Beer Garden in Boston

That's kinda the idea behind the "taproom" opening in Assembly Square: http://www.slumbrew.com/Beer_Talk/p/45

I think the biggest obstacle is the cost of running a nice-weather-only place in Boston. It's hard to find cheap real estate close to public transit, and it's hard and expensive to get a license. The American Fresh place gets around this with a special seasonal license that falls outside of Somerville's quota.

The other issue is that most towns shun places that focus on alcohol sales and won't even grant a license without a commitment to 50% food sales. Cambridge would laugh you right out the door if you came proposing a place whose main goal was to serve liters of beer with a few sausages or pretzels.

 

I think it's the weather. You'd have to make it big enough inside that it is still viable year round. That means the outside can't be huge. Still, something would be nice.

 

I agree with this. Also, that plot of land is 1.5 million, would leave no parking if you wanted to open an outdoor operation, and would be a destination spot as there would be little foot traffic.

 

Cambridge Brewing Company

 

NYC has a number of beer gardens, wouldn't the weather excuse hold true there too?

 

Never mind something outside, I'd love a German beer hall period. Even a Hofbrau house would be excellent.

I realize there's Jacob Wirth's, but that's not even close to what I'm referring to. Bronwyn in Union Square has German food, liters of Weihenstephan Original, and an extensive German beer list. But the size and the price make it a hard sell for me. And their "outdoor garden" is the size of a closet, as is the indoor bar.

Harpoon has a gorgeous beer hall and is exactly what I'm referring to, except it's not geared towards German beer obviously. But the decor is perfect.

 

That intersection is a bitch to navigate. With Brighton Landing opening up in the next few years that spot might be great, but as is, it's kind of in between a lot of areas and not near much residential. Unless I'm missing something.

That said, love the idea.

 

And there's a beer garden in Albany, NY. So it can work anywhere.

 

Sadly, this nanny state doesn't let us have any fun things, especially when it comes to enjoying alcohol.

Must be too unseemly for those who know better than us to not want to see people outside drinking large beers. Whatever would children think? And what if those people get in cars and drive afterward???

But I guess overpriced hipster interpretations of German beer gardens (Bronwyn) are OK, as long as they're priced prohibitively enough to keep the riff-raff out.

Count me in as one who wants to see a real beer garden here too. But not holding my breath for it happening any time soon.

 

There is one (or was a couple years ago) in Harvard Square. YEah, I know that's Cambridge, not Boston, but still.
I think a lot of the problem is A) weather - you can really only expect something outside for less than half the year and B) cost of real estate, and lack of any sort of open space to have something like that at any kind of reasonable rent.

 

You mean the Brighton Beer Garden down the street isn't exactly what you want in a beer garden?

I've been saying to my wife and friends for a few years now if I was to start my own business, it'd be a proper German restaurant (with a good attention to beer) somewhere within the 95 belt. Being born in Germany and my family from there, I figure it's my duty. Hell I just really want to. Lord knows Wirth's and Bronwyn aren't delivering. But I can't deny I have no experience in the restaurant industry. My father grew up in it and he says "Stay Away!!". But the more he says that, the more I want to do it. Maybe...

 

Another reason this doesn't happen in boston is this:

http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox...ses_deval_patrick_wants_to_lift_the_caps.html

 

Another disappointment a bit down the hill: That's not actually an Irish village.

 

They just announced Boston will get 75 more liquor licenses over the next 3 years so this should alleviate that, at least in Boston proper.

 

They could easily plunk a Hofbrau house in Boston prop. I'd take it over Bronwyn or Jacob Wirth's.

 

Are you talking about the beer garden at Charlie's?

 

I've got a great location for one. The whole fucking government center plaza!

 

Haha, yes.

 

I'm wondering whether the effort to open an expansive biergarten space around here is reliant upon a successful pre-existing business to carry the note. I imagine it could be prohibitively expensive to get something like that up and running as a start-up venture, at least within the city.