SweetWater Brewing Co. will temporarily close its taproom on October 1 in order to undergo a major renovation project. While SweetWater plans to add a new centerpiece bar and roll-up doors, the biggest news is that the brewery will add a kitchen, serving a “casual bar menu, designed to pair well with SweetWater brews.” There’s no word yet on what specific dishes will be served or who will helm the kitchen.
“It’s been 10 years since we made any physical improvements to the taproom—it needed a facelift,” said SweetWater spokesperson Tucker Berta Sarkisian in an email. “The new bar will be the centerpiece and make for a more interactive experience. The addition of the roll-up doors will create a cool and comfortable indoor/outdoor environment.”
SweetWater also plans to begin offering catering services once the kitchen opens. The renovation is scheduled to be completed in January, and while the taproom will be closed for the next three months, SweetWater will continue offering tours, tastings, and package sales Thursday through Sunday, where guests can drink on the brewery’s tented patio. Barrel-aging facility the Woodlands will continue to offer tours on Saturdays.
Of course, the brewery couldn’t close its taproom without some kind of last hurrah. Friday afternoon will feature live music from Wisconsin blues rockers Noonday Son (doors open at 4:20 p.m.) and an “incredible light show” at 7:30 p.m. From 3-7 p.m. on Saturday, the brewery will host three live bands (Atlanta-based Last Chance Riders, Cure My Enemy, and Nobody’s Darlings). There will be no cover either day, and both days will feature on-site voter registration from HeadCount.org, a nonpartisan organization that primarily holds registration drives at concerts. “We’ve had them on site at 420 Fest for the last few years, and we appreciate their mission to register and educate voters,” Sarkisian said.