MA Taprooms re-opening - Phase 2 or 3?

Potentially talking out of my ass here but most of these breweries have farmer brewers licenses, and generally have a Farmers Series Pouring permit to sell draft beer. This permit replaced the Restaurant Pouring permit so lets classify them as restaurants.

 

[Not legal advice]. According to the list released yesterday (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/reopening-when-can-my-business-reopen), bars are Phase 3, and are defined as "establishments that only serve alcohol and do not have kitchen areas that prepare food on-site." No reference to whether there is an open-air beer garden, etc. Restaurants are Phase 2, and there is a note that "We are actively considering whether additional guidance will be provided to restaurants before Phase 2."

So I'd expect more clarity around this as we get closer to Phase 2.

 

This breaks it all down rather nicely.

 

Let's hope that if they've made it this far, another few weeks won't make a difference. Do you know specifically of a brewery facing this exact situation? And if a brewery were suddenly allowed to open their taproom, I'd guess lots of people would err on the side of caution and stay away. But I'm just guessing of course.

 

Ultimately won't it break down to whether the bar/brewery/restaurant has tables that can be spaced properly? My understanding is that bars are phase 3 because they have physical bars with stools where people can't be spaced. If you can go to an all table format with servers, then you should be treated the same way as a normal restaurant. Also, I'd be the first person to reserve a spaced bar seat at many breweries and bars in the area. Kind of the dream scenario to be at the bar with 2 other people all 6-12 feet away from you.

 

I also wonder if it's your constant proximity to your server (bartender) that comes into play?

Also, are lines a concern? Restaurants will likely be reservation only at first (I could be wrong here). So maybe breweries that have the capability will be table service only for dine-in, and reservation only?

I realize they can easily advise people to be six feet apart and have markers on the ground like grocery stores have done.

Simply based on the conservative route MA has taken so far, my gut instinct is that they'll say no to breweries in Phase II. But I can see both sides of the argument.

 

As long as I can get beer, I’ll be fine.

 

Seems like outdoor service and seating would be a big thing here. Being outside, even if under a tent/awning, seriously reduces the risk of disease transmission because any virus particles get widely dispersed very quickly.

Taprooms that can serve and seat customers outside will be able to open safely sooner than those that can't. Question is, will the state guidance take account of this, or will it treat all taprooms with the more conservative guidelines that will need to be applied for indoor spaces?

To use two central MA examples, the Wachusset Brew Yard (mostly outdoor seating, with an outdoor bar) seems pretty low risk. The Medusa tap room (no outdoor space at all) seems much higher risk.

 

To give you an idea of what the MA setup may look like, as of yesterday Rhode Island approved outdoor service with plenty of restrictions:
1) Advance reservations required, must have no symptoms of Covid-19 upon arrival.
2) The patron must provide the restaurant with phone number and email in case contact tracing is needed later.
3) A face covering must be used at all times when you are not seated (entering, leaving, going inside the building to use the bathroom).
4) Tables spaced a minimum of 8' apart, no parties greater than 5 allowed.

I had originally thought it was restricted to restaurants, but the Guild taproom in Pawtucket is opening tomorrow with outdoor patio service. It will be all table service, no walking up to the bar to order is allowed per the current state rules (maybe in the next reopening phase this will change).

They have a large patio area that appears to fit somewhere around 15 large tables, so table service is worth it for them only selling pints without food. However for a small taproom patio that can only space out 2-3 tables, the revenue from that few pint sales wouldn't be worth (re)hiring a staff member.

 

I picked up some beer at Idle Hands today and that was the impression the checkout guy had when I asked him about it. He seemed to think the "no kitchen" rule would trump the fact that they had outdoor seating to offer which seems like an unhelpfully arbitrary distinction to me.

But he also made the salient point that who the hell knows how things will be in a couple weeks let alone a couple months, so there's plenty of room for things to change or be adjusted between then and now.

For now I suppose we should just prepare to be happy if things don't go to hell after Phase I.

 

So like, if it rains, are they closed?

I just realized this happens with outdoor beer gardens in the summer. I think everyone just kind of ducks under trees and deals with it, or just leaves.

Here’s another thing no one’s brought up...how comfortable are people going to be taking Ubers? Especially something like Uber Pool? How will that affect restaurants and breweries?

I MIGHT have a drink at an outdoor beer garden. I sure as hell won’t get in an Uber right now.

That’s where I’m at. I don’t see how it can go well, I’m just hoping it doesn’t go too poorly. By that I mean, we don’t have enough testing yet. And there’s no vaccine.

We can go as slow as possible, but until SOMETHING changes, we’ll still have cases. Germany is ahead of us in every aspect of this pandemic, and just opened up non-essential businesses on April 20th. Playgrounds, museums, and churches were opened on May 4th as a couple of examples.

Basically, I’m with @meefmoff , I’ll just be happy if I’m wrong and Phase I goes well. And take it from there.

Because if it doesn’t, and things are still plateaued in July/August, or worse, have spiked...we’re REALLY REALLY screwed because we’ll be approaching flu season.

 

Good luck to the breweries in Everett and other off the beaten path joints if people refuse to take Uber.

 

We'll see if somewhere like Everett would even be allowed to open breweries under Phase II. They have a high number of cases.

Densely populated areas are taking an even slower approach than Baker. See Boston, Somerville and Cambridge.

In Somerville for example our mayor isn't allowing churches or hair salons to open yet.

We'll see how that goes if Baker says breweries can't open...

 

Will the employees be forced to shave off or trim their Hobo mandated beards/goatees in order to wear masks?

 

There is no harm in reinventing your look. I think the Painter's Brush is quite dashing.

 

It's not required for regular masks, surgical or otherwise.

Just N95s so that they seal properly. I have to be fitted for one, while clean shaven is ideal, a 5 o'clock shadow is ok depending on thickness.