A family-run craft brewery with a full Mexican kitchen has filled a long-standing vacancy in Tacoma's Brewery District, giving the neighborhood an all-ages option where kids, dogs, and beer lovers can share a table.

Redd Dog Brewing Co. opened June 17, at 2302 Fawcett Ave., the former home of Black Fleet Brewing, which closed in 2024. Owners Lane and Jamie Scelzi brought eight house beers and a taco-focused menu to the nearly 10,000-square-foot space.

The Scelzis are not new to Tacoma hospitality. The couple has operated several Melting Pot restaurants in the region, including the downtown Tacoma location, for more than 20 years.

They launched the Redd Dog brand as a U-Pour pub on Sixth Avenue in 2021, later expanding to Puyallup and Bellevue. Both of those locations remain open. The family closed its original Tacoma U-Pour earlier in 2026 to make room for the brewing operation.

Their son Nolan Scelzi runs the brewhouse. He previously worked at Dru Bru in Cle Elum and Hellbent Brewing in Seattle. The opening-day tap list featured eight beers including a pilsner, a Mexican lager, a Kölsch, a hazy IPA, a West Coast IPA, and a hefeweizen, plus ciders and a horchata agua fresca.

TapTaco: Tacos at $3–$4 Each

The kitchen concept, called TapTaco, is led by executive chef Silver Moren, who has worked with the Scelzi family for years. The menu runs 11 tacos on corn tortillas, with options like seared chorizo, carnitas, Baja-style fish battered with house brew, and caramelized pork belly with lime crema. Most items land under $15; most tacos cost $3–$4 each.

Sides include esquites, elotes, adobo BBQ wings, shrimp ceviche, and a Caesar salad with cotija. Desserts: churros and key lime pie in a jar.

There's even a dog menu with all-beef franks and a "pup patty."

The 1907 building got a production brewery and commercial kitchen added in 2018 by Black Fleet's previous owners. Inside, rustic wood paneling and communal picnic-style tables surround a roll-up garage door. Guests order food via QR code at the table.

What's Next

A dog-friendly beer garden is planned for the grassy lot next door, between the building and Second Use Building Materials. Marketing director Payton Standfill told the Tacoma News Tribune the project is expected to be completed this summer. No opening date has been confirmed.

Redd Dog Brewing Co. is open Sunday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Friday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Phone: 253-625-7118. Website: redddogbrewingco.com.