Opening an all-local craft beer bar

Lawson's does not distribute to PA. It distributes to a handful of stores in VT and that is it. Same goes for Hills Farmstead. RR distributes here thanks to Tom Peters of Monk's Cafe.

http://seekabrew.com/distro/index.html[/quote]

 

So let me get this straight...
"New York City local" = 3 whole states (and one of those states extends further south than even Philadelphia)

"Philadelphia local" = Philadelphia.

Right...Got it....you win....

 

So, how do you explain Hill Farmstead and Lawson Finest Liquids kegs showing up in Philadelphia for Philly beer week and other random special tapping events? I didn't say it was a lot or even regular distribution, but they do send the occassional keg to Philly for special events.

 

This would work in Michigan pretty easily.

 

Did you read the op? It states "tri state area". You compared that to only Philadelphia for some reason, didn't make sense to me either still doesn't make hf, Lawson's, or rr local breweries.

 

Here are your numbers.

Shared breweries between NY and PA = 111
Breweries available in NY, not in PA = 25
Breweries available in PA, not in NY = 58

Of course this doesn't show local versus national distro but given the numbers I think it's pretty safe to assume that Philly locks this one down.

Even if it didn't, I wouldn't trade being the only city east of Colorado to get Russian River for all your micro brews combined.

 

there's a Marriot near to where I live that has a private restaurant with nothing but local tap offerings. when I say local I mean only Connecticut beers. they do have others in bottle but the taps are genuinely local.

 

Well, NC has 95 local, that is, in-state breweries, Ohio has 73, Pennsylvania 135, Illinois 97, Minnesota 72, Michigan 119, Massachusetts 83, Washington 180, Oregon 155 and Wisconsin has 117. I would think it wouldn't be that hard to have a craft bar with only local taps in any of those states.

However, this thread is probably going to open the whole "you've gt to offer BMC---no you don't" can of worms again.

 

I would imagine one potential issue is ensuring there is enough production coming from all the local breweries that they could afford to provide a steady supply of kegs. But I like the idea a lot.

Colorado has a couple spots following this MO I believe. One being Colorado Plus...haven't been because it isn't close by me, but sounds like it gets good reviews. http://coloradoplus.net/

 

This is one of the dumber things I've ever seen posted on BA.

 

Why is the concept of local microbreweries so difficult to grasp? I'm aware that Philly has great distro... This thread is about a bar with only local breweries.

 

I can't explain it. Hill Farmstead certainly has sent some kegs down here but if you had some Lawson's consider yourself blessed by beer angels. With PA's archaic laws every individual beer needs to be registered in order to be served in a bar. Hill Farmstead certainly registered some beers and they pop up at Theresa's frequently but Lawson's? Never.

http://www.lcbapps.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/registered_brands.asp

If you drank some Lawson's, I envy you because it wasnt supposed to be here. Do you not remember the raid on Local 44, Memphis Taproom and Ressurection Ale House?

 

Is that really a debate? <---genuinely asking.

There are 1/2 dozen places within reasonable driving distance of where I'm sitting (Kalamazoo, MI) that would be very surprised to hear that they have to offer BMC to stay alive. Just, for example, HopCat in Grand Rapids, Central City Taphouse in Kalamazoo, Beer Exchange in Kalamazoo, etc., etc. I hope the owners of these places don't come to realize they have to offer BMC to stay alive...it's already impossible to get a seat there.

 

Doesn't seem like the best idea to me. You obviously have more industry experience and knowledge than me, but I don't know why you would artificially limit yourself that way. I think it's a great strategy to put an emphasis on local beer but local doesn't mean good. Heavily emphasize local stuff while carrying a good rotation of beers from around the country/world.

 

I beg to differ as well.... the poster was reffering to the tri state area... I guess you people in philly are unaware that PA is not considered the tri state area.... New York, New Jersey and Conneticut.... so when I was giving him suggestions I was hinting at opening in manhattan because of the potential to boom.... sorry... everyone else... no matter you go in the worlf... everyone knows about New York... everyone knows us and tries to copy us.... but that's neither here nor there.... its a matter of opinion I guess....

Just as is the same with craft brews...

I'm the first to admit New York pretty much gets shitted on when it comes to the overall variety of craft brews we get from other states... but we have many good locals and enough decent sized damn good breweries in the north east reigon to please us....
I can get my hands on pretty much any beer I desire thats not distributed over here thru trading... and guess what they want.... local stuff here they can't get there.... its one in the same.... I can care less if I can't get pliny over here.. I actually just traded a bottlle of kuhnhenn believe it or not for a bottle...I may love it... I may say ehhhh...

Craft Beer is booming right now but its too small for me to judge state by state.. you have to go by region... for example... many would argue the west coast has the best dipas... so I wouldn't say philly or danburry or upstate gets better beers... cause not only is it a personal preference but we all generally get the same stuff...

 

IMHO-If you don't own the building your shit out of luck. The nut will be a major burden. I wonder about the premise of local breweries at your place being enough of an enticement

 

seems like everyone in Philly has been doing some day drinking today

 

So you are going to serve only local stuff... So basically anything that anyone that lives near your bar can get on a regular basis... Doesn't sound like the best idea... And I doubt you'll always be able to have 1 or 2 specialized, limited or one off, on tap at all times.

 

Hey bro, that's how trading works...thanks for cracking the code.
PS

definitely not

 

Regarding your use of "us": No one is trying to copy Long Island.