Just went to a new(er) place in Pittsburgh that features 3 separate breweries with a common drinking area. Our Place – Hazelwood Brew House I've been to galleys, that have multiple food vendors and a common bar with general seating . . . Lawrence Hall Federal Galley | A Unique Dining Experience . . . but I've never been to a place like Hazelwood Brewhouse. I kinda liked it. Have you all ever been to a place like it? If so, where was it and what did you think of it? If not, what do you think of the concept?
There's a similar place in Chicago, 4 breweries under one roof: Casa Humilde, Twisted Hippo, Burnt City, and ATB. Pay by the ounce at all 4 breweries by card. Gotta squeeze them all into that Chicago real estate, I guess
It seems an interesting concept and a way to beat high rent/real estate costs I suppose. I've seen it with food halls as well and it's...ok? I don't know, it's never held a ton of appeal to me because the ones that I have been to just feel like a food court. I know some breweries can feel sterile, but having multiples under one roof doesn't allow any of them to cultivate a specific feel I'd think. I know some people are ambivalent to this, but I HATE the pour-your-own model. It's impersonal, cuts industry jobs, and has all the emotional excitement of going to a frozen yogurt place. Just not my thing at all.
I agree with both points. And the pour your own hasn't really done too well here either (I don't have numbers to back that up though). An issue you run into in Boston is trying to navigate obtaining multiple liquor licenses in one area.
Are these actual breweries with all of their equipment onsite, or are they essentially shared tasting rooms?
I believe that two of the three breweries share the onsite brewing system and the newest has an off-site brewery and tasting room and this is just another POS.
We've never had anything quite like this out here, but there was a brief period where Strange Brewing partnered with Wit's End. They ended up merging into a single taproom (inside Strange's facility) with counters for both breweries. Everything was brewed on-site and the Wit's End brewer came over and brewed their beers as part of the deal. It didn't last long, though. Maybe 9 months? I guess there were some personal issues and everything fell apart. Wit's End didn't survive.
Also in Chicago is the Pilot Project, which has anywhere from 4 to 6 nano breweries and probably a dozen since inception. It calls itself a brewing incubator whereby the nano brings a recipe to Pilot Project who then makes a few suggestions and then brews it on their equipment in the back. PP's taproom and patio is cool and offers food and other beverages. I gave it a long Place Review in 2021 and I assume it is still going strong. They sell flights, not pour-your-own. They also opened a Pilot Project in Milwaukee's Third Ward district. Here is my review. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/56914/?view=ratings&ba=Beginner2#lists
Any insight into why? How were the beers? I think that is another cool idea, as well. Where one bigger brewery basically rents out unused time on their brewing equipment. Producing and selling wort for off-site lambic style sour fermentation is also neat, IMO.
Here's my 2022 Place Review of District Brew Yards that MistaRyte referred to. https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/56914/?view=ratings&ba=Beginner2#lists
The pour your own won't happen here in Texas. The wine industry tried it and got shut down. They had the fancy machines the you put your card (kind of like a Dave & Busters game card you purchase) in and selected the volume of the pour (sample, half, full glass). By law there has to be a person between the pour and service to the customer. Although I have used those machined in other states. It was just an ok experience. Totally lacking the human connection.
When I was in Charlotte NC, I went to one called Brewers at 4001 Yancey. It was a combined tasting room and I thought it was great since I could have beer from multiple different brewers - 40 taps of award winning beers and cider from Bold Rock, Sixpoint Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing Company, and Victory Brewing Company
I really like the pour it yourself places since I can have multiple small samples of different beers. I always want to try new beers. I object more to places that only serve pints.
I thought Beer Court was where places that serve their beer in frozen cheater pints went to face the music?
Is the price of beer there cheaper than at a place actually providing you service? Cuz, if it's not, that's about strike 12 against those places.
