The Olympic Tavern
@OlympicTavern
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A Rockford tradition since 1945. Family owned & operated. Indoor & outdoor dining. Call us 815.962.8758 for RSVPS or curbside pickup. Tweets by @zakrotello
Rockford, IL
Joined June 2009
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
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Due to our indoor dining limitations from the IDPH, we have decided that all guests will now be hired as "employees" upon entry. They'll be issued a complimentary staff meal with a beer or cocktail included, and they'll be charged $25 for their staff nametag.
Who wants a job?
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My most popular tweet was our "house rules" & I almost wiped them off the blackboard last week, but I'm glad I didn't bc of this message posted to our Facebook today.
I can't stop people from being jerks, but I can try hard to create a welcoming environment for all our guests.
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16
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A decade ago when we remodeled the bar, and the city was widening Rt 2, we asked if we could put some bollards in to protect the corner of our building from cars. City of Rockford said " You can't put anything in the public right of way."
This happened today:
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Customer: "Hey, what do you have on tap? I'm looking for something malty..."
Me, with a tear in my eye: "Bless you, child. Bless you."
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Me: "Hi folks. Two people?"
Guests: "Yes, two."
Me: "Cool! Can you pop your mask on? Gotta wear it in the common areas. You can take it off at the table."
Guests: "Seriously? We only have one mask."
Me: "Yes seriously. It's health code."
Guests <walk away, scoffing>
Me:
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Updated the blackboard with our house rules.
Take special note of
#2
. Women run this place. Be respectful or be gone.
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"We have met the enemy, and he is us."
We started pouring
@AnchorBrewing
Steam back in 2012 when I selfishly just wanted to drink Steam and eat oysters at my own bar. We kept a rotating Steam or Anchor seasonal handle thru 2018. But then sales started to fall off...
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Scary that I had to post this, but after several parties were exceedingly rude (one literally screaming "you're an idiot!") to my host, I figured it was necessary.
Even scarier - one table recognized the screaming guy. He's a SURGEON.
🤦
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A customer service story in three parts.
I rarely respond to negative reviews online. This one though, I took a shot at...
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So, now that I've talked with the manager on duty from Wednesday night, do I smash that SEND button, or do I just go about my Friday night and archive this email thread?
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Hi! I'm The Olympic Tavern. You may remember me from such previous WBB posts such as "Masks! Put Them On, Please!" and "Let's Just All Fill Our Growlers With Booze."
But I'm not just famous for my snappy Twitter rants....
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While
#beertwitter
is still arguing about kids in taprooms and hazy oatmeal IPAs, I'm over here mixing up 20L batches of sangria and margaritas and putting them on tap. Who needs 8 of the same IPAs on tap anyway?
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We renamed all our appetizers and called them BURGERS, and apparently our burger sales went up 230%.
The runaway IPA freight train is still barreling down the tracks. IPA variants and mix packs were up 16%t in the first half of the year versus a year ago, and represent almost 1/3 of BA craft volume in scan for the first half of the year.
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It has been (zero) days since our last incident of a jerk yelling at staff for mask requirements.
Our record is (thirteen) days. Help us make a new record -- do your part, be nice and wear a damn mask.
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Ugh... Just 2 minutes into service we had a
#maskhole
. I don't know what people are thinking, but calling our host the "c-word," no matter the circumstance, isn't going to end well for you.
I'm screening our security cams to post the guys picture up for our staff.
#permabanned
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Does your teen's bedroom look like this?
It shouldn't. Because this is our keg cooler, not a bedroom.
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Our barroom is empty, and at a perfect 52º. Oh how I wish we had a cask to tap.
I have been very careful not to let any news crews or photographers shoot in the bar room with the chairs up. I do now want anyone getting used to that image. But since we put a tree up...
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Doing some year end reports -- we sold 3,799 orders of Cheese Curds this year. At about 15 curds per order, that's 51,000 individually hand-battered cheese curds.
Shout out to Dylan and Alex, our fry cooks. The real heroes of 2023.
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If you're offended that companies are removing a black stereotype/cartoon off your bottle of corn syrup, or your box of rice, YOU are the problem. Don't worry -- your favorite processed food will still be available in a different package, but you'll still be a garbage person.
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I'm sitting at a neighboring bar after hours, having a whiskey. They're closing Monday.
I'm talking, laughing and crying with their staff. Everyone's so uncertain of what comes next. They're all such great people and they're all hurting. They don't deserve this. No one does.
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Our twitter fans are familiar with my willingness to mouth off. But I'll be taking it to new levels this week. I'm turning the heat up on govt at state, local, and federal level. Stay tuned. Hug your folks. Tip your server. Shop local. Wear a damn mask. VOTE.
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This week marked the end of an era in Chicago. Our friends at
@MetroBrewing
closed their doors for the final time on Sunday. I was unable to get in for a last pint (damn my immune system) but I collected some photos and memories instead.
It all started back in 2008...
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So, is now a bad time to start my brewery, "Stoney Bastard?"
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Aw.... It's my 38th birthday today folks (Zak, the guy behind the Twitter, not the Olympic) and I'm feeling the love.
Drink a beer. Hug your mom and dad. Tell your babe you love 'em. Call your brother or sister or cousin. Life is short. Cherish every minute. It's all we got.
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Leaving this here so I don't have to post it again tomorrow.
....But I'll still post it again tomorrow.
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This weekend marks our 73rd year at Fulton & Main. It's definitely not the same bar my grandfather opened to serve factory workers in 1945, but we're stoked to be one of the longest lasting family-owned and operated
#Rockford
businesses. From our family to yours, cheers. 🍻
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5
77
Today's news about Metro got me sad on memory lane.
They helped us host one of our first ever beer dinners.
We kept a permanent Metro handle for over a decade.
I helped work their tent at Great Taste.
I brought my brothers' bachelor party to Metro for beer.
This one hurts.
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Are we too proud to rip off a great idea? No.
Are we too dumb to not give attribution? Hell no.
All hail
@NiseiLounge
, the originator of all things infused Malort.
Coming Monday -- candy cane Malort.
Original? No. Delicious? Well, that's for you to decide.
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Thanks for all the kind words folks. He's at peace now. I'll post more later but heres a few photos of Baxter in happier times. Raise a glass and hug your loved ones. Life is short. Love is forever though.
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Rant: Despite enduring months of restricted capacity or outright closure, there have been ZERO moves to discount the licenses, taxes and fees that businesses are still expected to pay in full. Why? How do they expect us to pay?
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I'm Zak. I'm a 3rd generation publican from
#Rockford
. I'm a cycling enthusiast. I love all music from old skool rap to the heaviest of metal to free jazz. I love my family, my gal Liz, and I still get excited about fresh
@SierraNevada
Pale Ale.
#iamcraftbeer
@jnikolbeckham
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Someone tried to slag on
@MetroBrewing
's mask policies in a Chicago beer geek group and for once, I'm happy to report the beer geeks are dragging dude through the dirt.
If a server or bartender yells at you for ANY reason, it's most likely your fault. Don't be a jerk.
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I got this in the mail this morning. Am I an influencer now?
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Hot take: The fastest selling beer on tap is not usually the best beer on tap.
Not every classic sells millions of barrels. Some merely keep alive the flame of tradition that has been burning for centuries. Today we look
@Schlenkerla1405
and its remarkable rauchbier.
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Once again I'm here to remind you to clean your damned draft lines every two weeks.
#beertwitter
#beer
#brewing
#draftbeer
#draughtexcellence
#rockford
#rawkford
#gorockford
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Just had a group of 10 walk in, get snippy with host, then walk out, bc we asked them to wear a mask on the way to their tables. Even after walking by 3 "Please Wear Your Mask" signs in our entryway, people are shocked and appalled that we're <gasp> following health code.
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Our friend, Tony Artale, co-founder of
@ArtaleCo
passed away suddenly over the weekend. Tony was a big soccer fan, and likely forgot more about wine than you or I will ever learn. I'm sending positive vibes to his fam and the
@ArtaleBeerFeed
crew.
PS: His obit was ON POINT.
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Admittedly we're not in Chicago. And we're no
@NachosAndLager
either, but damned if we didn't make a fine Chicago Dog Pizza today.
@oldstylebeer
+
@JeppsonsMalort
slight upcharge.
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Can I give a shout out to our MVP, Dikari? This kid works his ass off in dish and expo, helps out every way possible, has a heart of gold (tearjerker story for another time), and obv rocks the best hair in 10 miles.
We're nothing without our team. So proud to have you, D.
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This is our founder and my grandfather, Anthony Rotello. He spent three years overseas serving as a Marine in the south Pacific during WWII before returning to Rockford in 1945 and starting a tavern in his neighborhood. He's the reason we're all working at The Olympic Tavern.
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"The walk in cooler is warm," is not what you want to hear from your manager upon entering the restaurant.
I checked - the walk in temp is actually 39º, it just FEELS like summer in there today.
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As of Saturday, our region in IL goes back to no indoor dining due to a continued high % COVID positivity rate, so we're back to carryout and outdoor dining only. I'm sure you've seen places that are refusing to close and are continuing to seat indoors against health code...
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Brewers in 2009: "Adding corn or rice to your beer is a horseshit, cheapskate move to cut costs."
Brewers in 2019: "I can legally ferment cane sugar and water and sell it? Where do I sign up?!"
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It's the most wonderful time of the year (for a beer.)
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@Tuphlos
Butter. Most is flavorless. Might as well be vaseline. Find a good high fat, flavorful butter (Kerrygold usually widely available) and you'll never go back.
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I never thought I'd say good things about the Reinheitsgebot.
But, here we are.
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It's been quite a while since we served a pint of draft beer, but we've been staying up on draft maintenance to make sure that when we come back, your pint tastes just like the brewer intended.
#draughtexcellence
#draftcleaningday
@nwitte
knows what I'm talking about!
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The local newspaper (yes, the same one that awarded Taco Bell the "best Mexican food" in town) just listed us one of the top 3 happy hours in
#Rockford
. Always great to get some recognition from the press but... we haven't had a happy hour feature since before COVID.
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Telling most of my staff "I'll see you soon" instead of "See you tomorrow" was awfully hard tonight.
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Throwback to April of 2018 when the guys from Foreigner randomly invaded our bar and -- get this -- asked me for "the freshest, haziest IPA on tap."
Whodathunkit?
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A teaser for our Twitter fans...
Last year was our 75th year in business, a huge milestone for our little family owned bar & restaurant. Unfortunately due to 2020 being 2020, we couldn't celebrate it how we wanted. So I asked
#JoeTallman
to design a sweet 75th poster for us.
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So, I cleaned up a little of my snark and hit the send button.
<facepalm> He wrote back...
The staff is going to get a kick out of this once I post it on our bulletin board...
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I don't care about your one ⭐️ review, or your "Local Guide" status, especially if you pass a 30 inch political style sign, two separate doors with 8 inch stickers, and several posters that tell you masks are required.
Keen on rolling, Joneses.
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We've seen a few tap handles in our day. This one means a lot to me.
Huge thank you to Russel and
@SierraNevada
for twenty years of great beer on tap.
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Time to pull this old photo out yet again bc
#Rockford
freaks out every first snow of the year.
We're here for you. The heat is cranked. We have whiskey. And it's Thursday so $5 off all steak dinners, $15 bottles of house wine, and $4 shots of Jameson Black Barrel.
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I'd do unsavory things right now for a draft beer.
Even it if were an out of code High Life, poured in a non "beer clean," warm, shaker glass with too little foam -- as long as it were at a bar with friends, and maybe a live band.
Until then, put the damned mask on.
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My job has changed. Finding great staff, creating fun food and drink specials, and planning events used to take all my time. Now it's 100% navigating the mixed messages and constantly changing business environment, thanks to our absolute failure of a gov't.
#Goodmorning
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I have told our staff, "Kill em with kindness. And if that doesn't work, come get me. You be good cop, I'll be bad cop."
This whole ordeal has been a great lesson in empowering your staff to do the right thing.
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This was his response. I should have known we were in for trouble once I saw the AOL email address...
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Today is a great day to be extra nice to the host / server / bartender that asks you to wear a mask.
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Just wanna say, I'll miss these guys, even the stupid triangle shaped couplers.
And if what I heard about tomorrow's Anchor meeting is true,
#beertwitter
is gonna lose it.
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So, this winter seasonal just showed up. I should probably cellar it for a few years to tame down the spices, right?
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Since we're allowed to serve indoors at 25% capacity, we've been working non stop since 10am, deep cleaning, stocking beer and wine, making mixers and tapping some kegs.
Damn, it feels good to be tired.
Hope to see you tomorrow for our soft re-opening, 4-9pm.
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Let's talk Prime Rib. Not too many places offer it, but obviously we love the supper club vibe and we know our kitchen crew has the process dialed in so tonight starting at 4pm we're running a petite 8oz cut Prime Rib Dinner for $25 w/ two sides, au jus & horseradish sauce...
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Since you guys are killing the bar staff with 35-50 house Old Fashioneds on Fri and Sat, we batched out 15L and put em on draft. Our house pick single barrel Dancing Goat cask strength orange barrel finished rye, Demerara syrup, Ango bitters. NO MUDDLE.
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72º at 7pm. Reggae is back on the stereo.
Sangria is flowing. Not bad for Northern Illinois in November. Not bad at all, folks.
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Well, that's it folks. Beer is cancelled. I just brought in a keg of Ecto Cooler flavored seltzer, and I gotta be honest, I can't wait to kill the keg of hazy IPA underneath it so I can try it.
Beer is dead. Long live beer.
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Brewers: "Step into a land of soft pillowy Simcoe and Cryo Mosaic while chewy dankness wafts into your presence with bright flashes of bitterness and mouthfeel for endless days. Taste the opacity. Experience the aromafication."
My servers: "It's a hazy IPA."
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People: ".....BUT IT'S NOT THE LAW."
Me: "Ok, keeping raw chicken at 38º or below isn't the law. Neither is washing your hands after using the bathroom. But I bet you want us to follow those health codes though, right?"
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.
@BeaumontDrinks
posted this on FB and I think it bears repeating here. I'm in agreement. Everything is circular. The very things that craft brewers used to hate about Big Macro Beer are now becoming craft beer's payday products.
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One distro wouldn't type up an instock draft list. They said "just order, and if it doesn't show up, we're out."
They also came in for lunch. I refused to give them menus. I said, "if we don't have it, I guess you go home hungry today."
They sent the draft list the next week.
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Thank you, Facebook, for making the HAHA emoji available.
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One of my liquor distributors is pushing me hard to use their online ordering system.
Me: "Hey ____, don't you think this system is going to put you out of your job?"
Salesperson: "No way, man! This just makes ordering way easier for you."
Me: ...
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1
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Everyone on
#beertwitter
wants to talk about distributors, and the value they add? Ok let's go. Yes, they help breweries grow, reach further markets, and handle the logistics of shipping. That's a big benefit for brewers who choose to expand beyond their market. But...
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I'm considering tapping four barleywines from
@RevBrewChicago
next month, all on one day.
Good idea or amazing idea?
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#Beertwitter
: any qualms about putting non-alcoholic beers on tap? I was ready to pull the trigger on a keg this week but I just saw a thread from ex Stone Brewer, Mitch Steele very much warning against putting n/a beers on tap.
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Kitchen staff knocked out a great looking lobster/shrimp boil tonight. I'm about to grab us a few Modelos while we clean up. Teamwork dreamwork, you know?
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Ruthless Rye is really the only acceptable answer.
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We've worked too hard and done so good about following all the rules to let up now. So... we'll take a week off.
Thank you for understanding. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Stay safe, go sign up for your shot, and wash your hands!
Zak & The Olympic Staff
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This photo has been making the rounds on Reddit -- I can assure you, as someone who runs a $5 wine night on Thursdays, there are more than 3 MILFS in Rockford.
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Lots of butthurt people on the Icehogs fb page over a rainbow logo.
Thanks to the 'Hogs for standing up for inclusivity. Great job folks.
We were honored to welcome
@MadGayHockey
and Team Trans to our ice at the
@BMOCenter
this afternoon for a scrimmage! Looking forward to having them as our guests at our Pride Night game tonight.
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Food trucks are cool and all, but have you heard of restaurants? They're just like food trucks, only without wheels.
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Remember when the biggest problem facing our nation was too many Pokemon nerds clogging up the street corners?
That was fun.
1
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Well... Another St Pats in the books. Our staff absolutely killed it. Carry out banged all night. Best yet, no maskholes. Thank you to all our guests for being so great.
And now, a quick shifty before bed...
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Since we're still closed for indoor dining, this will be the first year in many many years that we haven't tapped
@BellsBrewery
Hopslam the moment it hits our cooler.
Will someone come in and tell me "It doesn't taste as good as it used to," just for old times sake?
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Everything's been going so well with reopening. Guests are wearing the masks. Staff is doing great at keeping everything clean. People are happy to be out...
And then someone goes and plays Chumbawumba on the jukebox.
"LAST CALL! NOW!"
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I also have great food, a killer draft beer and cocktail lineup, and friendly staff. If you're a local, or traveling through town, drop in and tell 'em
@WorstBeerBlog
sent you.
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