I met Brooke briefly a few months ago when my mom and I stopped in on a quiet, rainy November afternoon, curious about what had taken over the space that once housed a dingy brewery—and before that, a long-standing Chinese restaurant, and even earlier, a steakhouse. Long before any of that, though, the building was a feed store where my great-grandpa Freiboth worked. My dad still remembers riding with his mom to that feed store in their old Chevy, Grandpa Hank filling the trunk with feed. Because of that, walking into this building has always carried a sense of nostalgia for me. But the moment we stepped inside The Sip, it felt like a breath of fresh air. The space was calm, warm, and inviting, with coastal colors that feel exactly right for the shores of Poulsbo. It was the kind of place you want to linger after a little holiday shopping—easy, comfortable, and full of life without being loud. The staff and Brooke herself were genuinely kind, and within minutes I knew this was a place I wanted to partner with. I asked if she’d be open to hosting one of my Meet and Greets, and she said yes without hesitation. We found a date that worked for both of us, and it felt meant to be. But before we gather there together, this is the story behind the woman who owns it—and the heart that brought this space back to life.
Eight months after opening its doors on Front Street, The Sip has already become something rare in a small town: a place where people instinctively gather. Since May 2025, the self-serve taproom has hosted everything from game nights and book clubs to high school reunions, wedding parties, and casual weeknight meetups—often all within the same week. What began as a long-held dream has quickly evolved into what many locals now affectionately refer to as Poulsbo’s “community living room.”
“For me, every day feels like a win,” says owner Brooke. “Any celebration deserves a glass of bubbly, and we’ve felt incredibly welcomed by this community.” That sense of welcome is palpable the moment you walk through the door, and it’s something Brooke and her husband have intentionally cultivated from the very beginning.
The Sip didn’t appear overnight. For two years, Brooke and her husband searched for the right location in Poulsbo—somewhere central, accessible, and capable of holding both their vision and the community they hoped to serve. That moment came unexpectedly through a Facebook post announcing the closure of the Slippery Pig. “When we saw that post, we knew immediately,” Brooke says. “That Front Street location was exactly what we had been waiting for. Once it opened up, the wheels were in motion.” After 13 years of living in Poulsbo and being deeply involved in Kitsap County, opening The Sip felt less like starting something new and more like deepening roots that were already firmly planted.
Entrepreneurship wasn’t new territory for Brooke. Alongside The Sip, she owns The Social Sip, a digital marketing agency she’s run for 13 years, managing events and marketing for wineries across Washington State. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Kitsap Winery Alliance and has spent more than a decade bringing wine-focused events to Kitsap County, including the upcoming all-winery event on February 5th from 5–8pm at The Sip. Her professional background includes corporate marketing roles at Starbucks and Wells Fargo Bank, as well as four years as a partner at Fletcher Bay Winery, where she helped open a second tasting room location on Bainbridge Island. While all of this experience proved invaluable, opening a restaurant-style business still brought new challenges.
The Sip features 36 self-serve taps, including 11 wine taps, all hand-selected with intention. “I refuse to put low-quality wine on tap,” Brooke says. “I love every wine we pour.” That same care extends beyond the drinks to the space itself, which was designed to feel welcoming, flexible, and familiar—comfortable enough for a quiet afternoon visit and lively enough for a full house on event nights. “A friend once described The Sip as Central Perk from Friends—but with wine instead of coffee,” Brooke says. “I loved that. It means people feel comfortable here.”
Community, Brooke believes, doesn’t happen by accident—it’s cultivated. The Sip’s event calendar reflects that philosophy, with live music every Wednesday evening, speed puzzling competitions on the third Friday of each month, Music Bingo on the first and third Sundays, line dancing, themed nights, seasonal celebrations, Galentine’s Day Bunco on February 13th, Super Bowl gatherings, and more. Each event is another opportunity to bring people together in a space designed for connection.
As The Sip approaches its one-year anniversary on May 17th—Viking Fest weekend—the vision remains rooted in growth, joy, and giving back. Brooke hopes to eventually donate a percentage of sales to local nonprofits, following the model she already uses with The Social Sip. There are also plans to expand offerings to include hard alcohol, with hopes of serving frozen margaritas, Bloody Marys, and more by summer. Looking ahead five years, her hope is simple: “I’d love for it to be filled with people having fun every day of the week.”
Judging by the steady hum of conversation, laughter, and clinking glasses, Poulsbo has already decided—The Sip is exactly where they want to be.
We will see you this Friday 1-30-26 at 6:30 for my Meet and Greet at The Sip!
