The Abridged version:
- Der Biergarten will open its new location along the Sacramento River on Friday.
- Owned by the Derfield family, who also own Sean Finnegan’s Pub in Old Sacramento, it promises more “Starburst” beers and imported ales.
- The first 100 guests on Friday will receive a free pretzel.
Der Biergarten, a popular Midtown Sacramento watering hole, will open its much-anticipated Old Sacramento outpost Friday evening, according to a news release.
The German-inspired beer garden, known for its liter steins of imported ales and “Starburst” beer (a grapefruit hefeweizen with Two Rivers Cider‘s pomegranate cider), will take over the historic Steamers building at 1108 Front St.
City of Sacramento officials first announced the beer garden’s Old Sacramento plans in February.
Founded in 2014, Der Biergarten is owned by Sean, Erika and Jarrett Derfield, who also own Sean Finnegan’s Pub in Old Sacramento. Crowds fill the outdoor Midtown space’s communal tables when the weather is right, particularly during its Oktoberfest celebrations, and the Old Sacramento location will have a similar feel.
“We wanted to bring the same communal outdoor atmosphere people enjoy at our Midtown location to the waterfront,” Sean Derfield said in the news release release. “Watching the riverboats pass by and hearing the sea lions makes it a distinct Sacramento experience.”
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Der Biergarten Waterfront’s kitchen will fire out pretzels and sausages from the 750-square foot Steamers building along the Sacramento River. They’ll head to guests in the 1,550-square foot outdoor seating area along the Embarcadero boardwalk, which will feature amplified live music from time to time.
The opening comes as part of the city of Sacramento’s Waterfront Reinvestment Program, which will include replacing boardwalk boards and developing a Native American-themed children’s play area in partnership with local tribes. The city also repaired the deck of the neighboring building after longtime tenant Rio City Café closed down and is now looking for a new restaurant to take over that space.
The Old Sacramento location will open at 5 p.m. Friday, with free pretzels for the first 100 guests. Mayor Kevin McCarty and Sacramento City Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, who represents Old Sacramento and Midtown, will be there for a ceremonial keg tapping.
