In many communities across the US, breweries have become a sort of a ‘third-space’ for locals and their families.
The current status quo is the natural progression of the craft beer craze of the 2010s, as many of its enthusiasts age into parenthood.
And while many breweries continue to welcome children, a growing number say they have been forced to ban kids due to their rowdy behavior.
The decision has sparked outrage among busy parents, who say child-friendly policies allow them to continue to enjoy some of the same activities as during their kid-free days.
But owners say their breweries have become chaotic spaces, with waiters forced to become babysitters and safety a bigger concern than it was ever supposed to be.
As a result, many have decided to limit when and where children can visit their establishments and sometimes if they can visit them at all.
Forest City Brewery in Cleveland, Ohio has decided to ban children under the age of 16 altogether, prompting an outcry from some of its patrons.
The founder, Jay Demagall, told the New York Times that egregious behavior motivated the decision, detailing some of the worst examples.
Breweries have become ‘third-spaces’ for many families, but owners like Jay Demegall (left), the founder of Forest City Brewery, say children are becoming an unwelcome disturbance
Forest City Brewery (pictured) in Cleveland, Ohio announced in September that they would be banning children under 16
This included instances of staff practically running over toddlers who were racing around the garden, children climbing trees as their parents encouraged them, throwing rocks, and even one situation where the parent of a potty-training toddler pulled out a travel toilet to use in front of other patrons.
‘Simply put, we are a brewery. Our business is to serve great beer, food, and other alcoholic beverages to ADULTS,’ Demagall explained in a statement.
‘Quite frankly, kids were never a part of our business plan or vibe. Our staff are not equipped to monitor or babysit kids whose parents treat the brewery like a playground.’
Upset parents quickly took to the comment section to condemn the brewery for their decision.
One commenter said: ‘This is really disappointing – kids and parents deserve to be in community spaces.’
Another noted: ‘There are already so few eating and drinking establishments in Cleveland to go to with our son … Huge bummer that now there’s one less place for us to go (and spend our money).’
But the brewery is not alone in its concerns.
Proclamation Ale Company in Warwick, Rhode Island had similar issues with families at their business in September 2024. They posted a gentle reminder to parents on their Facebook page encouraging them to watch over their kids while enjoying the brewery.
‘Look, we love your kids, but sometimes they can be, well… kids,’ they wrote.
‘This is your gentle reminder that when you bring yours to the taproom, our staff and our games are not meant to be their babysitters.
‘We ask that you supervise and be near your kids at all times and do not allow them to run around the taproom or yell loudly. Our staff shouldn’t need to search the entire taproom to figure out where someone’s parent is.’
Proclamation Ale Company (pictured) in Warwick, Rhode Island reminded parents to mind their children after several disturbances in September
Proclamation Ale prides itself on being a family friendly environment but issued the reminder after rowdy kids kept slamming arcade games, throwing shuffleboard pucks, and causing disturbances all throughout the premises
Mike Zoller (pictured), the owner of a Chicago Beer Instagram account condemned breweries for banning kids, saying they’d become ‘community gathering spaces’
The post detailed children slamming arcade games, throwing shuffleboard pucks, and causing disturbances all throughout the premises.
But in their comment section, locals condemned parents for bringing kids to breweries at all, one of them even saying if parents can afford alcohol, they can afford babysitters.
A patron said: ‘If someone brought their kid to a bar, someone would call children services. Not sure how this is any different.’
In Norton, Massachusetts, bar owners described children throwing rocks and climbing on top of their picnic tables without any intervention from the parents.
Brian Shurtleff, the owner of Bog Iron Brewing told CBS: ‘We’re trying to be kind of the neighborhood’s living room here. We want people to be able to come in and relax and hang out and meet friends, families as well.’
But he said the unhinged behavior of children and families ‘got to be too much’.
The chaos caused the brewery to post new guidelines for families that wish to visit with their children.
Clearly throughout the restaurant and even printed on the menus, they remind families that children must remain seated at the table with their parents at all times.
Bog Iron Brewing (pictured) in Norton Massachusetts, implemented adult-only hours on the weekends
Bog Iron Brewing called themselves ‘the neighborhood’s living room’
In Township, New Jersey one parent complained to the owners of Icarus Brewing when their toddler wandered under outdoor fencing and into the parking lot.
Incidents like that one are what caused the company to implement hours strictly for adults 21 and over on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. They also designated the lounge area and mezzanine for adults only.
‘All I could think was: We didn’t build Guantánamo, we built a beer garden,’ owner Jason Goldstein told The New York Times.
‘And if your child crawled under there, how long were they away from you? How long were you not paying attention? I don’t think this is our issue.’
In an Instagram post in September, the Icarus Brewing reminded patrons of their family policies.
They listed that children must be supervised at all times, running was strictly prohibited, and climbing or standing on furniture, games, or fences was not permitted.
They have also banned balls and sports equipment of any kind, throwing rocks, and walking on the landscaping.
‘Please supervise your little ones and keep them close to ensure their safety and the comfort of all guests,’ they wrote.
‘To maintain a welcoming atmosphere for all, we kindly ask that everyone adheres to our safety guidelines.’
Massachusetts mom and owner of the site Central Mass Moms, Annie O’Malley (pictured) said that she completely understands breweries that want to restrict kids
Icarus Brewing (pictured) received a complaint from a parent after their toddler wandered into the parking lot
The decision has split patrons down the middle, with some lamenting the policy and others singing its praises.
For mom Aurore Stanek-Griffiths out breweries’ no-kids policies simply ‘discriminate’ against families.
‘If I tell you I run a business and during certain hours people over age 50 aren’t allowed, you would be like, “Why?!”,’ she said.
Mike Zoller, the owner of a Chicago Beer Instagram account also expressed his disappointment to The New York Times.
He said that most millennials became fans of the beer scene during the 2010s and have continued to enjoy it with their families, and they’re entitled to maintaining that.
‘Ten years later, a lot of us have families, and we still like going to breweries,’ he said,
‘Breweries are not bars. They’re community gathering spaces now. They’re neighborhood third spaces.’
But Massachusetts mom and owner of the site Central Mass Moms, Annie O’Malley told Telegram and Gazette that she completely understands breweries that want to restrict kids.
Matt Zarif (pictured) at Timberland Brewing Company welcomes families – including his own- saying that most are ‘conscientious and respectful’
‘The breweries make these policies because of the few outliers that come and cause safety concerns or who’re too rowdy and disruptive,’ she said.
‘If your kids were behaving already then these policies shouldn’t be massively disruptive to your life.’
But people that have made brewery outings a family even should fear not. Breweries like Timberland Brewing Company in East Brookfield, Massachusetts are standing firm in their kid-friendly policies.
‘We have always been a family friendly space families are a big part of our customer base,’ Owner Matt Zarif told the Telegram and Gazette
‘I live in a house on the property here with my wife and three boys, ages 5, 9, and 11, so you’ll often find them visiting me and helping out around the brewery.’
Zarif agreed that kids can occasionally be a nuisance to restaurant guests, but he chose not to focus on the bad apples.
‘It can certainly be frustrating when kids are disruptive or negatively affecting the experience of other guests.
‘The overwhelming majority of parents who visit with their kids are conscientious and respectful of our space, staff, and fellow guests.’
