Why Breweries Are Looking to Food Halls for Taproom Expansions | VinePair

During the craft brewing boom of the 2010s, brewery taprooms drew in curious drinkers like a tractor beam, the attraction nothing stronger than fresh IPAs and barrel-aged imperial stouts. “There was a period of time during the heyday when having beer was enough,” says Clay Robinson, the CEO and a founder of Sun King Brewing, which operates multiple locations across Indiana and now Florida.

Nowadays, pretty great beer is sold everywhere, and umpteen brewery taprooms are competing with one another. To reach broader audiences, breweries are increasingly opening taprooms inside food halls and malls, finding that bustling foot traffic, ample dining, and complementary shopping options can attract customers for a couple cold rounds.

I report on this really popular real estate trend for VinePair.