Rauschenberg (a Park Slope resident and MFA graduate of NYU's poetry program) and pal Jon Stan have worked to create their version of the perfect Berkeley-meets-Brooklyn establishment—from the decor (lodge-like) to the wine and beer (both Brooklyn and West Coast varieties) to the location (jone block from the Atlantic/Pacific Avenue terminal).
"In New York, there are lots of trendy, large bars and a lot of dives, but nothing in between," says Rauschenberg, recalling the reading rooms and woodsy vibe of the bars at Berkeley. Even more important than the space, he says, is the bar's carefully chosen beer selection. There will be 16 on tap, with varieties from West Coast breweries Anchor, Stone, Anderson Valley and North Coast; local drafts include Six Point and Chelsea.
To keep the taste true to form, the Johns borrowed ideas from their favorite Brooklyn establishments like Barcade in Williamsburg. Unlike most bars, which hold refrigerators in their basements, Pacific Standard's tap system features shorter beer lines that only stretch a couple of feet from the front of the bar to a keg fridge just behind it.
"This helps prevent bacteria from getting into the beer and spoiling the taste," Rauschenberg says. "Most people don't know enough about beer to know when it's off-tasting. Once you develop a palate you can start to tell the beers that don't pour well."
The decor is casual and affable: 1,400-square-feet of dark wood, stained-glass frescos and banners of Northern California college sports teams. A large back room is stocked with broken-in couches, a dart board, and a projector for sports watching. Bookshelves are stacked with classics and vintage issues of National Geographic and in time, the bar plans to host monthly readings by local poets.
"We're certainly copying a lot of parts from what we like in the Bay area," Rauschenberg says. "Laid back, hang out places that feel like your living room with good beer and a good atmosphere."
- Anticipated Crowd: Easygoing beer lovers who detest the Fifth Avenue bar crowd.
- Service: Two super-friendly, beer-loving West Coast transplants and their friends do the pouring.
- Sounds: Though the co-owners are sports fans, they're emphatic about not making theirs a sports bar, as the volume will be muted when games are being shown on the screen.
- Dress code: Jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of sandals.
- Bottom line: High maintenance scenesters need not apply.
82 Fourth Ave. (Between St. Mark's and Bergen Sts.)
Brooklyn, NY 11217
http://www.pacificstandardbrooklyn.com
