Last week we introduced Brewery MASH, what would your ideal brewery look like? The PorchDrinking staff get rather creative and international for this week’s Roundtable Discussion. Epic pilgrimages to breweries with coveted features may be in order.

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Lauren Hoff

We did a workshop at the Beverage Business Institute where we got to design a brewery with no cost limits. Mine was a “children’s museum” concept for adults. Lots of interactive components that taught the user about beer and brewing.

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Erin Petrey

Lauren, that sounds a lot like what Heineken does in Amsterdam. But yours sounds even more interactive, which I like.
I always want to see more community engagement in local businesses, which is a perfect opportunity for a craft brewery. I’d like to see something like a tap reserved for a “people’s choice” beer that patrons vote for and/or create the concept for each month.

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Niel Stender

Magic Hat has a great setup showcasing local artist work.  I would set up an area within the brewery/pub/store that rotates through showcases of companies that fall into the craft/artisan field.  Artisan coffee one month http://www.rookcoffeeroasters.com/coffee_s/25.htm, cars another month http://singervehicledesign.com/, surfing another month http://www.grainsurfboards.com/ and so on.

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Lauren Hoff

Yeah, think giant sand box filled with malt and lots of slides.

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Drew Toller

My ideal brewery can make any kind of beer it wants. But its pub needs to have two features that I cannot BELIEVE America hasn’t invented yet. 1.) A pay-per-pour tap AT your table. If gas pumps can calculate your bill based on how much you pump, how is this not a thing at brewery pubs? 2.) Soundproof booths with TVs so you and your friends can watch your favorite shows (not just sports, but your favorite weekly programs) without interruption.

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Kevin Risner

The only bar/restaurant I’ve been to with this feature was in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Yes. Needless to say, it was beautiful and American really needs to get making these!

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Drew Toller

Kevin – I’m booking a flight to Plovdiv right now.

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Scott Hoffman

Drew – if we’re talking about the same thing, the tap at the table feature does exist stateside, but I just haven’t seen it at a brewery. Several bars in Denver have it set up at tables, and I’ve also seen it in Chicago. It ends up being kind of a ripoff, though. Plus the beer selections aren’t always that great.

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Kate Robinson

There’s a great one in Lille http://www.aufutetamesure.fr/
Someone told me it’s illegal in America to pour your own beer in an establishment and that’s why this doesn’t exist there. No idea if there’s any truth to that…

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Kevin Risner

The feature this bar had was the pay-per-pour tap at tables, not the soundproof booths with TVs.

 (The city’s nice also! But — pay-per-pour taps!)

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Drew Toller

Damn. Sorry, guys. Guess I’m out of this brewery-designing adventure. Back to you! – Drew Toller

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Kevin Risner

I have seen cafes that also work as bookstores/libraries. I wouldn’t mind seeing that but with a brewery! Beer and books! Unless there’s one of those in the US already and I have yet to go there.

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Niel Stender

Not EXACLTY what I think you mean but pretty rad nonetheless http://sandiego.eater.com/archives/2013/11/15/selfservice-craft-beer-at-new-barrel-republic-in-pb.php

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Lauren Hoff

There are bars in America that have “pay to pour” or tap stations at tables. I have never seen them personally, just Jon Taffer likes to install them every now and then on Bar Rescue 🙂