What do you look for in a brewery?

Can you you tell us more about who you are? From your post I don't see any link to your business and or info on your background.
Where is your new brewery located, what is the name, where have you worked etc etc. I think if you want to do marketing research it would help to know your legit.
Thanks

 

In terms of beer selection, I think it's good to specialize in something as opposed to trying to cover all the bases. For example, Jack's Abby strictly brews lagers, and they do it really well..hence a very strong following.

 

The key ingredient is good beer. How long have you been making beer? What is your favorite style and or what do you think is a local favorite? Have your ran some test batches to get feedback from people? I assume you attend local events and have met local brewery folk, they would be a wealth of knowledge on the subject.

 

I am also confused? You are more concerned about the opinions of people on a website than your location or actually having logistics in place? I would think that the first priority would be actually have a place underway or designed, and also experience in the industry and years of brewing experience in place. It seems little out of business practice to look for what people like to do (Darts and Pool) and you have nothing even started, seems a little strange.

 

I think your greatest business plan would be having experience in the industry, from your reply it appears you have zero. Otherwise you would have been able to answer a question. It appears you just want free information from people and provide none, just vague info.
Well good like with your mining project, let me know how you do.
Cheers.

 

I travel often for work and I am always looking for a local brewpub or taproom to visit one of the nights I am staying somewhere. I also hit local places a couple times a month. I guess I have a few things I love or hate about the spots I visit when I am out. I am certain you will get other opinions which contradict what I think.

First, and most important is really great beer. There are far too many of the "I can do that too" breweries opening which are putting out sub-par beers. I think this is tricky because a new brewer getting honest feedback is probably pretty rare. It seems that it is usually a home brewer who had some friends like their beers and decided to make it a business without really taking time to craft high quality product. One my favorite things is to go into a new or small brewery and discover some really great beers. When it is the opposite, it is just a bummer.

I stay longer if there is access to food. A kitchen or food trucks will make me hang out much longer than getting a beer or two and needing to leave in search of something to eat. It doesn't have to be fancy.

Having said that, I am not a fan of a restaurant that decides to brew beer. Any time I see the Applebee's type place that brews its own beer, I almost always find that the beer is disappointing.

I can understand the idea of opening a restaurant section to families (in the above Applebee's with a brewery concept) but kids don't belong in the bar/bar area. I don't want kids around when I am having a few beers. In fact, I can think of almost nothing worse than this. I am sure others will disagree but I bet you'll find an equal number of people who think the way I do.

My favorite type of place is a place where I can sit at the bar and talk to the regulars/beer nerds. A limited bar menu (soups, sandwiches, etc.). Excellent beer. Some kind of music playing rather than 10 TVs blasting ESPN. Something friendly, calm and chill with very good beer.

 

Hot chicks and big production explosions/pyrotechnics!

 

AZBeerDude, take it easy, man. He's just asking some questions to get some feedback.

OP, here are some of my thoughts: I prefer a comfortable, familiar feel to a taproom, and more of a rustic feel than a modern feel (personal preference), with enough space to breathe but not too big and not too much empty space. The flow and speed at the bar is important. I like the games idea - it's always fun to have options like cornhole and darts and foosball, but keep those in a corner or two. Space for a stage for acoustic music is cool as well.

One big thing worth mentioning - sound is crucial. In spaces with tall ceilings, sometimes it get super loud and hard to hear each other when busy, then just echoes when it's pretty empty. I'd test out your buildings and do some research on sound.

Lastly, an outdoor space with seating (and maybe some portion covered when it rains or is too sunny) is essential. It also helps if that space is non-smoking. Smoke can ruin the atmosphere and make people want to stay inside. If you want smokers to have a space somewhere, set it somewhere else outside if possible.

Good luck!

 

Two things to add:
-A couple of TVs is good, but don't turn it into a sports bar. I recommend focusing on the brewery atmosphere and allow people to have good conversations.
-It goes without saying, but the beer is crucial. Hire someone with commercial brewing experience, get feedback, learn your system, have at least 5 different beers, but no more than 15, and at least have a good IPA and good lighter style if your taproom is planning to be a major revenue source for you. The only exception on IPA & lighter style would be if you have a specific theme (Belgians, German, farmhouse/sours) that you feel provides a niche, but still have 1 or 2 drinkable, lower ABV beers.

This is all FWIW, my opinion, which I think is what you're looking for.

 

I would have been thrilled to answer them, but when I asked some basic questions I got the wall of silence. If I owned a brewery or was about to open one I would have answers to anything you asked me about my setup or experience. Usually when people are vague and or ignore your questions there is a little sense of question raised. Owning my own business I would think someone would have filed their legal paperwork and name, etc. Usually when I open a company up I put all that last and just ask questions about if you like to shoot pool or want wings.
LOL
Anyway, all good.

 

Honestly the beer will speak for itself. Ive been to quite a few great places with mediocre beer and will never return. however been to plenty of crappy bars with great beer that i frequent. if you go with just a taproom, access to food is a big key as stated previously. Ive been to a few that are just bring your own snacks, or order to the taproom and it works surprisingly well. The kids vs no kids thing seems to be in hot debate today. personally i think its up to the owner and what kind of vibe they are promoting and how well the kids are behaved. i sorta lean towards the less kids side but also dont mind them when well behaved and during the daytime. not sure what city you are in but access to public transit would be important for me.

Best of Luck to you.

 

Not 100% sure that it's what I particularly "look for" in a brewpub, but I have found that my most satisfying visits were to brewpubs that featured a floor plan that leaned towards the open side, acoustics that didn't reverberate and amplify normal conversation to an unbearable level, and simple and contemporary decor.

The help should be very calm, coo and collected. I know that people pile on the hipster types, and it's for a good reason - snark is NOT a characteristic of a positive customer service experience. Please hire folks that are warm and welcoming, not douches.

As for beer, you don't have to have tons of taps and frankly, having well thought out guest taps is IMO a very good thing. Maybe have 5 - 7 taps dedicated to your stuff and 3 - 5 guest taps.

 

I like to know i'm standing in a brewery. I want to be punched in the nose by that bready aroma as i walk through the door. I like having a line of sight to the actual brewing. I've been to a bunch of places that feel more like restaurants, but their focus is beer. Games can be a good addition but as someone mentioned earlier, i'd have a small dedicated area, rather than making them a focal point. Personally, i don't think TVs add much appeal to a brewery.

 

In all honesty, do your best to brew something along the lines of a 'NE style IPA' for one of your launch beers. Im not sure what region of the country you plan on settling in, but if you can nail down a good example of this style from the start, it will get people talking immediately.

As far as layout goes, Im a big fan of what tired hands does for their fermentaria. Its a wide open space with an L shaped bar and no tvs. They do have a projector screen that they pull down for special events like big games for local sports, Olympics, etc. but it is usually just a giant chalkboard with the tap list displayed. They also have small square tables near the bar area, and longer beer hall type tables further away.

I also agree with the poster above in that you should have the beer brewed in the same area so that the aroma drifts into the seating area. The sights and smells of the actual brewing equipment should be utilized, not hidden in a separate room

small table games like chess, checkers, etc are always nice, but I personally prefer a more 'adult' environment (im 24 btw)

 

To touch on your beer selection question, introduce a core offering and develop those brands first. Too many breweries get caught up trying to compete on every style, every week, but don't have a staple to bring me back.

 

Good beer

 

@BrokenWindow since you are asking BAs a common refrain will be: brew good beer. Not beer that necessarily you think is good but very high quality beer by BA standards. Are you confident that you can do this? Do you (or one of your partners/employees) have years of experience and training in producing high quality craft beer?

Cheers!