Tiger! offered a sneak peak last month during Bike the Boulevard
With communal picnic tables and perfect acoustics – you can hear the music but you can also hear your conversation using indoor voices – Tiger!Tiger! feels like a community gathering place, somewhere to grab a few beers with friends and potentially make new friends in the process.