[micro_cam]

In my state we have a lot of breweries that essentially just operate as family friendly restaurants with bars. Like towns of a few thousand people have multiple breweries.

It turns out liquor license laws make it much cheaper to open a tasting room that serves food then a restaurant that serves beer. Some can or bottle their beer but the business model can work fine without major distribution. So people open breweries instead of pizza parlors or steak houses.

[fknorangesite]

> In my state we have a lot of breweries that essentially just operate as family friendly restaurants with bars

I'm in Canada, but yeah similar. The taproom might sell only a few snacks or something (or maybe get a local food truck to park outside), but people are also welcome to bring in outside food: many times I'd go with friends for drinks and then order a pizza or something delivered to the brewery.

[gnabgib]

Mostly due to our liquor laws (depends on province). But you're basically required to supply food if you vend alcohol. Bring your own food is the only way to satisfy this (or selling nuts/bags of chips/random trash at the counter.. looking at you Cold Garden).

When you first open, the cost of a kitchen, storage, utensils, and staff is a significant vig on top of your brewery costs if you're not sure how many visitors you'll get/whether they're looking for food.

[tomcam]

That scratches an old itch. I could not understand exactly the scenario you describe: small towns with multiple breweries. Never knew that loophole existed.

[noneeeed]

More and more pubs in the UK are doing this too, especially the ones that are more focused on drinks than food. It’s a way to keep more money in the business as a whole, with the added benefit that the house beers are often cheaper and extremely fresh.

[jimmyjazz14]

North Carolina by chance?

[micro_cam]

Montana. Good to know there are other similar states though