East Brother Beer Company’s expansion feels like a homecoming for Bay Area beer lovers.
The local Richmond favorite’s two decades of craft and community are behind its new sports-driven taproom in downtown San Francisco’s Metreon, and its new Marin outpost blending mountain views, cold pours, and good company.
The move marks a new chapter for East Brother Beer Company, whose name nods to the small island just off the Richmond coast where it all began. Teaming up with restaurateurs Jim Waley and Bill Higgins, they’ve transformed the former Floodwater Italian restaurant into Tam Tavern, a sprawling new beer hall just minutes from Mount Tamalpais.
East Brother Beer Co. has expanded its offering, featuring a full menu at Tam Tavern.(Prismic Photography)
The interior balances warmth and modern polish with high ceilings, a gleaming wood bar, lounge seating, and enough TVs to catch every game. Guests can gather around pool tables or the wood-fired pizza oven for comfort food that pairs perfectly with East Brother’s easy-drinking lineup, from its European beer haul—Vienna lager, oatmeal stout, and Bohemian pils—to classics like the Bo Pilsner and a smooth, malty red lager.
At the foot of Mount Tam, the tavern blends Marin’s local history with the energy of a freshly renovated beer garden. The family of one of East Brother’s co-founders, Rob Lightner, has lived in Mill Valley for three generations, while the other, Chris Coomber, has been a community member for more than two decades. Historical photographs of the old Tavern of Tamalpais line the walls, recalling the railroad that once carried visitors nearly to the mountain’s summit.
The menu, from Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized chef Michael Siegel of Mill Valley’s Playa, features dishes like schnitzel, bratwurst, fish and chips, and wood-fired pizza made with locally sourced meats and Petaluma-made bread. Designed for families and dogs, the tavern offers outdoor seating, live music, and televised sports, serving as a gathering place for locals and visitors alike.
Chef Michael Siegel (center) in action in the kitchen with his team(Prismic Photography)
East Brother Beer Co. began as a neighborly project when Coomber’s homebrewing hobby outgrew his Mill Valley kitchen in the mid-2000s. Joined by Lightner, the pair turned backyard batches into a full-scale brewery, opening in Richmond in 2017. Their beers are still made entirely in-house at the industrial Richmond facility.
As Lightner puts it, “East Brother Beer Company was born in Mill Valley, brewed in Richmond, and built for the Bay. We want beer to be adjunct to social interaction and always welcome our philosophy to smile.”
Today, East Brother’s beers are sold and poured at more than a thousand vendors, including retailers like Whole Foods, Safeway, and Raley’s, as well as beloved local spots such as Chez Panisse, À Côté, Gott’s Roadside, The Monk’s Kettle, and Zeitgeist.
In downtown San Francisco at the Metreon, East Brother Beer Co.’s new Rec Room delivers a relaxed, sports-forward vibe with games like ping-pong, cornhole, pool, and darts. The beer list includes their signature classics alongside collaborations, including a bold hazy IPA with Almanac Beer. They’ll soon be releasing a new Munich dunkel in honor of Oktoberfest.
The patio at East Brother's Rec Room in San Francisco(Courtesy of @recroomsf)
Both venues carry East Brother’s commitment to connection forward with regular programming like trivia nights, game days, and fundraisers supporting local nonprofits (as well as private event rentals) to keep each space rooted in the people who make the Bay Area special.
Lightner sums it up best: “Our goal is to share what we’ve built with a larger city and keep supporting our communities first.”
// Rec Room is open Monday through Wednesday and Sundays from 11am to 7:30pm, and Thursday through Saturday from 11am to 8:30pm; 135 4th St. (Downtown), eastbrotherbeer.com
// Tam Tavern is open Monday through Thursday from 4pm to 9pm, Friday from 4pm to 10pm, Saturday from 12pm to 10pm, and Sunday from 10am to 9pm; happy hour is Monday through Friday from 4pm to 6pm; 152 Shoreline Hwy (Mill Valley), tamtavernmv.com
