Jackson L.
Yelp
I tried Empourium shortly after they first opened a little over a year ago, and was underwhelmed with their beer offerings. This said, like so many places during COVID, Empourium has done a bit of a re-brand that has actually made the place more inviting. The generous parking lot has been re-purposed as an outdoor sitting area with fire pits and the ubiquitous bubble-tents, each outfitted with their own kitschy decor and an electric stove to keep the space warm & comfy on those colder days.
Our original intention on this cold, sunny afternoon was actually to stop by Berkeley Untapped across the street, but seeing as they weren't open until 3:00, the lure of Empourium's inviting outdoor area was too much to resist. We scored a bubble given that the first reservation was later that afternoon, and wife, dog, and myself all kicked back on the comfy, springy patio chairs and perused the online menu. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that their beer quality is much improved over my last visit many months ago.
The haze was smooth and delicious and clocked in at a reasonable 5.8% ABV as I recall, putting it more on the crushable side without sacrificing flavor. We also sampled the ESB and the nitro Amber with a faint hint of coffee - both were very delicious and refreshing.
I'm really happy that fate played out the way that I did and I was able to give Empourium another chance. This will now be a must-stop location as we eat and drink our way down Tennyson.