Why a brewery in Grand Rapids, Michigan? It isn’t known as Beer City, USA for nothing. There are now nearly 40 breweries open for business within city limits, with dozens more in the surrounding area. With so many brews and atmospheres to choose from, a brewery in Grand Rapids is a popular first date destination. Here are a few more reasons why a brewery is a great place to meet up.
Relief from Expectations
A taproom is a great first date because it’s a better match for modern mating than the sit-down dinners of yesteryear. As we’re well aware, casual dating today often begins with an app. With so many of us meeting face to face for the first time on a date, a brewery provides a more relaxed setting than many restaurants.
For one, you’re not expected to sit through a meal. If you and your date aren’t hitting it off, you can call it a night after a beer. Likewise, you don’t have to sit in uncomfortable silence for the duration of a movie in a dark theater. Order a brew, have a chat, and decide whether or not you’d like to keep it moving.
You’ll also have an edge if craft beer is a special interest of yours. If the same goes for your date, you’ll have no problem finding a topic of discussion as you sample the breweries’ specialties. If your date doesn’t frequent taprooms, it’s a chance to flex your knowledge and guide them through the experience.
It’s very of-the-moment, and honestly, less expensive than most restaurants one would consider date-worthy.
Dos and Don’ts of Brewery Dates
So, we’re clear that a brewery in Grand Rapids makes a great date. But there are still opportunities for such a date to go south – unless you consider the following.
Pick a brewery that’s new to you. With so many breweries in Grand Rapids, it’s easy for you and your date to make a first-time visit to an unfamiliar one. Taking someone on a first date to a place where your usual crowd hangs out can add pressure, as your date might not be ready to meet your friends. You could also get so caught up in hanging out with your crew that they feel a little neglected.
While going out for drinks instead of dinner is a version of speed dating, you should take it slow with your alcohol consumption. We all appreciate a little liquid courage courtesy of a craft beer. But get too tipsy, and we may say or do things we wish we hadn’t, especially if we came in pretty nervous. Try to stick to a strategy of one drink per hour. An hour may be all you need to decide whether or not you’d like to continue the date.
Keep it Fun and Casual with a Brewery Date in Grand Rapids
Are you tired of the indecision that comes with meeting up for the first time? What movie to see, what type of food you both like, and so on? Keep it fun and casual with a brewery date. In Grand Rapids, you’re already lucky enough to have access to some of the top-rated tap houses in the nation.
