If they are well-behaved, and actively being watched, not a problem, especially if there are activities for them (pinball, retro video games, etc.) I don't really see a problem. The problem is more about the parents than the kids, same with kids anywhere.

Breweries should be family friendly. If you're a degenerate drinker and/or misanthrope, go to a bar like an adult.

If food is served then yes, kids OK until like 7pm. If the taproom sells only beer then no. No one under the age of 21 because the taproom is all about drinking beer.

Or just take your kids to a restaurant, Chuck E. Cheese, zoo, museum, amusement park, playground, fishing, sporting event, movie, arcade, beach, brick building cafe, mall, etc. Some of these places/events serve beer too.

I wonder if people have an opinion on this? Maybe we should ask about dogs in taprooms next.

And, yes, my kids have been going to taprooms their whole lives. My daughter picked a brewery for her dinner when she turned eight.

Please don't judge me.

This should make for another ‘interesting’ thread.

Anybody want to guess how many pages this thread gets?

I am of the opinion that breweries should be family friendly for two reasons:

1. Too many breweries local to me have closed in the past year(s). Any revenue stream (e.g., families) spending money so those breweries can stay in business is a good thing IMO.

2. Families who bring their children are exposing them that responsibly enjoying beer in a community setting is a good thing. Hopefully these children when they reach 21 will be responsible beer drinkers who will keep their local breweries in business

There has been, and will continues to be, comments about unruly behavior. As @MrOH wisely discussed this more a reflection of the lack of parenting skills. It may be challenging for the brewery owners to ‘manage’ this situation. Perhaps some posted rules would be a good first step here?

Cheers!

Been bringing my kids to breweries since they were toddlers. They are both in their thirties now and both are beer snobs. Job well done!

Never!

Dogs ( outside area) children ok with me at taprooms. Especially one with food and games .

No they absolutely should not be permitted into brewpubs and I feel parents are extremely rude for imposing their kids upon everyone around them.

I chose not to have kids and the last thing I want is to have to put up with someone else's in what should be an adult sanctuary.

It's also rude for parents to impose their kids upon all the couples who hired a sitter for a date night in order to have time away from children.

I've had too many experiences of leaving early because of crying babies and bored unruly children noisily running between tables and underfoot. Seriously, your shrieking baby is NOT cute!

I also hate having to squeeze around car sized strollers in crowded pubs with full pints in my hands, or to get to the WC which just adds unnecessary annoyance.

I actually stopped going to 2 favorite Denver brewpubs due to the number of kids running around all the time. Thankfully, 1 eventually banned children. I gave the other brewery 1 more try and the small downstairs was completely packed, which was no big deal on a Saturday. Unbelievably, the upstairs was completely full of kids, with no free tables or paying beer drinkers. It was like a daycare.

It seems that if pubs allow children, in many instances groups of parents will cluster in that 1 pub until you have a daycare environment. The selfish parents don't care because they are used to the chaos, and clearly they have no consideration for anyone else.

If you want kids, then own the responsibility that you have chosen.
Go to Chuck E Cheese or hire a sitter.

I took my kids starting 25-26 years ago. My daughter had her wedding rehearsal dinner at Trillium and we still hit a brewery when visiting.
They had orange soda made at Harpoon and ate a hop pellet touring Mayflower.

...if kids are well-behaved and the taproom has a family friendly policy and vibe and the parents are drinking responsibly, I see no issue with kids in a taproom...not all taprooms or parents fit this criteria, but where they do, I'm fine with kids in a taproom...

I voted no, only because I see too many instances where this doesn't happen. However, I agree completely with this post otherwise.

What typically seems to happen (even at places where there are child friendly activities), is the parents are diligent when they first arrive at the taproom, see that the kids are behaving themselves, and then ignore them (and talk to the other adults in their group). Once the kids realize they're not being watched/supervised, pandemonium and chaos ensue.

I find this sort of environment stressful, as I'm afraid of accidentally tripping up a running, screaming child, backing my chair into a running, screaming child, shutting a door on a running, screaming child, or having a small child dump his/her drink or food plate on me (while running around).

I go to a taproom to enjoy my beer and relax. It's very hard to do that when there are small, screaming children running around the room.

Breweries should be family friendly with kids allowed. My kids are adults so it doesn't affect me directly but if my favorite brewery banned kids, I'd stop (or severely cut back) going there.

If I recall correctly, I think the prior thread discussed dogs in taprooms as well (which is another potential problem if they're unsupervised). In my experience, it's all about the owners. If they're responsible dog owners, then there's seldom a problem. Unfortunately, just like with parents, I've seen far too many instances where dogs aren't properly supervised or are allowed to engage in obviously inappropriate behavior (climbing on tables, eating out of snack bowls provided for customers, barking/chasing other dogs, jumping up on other patrons, and so on).

My thoughts haven't changed: there are places where it's fine to have the chilluns, and places where it's not. First and foremost, parent your spawn, or I will, and I won't be delicate about it. It is up to you to keep them with you, at your table, and to bring something to keep them occupied.

Dogs are always OK.

So, if someone takes their kid to the zoo and a museum on a Saturday, they can't stop at the brewery on the way home?

Should have to be locked up outside like bikes.