Broken Spoke

…and The Hilltop just keeps getting cooler.

We just had lunch at The Broken Spoke at 1014 MLK. To be more specific, we had beers at The Broken Spoke… and also ate our lunch there.

You see, there is no true kitchen here, as it would detract from what the owner wants to do with his place. He does stock some pre-made sandwiches from Joeseppi’s, and just like in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location, with lunch and dinner options from awesome local establishments like Le-Le’s, 11-11, and (my favorite named restaurant in the world) Pho King. Menus are on hand, and depending upon how busy the places are, they will deliver.

But you’re not going there for the food anyway. You’re going for the beer.

At this point, 44 varieties of cans of high quality, mostly small batch, deliciousness. That’s right, I said cans. All cans. There are no bottles (because of recycling and breakage concerns) and there is nothing on tap. The plan is to get to fifty choices, all great options. While we were there, we had a Churchkey Pilsner (in a steel can, and requiring a real honest-to-god can opener), a John Smith’s Extra Smooth Ale, and an Oatmeal Stout that was fantastic.

And you are also going there to talk to the owner Ben Davis.

Ben is an on again- off again twenty-plus year “local,” whose low-key mellowness is mixed with an excitement for the coffee/food/drink scene in the area. Most recently from Texas, now here because of family and work, not long ago that working in a metal fabricating plant in Auburn. But what Ben does, besides sell really good beer, is make bike frames. In a studio at the back of the bar, time permitting, he builds high quality, custom bikes. He’ll remind you that he’s not a bike repair shop, and if you roll in with a flat tire, worn out brake pad, or even a “broken spoke,” he’ll probably send you down the road to Second Cycle (at 1312 MLK). Ben is one of those truly fortunate individuals who have figured out a way to mix business with pleasure.

And for Ben, it involves having a bar in his office.

The atmosphere is super casual, with interesting and old bikes mounted on the wall, as well as a pretty nice collection of old beer cans (that Ben plans on displaying more prominently in the near future). The bright, open space has plenty of seating, and appears as though it could easily hold 70+ people. Ben opens up at 10 a.m. to sell coffee. Like I said earlier, he seems to really love and appreciate his coffee as much as his beer, and gets his beans from AJ, at Valhalla. Local bike clubs, including the Skid Kings, have had events at the bar, and the crowd sounds like it starts to pick up around eight p.m.

We’re looking forward to returning to The Broken Spoke to try more beer (my favorite excuse), talk to Ben some more, check out some of the local club get-togethers, and see how the place evolves. I highly recommend checking this place out.