The Art of a Creating a Great Taproom

The Thunderhead Brewing taproom has incredible service. So I am sure the question you are thinking as you are reading this is "So what do you mean by that?"  Service is the little things that make me feel important as a customer. For example, when I am curious about a new beer on the menu, the bartender is quick to provide me a sample and explain more about the beer. I can tell Jake spends a lot of time keeping up with all of the nuances of the beers Thunderhead Brewing provides and other breweries also. You can ask Jake any question about a beer and he gives you an honest opinion of what he thinks. For me, this is important because I enjoy learning about different beers through someone else's palette. Another subtle but important point is that most taprooms are designed so that the customers come up to the bar and order their beer. I have been to many taprooms that didn't take into consideration as to a place that standouts out where I should go to order a beer. Beau didn't miss a beat on this one.  The straight shaped bar has an area that is clearly lower than the rest which is a great visual indication. Then as you get closer to order, you notice the very cool natural tree cut piece of wood that is different than that rest of the bar top. When the taproom is busy, this really helps versus for example meandering around a horseshoe shape bar hoping that one of the bartenders will see you and take your order.

As I started to talk to Jake more about other things about the taproom, I asked him, do you allow events to take place in the taproom? Jake's response was "absolutely". The Thunderhead Brewing taproom welcomes special events like the Siberian Huskies & Alaskan Malamutes rescue event shown to the right. They have also had wedding rehearsal parties, birthday parties, college alumni reunions, and team building events.  Wait the team building events might have been me thinking to myself about how great would it be to bring my team here for an afternoon! Beau told me they are in the works of acquiring additional space so that the can accommodate even larger events like wedding receptions. His vision for the additional space is incredible and even brings with it the possibility of having live music events!

So when it is comes to a having a great taproom, having a good variety of beers is a must for me. Granted my first love is coffee stouts and porters, but I like different beers throughout the year. When you come to Thunderhead Brewing Taproom you will find 10 year around beers and 5 or more seasonal beers.  Wow what a selection! Beyond that, there are additional 5+ guess taps rotated frequently with beers that you might not normally get your hands on in Omaha. Jake does a great job of searching out the various beers that are on the guess tap list. I have to admit that I have had only one from the list, because frankly I enjoy the Thunderhead Brewing brews very much.

I started to think about all of the taprooms I have been to and why certain ones seem to draw me to frequent one more than another. There are so many new ones that keep popping up with the explosion of the craft beer industry (which is a good thing) that makes me wonder is it by chance that the establishment becomes great or is there more to it? I would like to take you through what I believe makes a taproom "great".

I recently had the pleasure to sit down with the owner Beau Starkel and manager Jake Heiliger from the Thunderhead Brewing Company taproom in Omaha, Nebraska. I had a great time learning about how they got there taproom started and their philosophy about taprooms. Beau stated that the key to making a taproom successful is service and atmosphere.  I couldn't agree more with that.

The first time walking from the parking lot, down the stairs, and into the Thunderhead Brewing taproom, I got this vibe that this would be a great place to hang out with friends to have a couple of beers. Taproom location and design is not by chance. It takes a lot of time and consideration picking the right building and location. Beau described to me the process he went through and how important it was to find a space that had the key things he was looking for. For example, the Thunderhead Brewing taproom has an awesome patio with a good variety of seating choices from tables to cool cushioned tree stumps. The thing that makes the patio so nice is that it has the right amount of sun, and is between buildings to where you can have a casual conversation with someone without yelling. I have been to places where the street noise makes it almost impossible to have a good conversation, not at the Thunderhead Taproom, it is perfect!

Photo from Jake Heiliger

You probably have been thinking when is this guy going to talk about the beer?  Had to save the best for last!  I was introduced to the Thunderhead Brewing beers last fall and I love the character of each and every one of these beers. Trevor Schaben and his wife Jenny open a very small taproom on Railroad Street in Kearney, Nebraska in 1999.  The 3 barrel system they started with back then has grown to a 30 barrel system that now resides outside of Kearney in Axtell. The business has grown due to Trevor's great passion for brewing quality craft beer and also the unique twist he develops for some of the seasonal and small batches.  One of my favorites... ok my favorite is the Calico Espresso Stout which won the brewery it's first gold medal at the World Beer Cup competition.  Other incredible beers that are on tap everyday are listed on the left. I have been making my way through the list and find that the Cornstalker is one of the most unique wheat beers I have ever had. It has chocolate and caramel notes and brewed with a very special ingredient.  You are thinking "love" aren't you. Well that is true, but the ingredient I am talking about is malted Nebraska corn! Hopluia is a recent addition and is now being brewed by Thunderhead Brewing after Spilker Ales in Cortland, Nebraska closed their brewery earlier this spring. I don't know if you can find a better staple of year around beers than the ones from Thunderhead Brewing!

I hope some of the tips in the article help you find the great taprooms that are out there.  Special thanks to the Thunderhead Brewing taproom for all of the insight in to the making of their great establishment. If you are ever in Omaha, Nebraska, make sure you stop in at Thunderhead Brewing to enjoy a great beer, conversation, and maybe even pick up something to go. Cheers!

A Hidden Oasis in the Sandhills...

After passing this sign, I just wanted to jump out of my jeep and start taking photos of the beautiful property, but I had to focus. Yes there is great craft beer waiting just moments away.  Bootleg Brewers was many years in the making.  Ron Worm back in 1978 had his first craft beer brewing session with his father-in-law Charlie. After one session Ron was hooked and his passion for brewing continued throughout the years as a hobby and a great way to meet people.  News traveled and people started showing up at the ranch to get a pint. Ron's wife Dodie enjoyed meeting everyone who stopped by. It was inevitable that the two would someday run their own brewery and that day came in the fall of 2015.  The story is incredible and I highly recommend checking out the rest of it on Bootleg Brewers website.

If you can imagine driving mile after mile seeing only the rolling Sandhills of Nebraska and an occasional cow then this sign is a mighty welcomed sight. Bootleg Brewers is a hidden gem located outside of Taylor, Nebraska. I had been planning this trip for 6 months. The excitement was building when we entered the property, so much that I didn't pay close enough attention to the fact there was 3 more miles until I would be able to have my first Bootleg Brewers beer! There are more signs along the way to let you know that you are heading in the right direction.

Where was I ... oh yes we had arrived.   The brewery nestled in the hills and trees was a welcomed sight.   I parked the jeep and made my way into the taproom.   Once up at the bar, I got the chance to talk with Stephanie who is Ron and Dodie's daughter. Stephanie talked about her dad's passion for brewing and mom's love of designing the building.  It is a great setup with the bar, kitchen, and a special area upstairs for bands to come play music.  Ron and Dodie continue to love meeting new people and keeping the beer flowing!  Stephanie manages the daily operations and explained many of challenges to overcome to get the brewery up and running.  In order to make this a true destination, Stephanie explained that the cabins needed to be ready at the same time that the brewery opened.  Also equally as important was to have a kitchen to serve food so that people could enjoy the brews without having to worry about traveling back to town to get something to eat.

Now to the Bootleg Brewers brews! I started out with a sampler and the first thing I noticed was how smooth and refreshing each of the beers are.  I had the Hoppy Homesteader IPA which is a great summer IPA coming in at 63 IBUs. Next the Horned Hereford Red Ale which is a very tasty session amber ale.  The Muddy Duck was next up for the tasting.   This English Brown Ale is an easy drinking ale with nice chocolate notes.  Last but not least is the Naked Orange Stinger. This is my new favorite summer beer!

The Naked Orange Stinger is a crisp, citrusy beer with just a hint of sweetness from the honey. This beer can bring sunshine to you on a cloudy day! I liked the Naked Orange Stinger so much that I brought some home in this cool growler!

What an amazing day! I plan on getting myself a cabin the next time I come out which I hope is this fall.  Please check out Bootleg Brewers, it is definitely worth the drive. Thanks again to Stephanie and everyone for the hospitality. Hope to see you soon!

Support Local - Drink Local

Support Local is more than just words for most craft beer breweries.   I had a wonderful time again last weekend getting reminded of this. Infusion Brewing established itself as one of the significant staples in revitalizing Benson. The brewery is located in a great historical old building that began as Olson's Meat Market. I remember getting to take my first tour of the brewery and how Infusion Brewing kept so much of the history of the butcher shop in it.  Infusion also has a second tap room that is new but still harnesses the atmosphere of the one in Benson.

During that tour, the owner Bill Baburek described the brewing process and the grains that are used to make the beer.   Bill went on to say that the spent grain makes excellent feed for livestock.   Infusion Brewing partnered with a local pork producer in Ft. Calhoun Nebraska that uses the spent grain as feed.  As a token of appreciation, Deer, Goose & Kid's Farms donates a hog (or two) each year to Infusion for their hog roast event. What a great way for two local businesses to support each other! While standing in line that night for some of the wonderful smoked pork,  I got to meet Nick and his family. He said they receive a significant amount of spent grain each week.  This spent grain gets put back into the food chain instead of becoming landfill material which is a good thing.  You could tell how appreciative Nick is of the spent grain he gets from Infusion Brewing.  The grain provides a healthy, natural means for his livestock to grow. Nick is a great guy trying to keep his farm like those of 100 years ago. He doesn't use chemicals or medicines. The closest thing they have to medicine is apple cider vinegar. Keeping the farm as a nice open space is high priority on this farm.  The chickens and goats are allowed to roam freely just like they would of a century ago on most farms. 

Chocolate Pistachio Milk Porter

It was a great time chatting with Nick.  He is very nice person who is very passionate about his farm and providing quality meats to Eastern Nebraska.  I really loved the story about how the farm was named.  The name is based on his last name and his wife's maiden name.   Nick's wife's maiden name is Hersh which in German means deer.   You might see a deer near the farm but their are none for sale.  Goose came from Nick's last name of Gosling.  Last but not least Kid came from Nick's daughter.   A great local farm in hills outside of Omaha.   Give Deer, Goose, & Kid's Farms a call at 402-699-6425 if you are ever in need of some good beef or pork!

The picture is hiding a great quote - "Brewed Here ... Loved Here" which is very true and why I support local breweries.  There is a lot of pride and hard work that goes into a good craft beer and Infusion Brewing has both going for them.   I love to meet new people and when talking to a couple of regular customers, Jim and Kerri they felt the same way.   In order to come to this event, you had to be a "Secret Society of Malt & Hops" member.   The membership has many great perks and is required to get into the hog roast event. Jim was a member and Kerri decided it was well worth the membership fee to be able to attend the event. I am glad both were there because we had an awesome time talking about craft beer local and around the country!

Craft beer enthusiasts really make up a great community of people who love to drink local beers. Now after some brewery tours and events, I really understand how the breweries are making a significant impact to the communities they are in.  

Cheers to #SupportLocal / #DrinkLocal! 

Sandhills' Finest

One of Nebraska's gems is located in the Sandhills and about a 3 hour drive from Omaha.   Ord, Nebraska, population 2,061 might not seem like a destination city but it is definitely one of my favorites!   Why do you ask?   Great small town vibe, beautiful scenic hills, and best of all - home of Scratchtown Brewing! 

On the Road...

I love a good road trip and the "Keys to the Asylum Release" at Scratchtown gave me a good reason to get out on the road.   That Saturday, my son Noah, best friend Jeff, and I hit the road in my Jeep.  We had some great conversation and took in the scenery as we drove the country highways out to Ord.  Nebaska has so many cool small towns like North Loup.   Many refer to North Loup as the popcorn capital of the country. Each year the town hosts a Popcorn Days Fair and this year it is August 25 - 27th.  

Destination

We made our way into Ord and there was the landmark we had our sights on - Scratchtown Brewing!   Scratchtown is a very small brewery in terms of brewing space but some of the best craft beer in Nebraska comes straight out of this facility. The brewery is owned by 4 couples and the nicest people you could ever meet.   I got the chance to chat with Caleb Pollard about all things going on in the brewery.  I was fascinated to hear about the hops that he grows just outside Ord that goes into some of their beers.   Also how the quality of water makes a big difference in the beer.  Scratchtown has access to the Ogallala Aquifer for the purest water in Nebraska!

Brewmaster

Mike Klimek is the brewmaster and in my opinion one of the best if not the best in Nebraska.   Mike last summer gave a group of my friends and me an amazing tour of the brewery.   It is so fun to talk to Mike because of his great passion for producing amazing beers and a good variety of them.   If you get the chance to meet Mike, you have to ask him about some of the craziest ingredients that he has put into his beers like popcorn and donuts.  There is always something  that I get to learn about craft beer when I visit Scratchtown.   On this trip, I learned how important the temperature of the beer is when serving it.   For example, if you over chill the Barrel Aged OL' 59 Smoked Porter you will not get as much of the smoked malt flavor.  Luckily for us novice craft beer drinkers they also put the recommended serving temperature on the bottle which for this incredible beer is 50 degrees.

Brews

What a day it was to sit outside and enjoy some of the beers of Scratchtown.   My favorite of the day was the Vanilla Normal.   This breakfast stout has a smooth milky finish with a hint of vanilla and coffee flavor.   What a wonderful beer to enjoy on the patio! My friend Jeff, enjoyed the Big Joe Pilsner.   He said this was by far the best Pilsner beer he has ever had. We also got some of the Imperial Beers from the "Keys to the Asylum Release" to bring back with us. What a treat to have some of the best imperials in your hands!

All Good Things Must Come to an End...

Well it was time to pack things in and call it a day.   Thanks Scratchtown Brewing for your hospitality!  Last year 300,000 visitors made their way through Ord and I hope they got some time to stop in visit Scratchtown.  Truly a great experience I would recommend to anyone!

The map above has some of the other breweries and attractions in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Make sure you find your way out to some of the best brews and scenery in Nebraska!

Pint Night

Pint Night

There is nothing like a good pint night at a local tap room.   So, for those who might be new to the concept, a pint night is where you can purchase a decorative beer glass for a price and then typically get refills at a discounted price.  I have been to a few (ok several) over the past few years and to me there are a few things that make a great pint night.

The most obvious is the glass if you are a collector like me.   I know I enjoy seeing the different creative designs that breweries come up with.   Hey graphic artist out there, I bet it is a fun time getting a chance to work with breweries on logo designs!  I remember the very first glass I got which was El Mastodon from Lucky Bucket Brewing Company.  The glass is very cool and I was excited to get it.  The other thing that made my night was getting introduced to a new beer.

Boy was that a treat that night getting to try a barley wine.   Pint nights are a great opportunity to try out a new beer.   Most of the time the pint night themes are around a seasonal beer that the brewery is promoting.   It is a great way for craft beer fans to look forward to a new porter or stout in the winter months and a nice crisp IPA in spring or summer months.   I am always up for trying something new, but there is no shame in filling up your pint glass with one of your favorites from that brewery. 

Last but not least, pint nights offer you the chance to catch up with your friends.   I love the social aspect of the pint night!   Many times I will share out the event on social media hoping to catch up with other friends who enjoy craft beer.   Great conversations usually follow as each person talks about the beer of the evening.  It is fun to see what others think about the pint night beer!

I hope you find a great pint night in your near future.

Cheers!