What Taprooms Get Right!

This is a good one. Very snarky.

 

Maybe, but if I did I would be having water anyways so there wouldn’t be much sense in that for me personally. I don’t really drink and drive especially with kids in the car. Cheers.

 

Wait - I thought that was the point of the photo - pictorial sarcasm about the current "craft" beer scene. So, it was serious?

 

I admit to not being the biggest fan of the chillens, I'd prefer they weren't allowed at all, but, there are valid reasons to allow them:

1- it helps demystify alcohol and shows that folks can have fun, be with groups, and not just get drunk.
2- depending on where one lives, it's convenient. Ya take the kiddos and dogger out for a walk/bike ride around town or on the local trails, and there's a brewery on your way home, why cook lunch/dinner when you can grab a bite, get the kids a root beer, and have a beer yourself. Driving isn't mandatory everywhere.
3- it's another chance to meet more folks and get socialization experience for both the woofers and ankle biters.
4- It can be a reward after dance class/sports practice, etc. They get to have a root beer with their friends, and you get a pint for listening to the idiotic parents who scream at their kids for not being a superstar at age 8.

Again, I'd prefer they weren't there, and if they are, they certainly need close supervision, but it's not a bad thing for them to be there.

 

I thought the same. I was like, “are they taking a dig at 50% of breweries out there?” I’m not into making memes, but someone should turn that girl into one with the message that reads “beer geek.”

 

As far as the kids at breweries go, they don’t bother me at all, but seems like a miserable/boring place to take kids. Unless of course there is a playground or games etc. but that is few and far between at breweries.

 

Around here, several breweries cater to the families with playgrounds, games, etc. There's a couple that have full menus that kids actually choose to go to for birthday dinners and the like. Shrug. I think having breweries be a part of a well rounded community is a good thing, while I'm ambivalent (at best) about having kids in my drinking places.

 

Tell that to my Dad, I practically grew up at the dive bar he went to. There was one pinball machine, that he only ever gave me a couple of quarters to play per visit, once I was done that was it, I just hit the flappers pretending to play after that I guess thats how I learned to be comfortable reading in bars, cause I was never any damn good at pinball ha.

Story/reminiscent time...I remember in high school, on the cross country team. We would warm up to that bar during the summers, and stretch in the small patio. The owner lived in the apartment above, and the first time we did this, he came down probably not knowing why a bunch of kids were in the patio at 9ish in the morning. As soon as he came out, saw me and several other kids he recognized. He then showed us the hidden key to get into the bar and so we could get water whenever we wanted. He knew we wouldn't do anything, cause all our Dads would be kicked out if anything was missing ha. He always had the bar stocked with Gatorade for us after that, which is all we ever took.

 

I'm a little younger that you. My Dad would give me a dollar at the old man bar, but it was ten dimes for the 10 cents a game pinball machine. I became good at pinball. My peak was in college where the basement had a pinball machine next to a soda machine that had 3 rows of beer for 35 cents a can. A roll of quarters could go a long way. That might be why it took six years for me to graduate

Every dive bar should have mugs of root beer for any kids. I still see some that do.

 

Great hook for the family, but if the beer sucks ...

 

Yea no music can also be awkward if it’s not a huge crowd and you feel like every word of your conversation is launching unimpeded across the whole place.

 

Or *future founder of juiceadvocate.com*

 

Here's a couple of breweries with extra curricular activities here in Michigan.

One of my home breweries, Territorial, needed a larger taproom so they bought 40 acres that contained a 9-hole golf course. The clubhouse is what they wanted, so at first the acreage was left to go natural for the first year. However, that land now contains an 18-hole disc golf course full of hills and trees. Not only that, but an axe throwing set-up has been built in the parking area of the former grounds equipment. I think both of these activities are operated by a sub-contractor, but I'm not into participating in either sport to know.

Another brewery that I've read about, Stormcloud, has converted their patio area into a curling rink for the winter. Apparently they have established a club or league with regular matches. Beer is encouraged as part of that sport.

 

I think that is pretty much standard today, where 10 years ago it was the exception.

 

If they have live music, I have gone there for the live music. If they don't, their canned music is nothing but an annoyance.
If they insist on caned music, it should be at a low enough volume as to not interfere with a normal conversation at a table of 6 or 8 people. I have asked that it be turned down at some venues, and they typically do.

 

I appreciate taprooms with welcoming bar seating that encourages conversations with strangers. I also appreciate socially adept barkeeps that can make the bar feel like a welcome mat.

I also really enjoy the out door spaces that many modern tap rooms have created.

 

Wait, an 18 hole axe throwing/disc golf combo course? I'm in!