We’re opening our taproom again

It’s been a rough few weeks, but the light at the end of the tunnel is shining through.

We’re opening our doors today (Thursday) at Noon so you can enjoy a beer or a few in the taproom or outside on the patio.

And no, this isn’t a protest or anything like that. We worked out a deal with Gypsy and the Fleur D’Elise food truck to play within the rules set by the Florida DBPR, which allows us to open back up for onsite consumption.

We owe a great deal of gratitude to Gypsy. She came through big time for us, and without her hard work, we’d be dead in the water still.

We’re still working with Cecil’s to bring you the best BBQ in Orlando, but we will probably need a few days to get their staff back up and running for us.

This shutdown hurt. Bad.

RockPit and every other brewery that didn’t “serve food” was royally screwed by the Florida DBPR. When they allowed restaurants to serve alcohol, that was like a death blow for all of us.

(Jax = DBPR, Shang Tsung = Us)
But I’m not going to dwell on it. As Andy and Red say in The Shawshank Redemption: “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

We’re getting busy living.

That said, let’s cover a few things you need to know about when visiting the taproom. 

First, based on the Orlando EO, you have to wear a mask when entering RockPit and while ordering your beer from the bar. You’ll want to take it off when enjoying your beer unless you have one of those fancy masks with an opening.

(You’ll need to bring your own straw)

We’ve removed most of the bar seating and spaced all the tables out at LEAST 6 feet. We have more room inside the taproom now that Orlando Homebrew Supplies moved next door. The expanded taproom space isn’t finished just yet but will be this weekend.

However, there are a few tables in the new area where you can sit.

If we do get busy (as we usually do) and all the tables inside are filled, there is plenty of outdoor seating available.

If you still prefer not to enjoy onsite consumption, our online sales will continue with curbside pickup available. Call us when you arrive, and we’ll run your order out to you.

I gotta run now. I need to get to the brewery and finish that expanded taproom area, but I want to leave you with a quick story. 

My wife asked me this morning, “Are you excited to see people in the taproom?”

I replied, “Honestly, not really.”

You might be thinking, “What the hell, Chris? You’re not excited to see me in the taproom again?”

Of course, I am. Beyond excited. Like this.

But in the back of my mind, all I can think of is getting a visit from some three or four-letter agency who will try their hardest to shut us down again. So it’s hard to be excited with power-hungry agencies looking to shut us down.

And unfortunately, there are those out there who want another complete shutdown of everything, so I’m sure they’ll be riding around town looking for “violators.”

We’ve seen it happen to a few places already. Luckily, the places targeted by the vigilantes had all their ducks in a row.

I don’t want to give anyone the firepower they crave to shut our doors again, so please help us out and play within the rules. Wear the mask, keep your distance, dance when your favorite song comes on.

In other words, be cool. We both know you got that covered.

Thank you again for your support during this craziness. To say it’s been stressful, frustrating and mind-boggling is an understatement.

But again, like Red said…

Here’s to getting busy living. 

– Chris