Kids in Taprooms?

Like a lot of things, just exercise common sense, plenty examples of which has been mentioned already. Some spots are more kid friendly than others, and of course some times/days are better than others.

Yes, someone will have a story about "kids don't belong, I remember that time I saw a one throw up, break a teku, and do this" etc etc.
But you could say that about a lot of places/things, there are dumb ass parents like there are dumb ass people, more often than not I have found mostly responsible parents at the kid friendly tap rooms here.

 

The only places I don't take my kids are tasting rooms. If it's set up primarily to drink, the kids are gonna get bored and don't need to be there, we save those places for when we get someone to watch the kids. But most pubs in Michigan are pretty kid friendly. My oldest really enjoys it if there's label artwork on the walls and asks a lot of questions about everything.
The coolest things I've seen for kids (and parents!) was at Right Brain in Traverse City, which had a semi-walled off section with couches, toys, and board games, and at Hop Lot in Suttons Bay (MI) that had a fire pit going all times and smore kits for a buck.

 

Red Oak Brewery opened in 91 very close to our home, across the street from Guilford College. My kids were born in the 80s and we all loved to go for lunch, I might have a few beers, and we would watch and mingle with the wonderfully mixed clientele. Every time that it snowed we went to Red Oak and these days the memories are spread family wide. The kids loved it. The only thing that might ever bother me would be a Jack Russell Terrier only dog friendly bar. I think I'm safe!

 

I'm fine with kids, but if your kid starts screaming/crying/making a scene, get your check & go.

Like someone said above, common sense.

 

as long as the child is behaving, I dont see a problem with it. this is exclusively for taprooms etc. Bars on the other hand...prob depends on the bar itself and typical crowd. just more common sense than anything.

 

Like some other posters have mentioned, as long as the kids are cool, then all is good.
In many ways the family vibe can really help create a great atmosphere.

 

I've brought my kids a number of times and haven't had a bad experience yet. It's an education in so many ways, so far all positive.

 

First off, congratulations!

My wife and I had our first daughter in April. We regularly visit local breweries. It helps us keep our sanity on the weekends.

If you get the kid onto a schedule, and schedule the visits in during the appropriate gap between feedings and nap times, then they don't cause any issues for other patrons. If for whatever reason there's a meltdown, we just pay in cash and head home.

 

There was a previous thread re: do you like dogs in taprooms, then it derailed to do you like kids in taprooms, and it got shut down.

Common sense. If your dog/kid is making a scene, bounce. In other words, leave if your dog is biting random customers. Ditto with the kid. People go out to drink to escape, my opinion.

 

On principle, there is absolutely nothing wrong with children in a taproom unless expressly prohibited. But as with so many things in life, it really boils down to situational awareness and judgement.

There are various types of ambiance that can exist in a taproom, and some are more kid-friendly than others, and I really don't think it has anything to do with whether or not there is food. If your child needs a distraction, it's easy enough to bring in things like books and/or minimally-distruptive toys for them to play with.

There are two sides to the coin:

1. Is the taproom child friendly? The answer to which likely depends on time of day and day of week.
2. Is the child public-friendly? If your child can go to a restaurant that isn't McDonald's or some other place that is likely to have a playground inside, he/she can likely go behave in a taproom without issue.

 

I have no issue with kids in the taproom. Honestly, there's probably more alcohol in my kitchen and I'd not rope that off to children.

What I don't care for are parents who lack the self awareness to excuse themselves from the area when their child is acting up, crying etc. Don't blame the child - I blame the parent.

My son used to brew with me from a young age. He finds it fascinating because I made it about the SCIENCE/PROCESS and not the ABV and passing out.

YMMV

 

If in doubt, simply call the place and ask. I have been to several breweries/brewpubs with my kids, and have yet to find one that wasn't kid friendly. Most brewpubs that serve food have kids menus, etc.

 

How many beers are folks okay with having and then driving with their children in the car? I assume at least some of the folks who are responding that they love to take their kids with them to drink alcohol don't use public transport to get to the taproom/brewpub.

 

In Indiana most (not all) brewpubs have a family room/area, and a "bar" area with the bar rail etc. where children are not allowed. I think this setup is due to an Indiana law of some sort, and is one of the few good ones in this state IMO. If you don't want to be around kids you just sit in the "bar" area. There are a few places that are 21 and over only, however. I don't worry about it too much as my "kid" is 32 years old.

 

First of all congratulations, being a parent is the most worthwhile thing I've ever done.

If I ran a taproom it would be both kid and dog friendly with some benches out back under the shade trees for the curmudgeons.

Cats would also be welcome but I doubt any would show up cause cats are easily bored.

 

A brewery is a place where you learn about the "craft." The hops and the science that goes into brewing are things that anyone can enjoy. A brewery is not a hardcore drinking bar - where sheisty things can happen, so let the kids in!

 

All for it until it gets a bit later in the evening. I love being able to take my family on a vacation and hit a local brew house for lunch if I'm able. I'd miss them otherwise if children weren't allowed. Granted this is coming from a parent.

 

That's a goodpoint, but I assume most are either walking or have a DD.

 

I'm all for it as long as it's a suitable place for the kids (i.e. No belligerent drunks fighting and passing out on the floor). I e brought my boys a few times when the conditions were right.

However, it irks me when I go to Tree House and there's a Mom and Dad at the back of a 45 minute line with a kid that's crying their eyes out and they opt to 'tough it out'. Poor kid. Also annoying when somebody has a big stroller blocking an already congested environment.