Crumbs in my 'Stache: A (new) place for beer drinkers

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

By Ben Cannon

Jackson Hole, Wyo.-Jackson Hole harbors plenty of beer drinkers, for sure, but one restaurant has brought a new concept to the collective bar top, and it’s a place whose existence might have been only vaguely on your radar.

I say “only” because Thai Me Up had fallen off the map a few years ago, after temporary owners fumbled, driving away loyal customers. In fact, there may still be a stigma attached to Thai Me Up, although Jeremy Tofte – the original owner who sold Thai Me Up, moved away, and returned to resurrect it – is slowly winning back customers.

Tofte’s been back at the helm for more than a year and a half, though visions for change often take a while to implement. So while the ship has been righting itself, Tofte has been thinking long and hard about beer, and how he was going to bring to Jackson Hole excellent beers the likes of which this valley has never seen.

Tofte has been a home brewer for 15 years. As a native of Mt. Vernon, Wash., a small town that also counts Glen Beck as a native son, Tofte was enamored by the Pacific Northwest breweries, including Oregon’s beloved Rogue, that for the last 20 years have influenced American brewing.

“I would put my beer up against any brewery in America,” Tofte said.
His first commercial batch of beer is set to be unveiled on Thursday, when a strong ale called Instigator will debut on the tap at Thai Me Up.

And what a unique tap it has become. Following a recent remodel of the bar area, Thai Me Up began carrying a number of beers that have likely never been found in this area – maybe never have been available even in Wyoming. Tofte did this by pleading with distributors who, believing there was no market here, never offered to carry the relatively obscure beers the Thai Me Up owner sought.

Well, there’s still no market, of course, but nowadays a lone keg containing a rare brew from, say, Ft. Collins, will find its way onto the back of a truck containing the beers deemed fit for mass consumption.

On a recent night, beers on tap included the smooth Lagunitas India Pale Ale, and Vesuvius, a Belgian golden ale made in Hood River, Ore., by Full Sail. There were some choice area beers on tap, too, like a pale ale from Pinedale’s Wind River Brewing (formerly Bottom’s Up), and Imperial Stout, crafted over the pass at Grand Teton Brewing. Thai Me Up also carries the gourmet Lips of Faith line, a small batch offshoot made by New Belgium, which gave the world popular beers like Fat Tire.

There’s also coveted beers by the bottle galore, including a full line of Rogue that includes a hefeweizen, porter and IPA, as well a couple of Deschutes beers, and Green’s Discovery of Beligium – this last option likely makes Thai Me Up the only restaurant in town to serve a gluten-free beer. (Tofte says that he will also attempt a GF brew.)

Thai Me Up has amped up its menu with dishes like the “G-13” rice flake noodles in a coconut curry reduction, and the rich pattaya vegetable stir-fry.

To lure in beer drinkers, or people not in the mood for Thai food, Thai Me Up has developed a bar menu with items like pot stickers, fried green beans, and chicken sliders flavored with Thai spices.

A growing number of regulars are turning on to the revamped Thai Me Up, which has become equal parts Thai food joint, gourmet beer station and, most recently, microbrewery. And Tofte offers another unique attraction – apart from the campy kung fu movies that often play above the bar: “If you don’t like the food or beer, I offer the best magazine selection in town,” he said.
He’s right about that. JHW

Thai Me Up Restaurant and Brewery is located at 75 E. Pearl. 733-0005.

Photo by Ben Cannon
Call me ‘Rex’: Jeremy Tofte wants you to enjoy his gourmet beers.

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Crumbs in my 'Stache: A (new) place for beer drinkers | Planet JH News Article: Restaurants And Dining

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