What does your tasting room or brewpub say about you?

With an open floor plan, ample table space, whiteboards, a projector and the fastest brewery internet in the country, Braxton was truly built for business. To support this mission, Braxton Brewing will start to open its doors at 8 a.m. and has partnered with Northern Kentucky coffee roaster Carabello Coffee to develop “Starter,” the company’s coffee program. This coffee will be served in the taproom, to-go and whole bean. Starter will also be served as cold brew and was designed with Braxton’s brewing team with the intention of the coffee flavors complimenting future beer projects.

“Since Day 1, Braxton Brewing Company has been about celebrating and supporting entrepreneurs. Opening up their doors as a co-working space for entrepreneurs is a natural extension of that mission,” said Dave Knox, chief marketing officer of Rockfish Interactive and The Brandery Co-Founder. “Braxton will be a truly unique and welcome addition to the co-working community of the region as well because of the flexibility it offers.”

From a CBB tasting rooms tips feature, brewers we spoke to talked beyond brand platitudes and got right to the business side:

“Based on our research, it’s critical to have a tasting room because you make more money selling beer on site as opposed to distribution,” explained Eddie Leon, owner of MIA Brewing Co. “For example, instead of selling a keg for $80, you’re going to be retailing each pint, making maybe $400 off that keg. It’s a lot of profit. In Florida, there are a few breweries that put a lot of emphasis on their tasting rooms, and they make a lot of money from that.”

“A tasting room is a huge asset,” said John Najeway, owner of Thirsty Dog Brewing Co., based in Akron, Ohio, which has run a successful tasting room for the past four years and continues to see growth. “You can look at dollars and say, ‘Yeah, it’s more than paid for itself and exceeded its expectations,’ but then there’s the immeasurable value, which is the face time and direct contact with the consumer.”

So, what’s your tasting room idea? Something as simple as a game night? Would love to both hear your ideas and how you’ve measured your success (or failures) along the way.