It’s been about six months since Colin and Meagan Wells opened their trendy downtown beer spot, Union Taproom. Union debuted as Polk County’s first self-pour taproom concept in August, inviting Winter Haven and surrounding cities to PYOB (Pour Your Own Beer).
If for some crazy reason (and it better be a good one) you haven’t PYOB at Union, here’s how it works. Guests present their ID and form of payment at the check-in counter to verify age and start a tab. They are then given an RFID bracelet which is linked to their tab.
After grabbing a glass, thirsty patrons can head over to the tap wall. Above each tap is a tablet displaying the price per ounce, location and history of the brew, ABV (Alcohol By Volume), and IBU (International Bitterness Units). Guests pour as little or as much as they would like, using the RFID bracelet to activate the tap. This allows craft beer adventurers to taste before committing to a whole glass of something they may not love. When patrons are ready to leave, they simply return the bracelet and close out the tab.
Bring more friends, repeat.
WHAT’S UP, UNION?
We checked in with Colin Wells to talk about what’s happening at Union six months later and chat all things beer and bites. “Winter Haven has been very receptive to the concept,” said Wells. “We’ve heard a lot of great things from people, the response has been good. People really seem to enjoy it.”
Opening Union, which was inspired by The Alley Downtown Taproom in Aiken, South Carolina, has been a blast for the couple. Colin said he and Meagan love to people-watch as regular patrons get the hang of self-pour and come back for more. “It’s been a lot of fun watching people that come in multiple times still getting used to using the wristband,” he said. “We’ll lock eyes with somebody who’s trying to pour beer and it’s not working, and they’ll go, ‘Oh, I forgot to use my wristband!’”
‘What’s on tap’ you ask? Their 40-tap setup has played host to a variety of craft beers, ciders, wine, cold brew coffee, and kombucha. They’ve had some interesting beer flavors from P&J to Oatmeal Raisin Cookie brown ale mixed among a tastefully curated craft lineup. “Believe it or not, one of the most popular flavors we’ve had was a pink lemonade cider,” said Wells. “That crossed all different genders and age gaps – everybody loved it.” This included even the biggest and burliest of blokes, he said. “There are a lot of really good local craft brewers in Florida,” said Wells. “We want to focus on doing some more in-state brewed beers here in Florida to support some of those guys.” They also plan to continue introducing people to beers they might not drink anywhere else. When a new patron walks in and they give them the self-pour rundown and ask what they typically drink to point them in a starting direction, Colin said, “You’d be surprised how many people say, ‘I don’t like beer that tastes like beer.’”
“Having 40 taps, we’re able to introduce people to not your stereotypical beers,” he said. “There is something for everybody, it’s just getting them to step outside of their comfort zone and try a few and watching people enjoy things they never thought they would.” The continually rotating taps see five to six new beers a week including seasonal beers. “It’s been a lot of fun tasting them all, I can tell you that,” Colin laughed.
Moving ahead, the Union Taproom team will continue to focus on what they do best – offering a tasty, eclectic mix of brews for the community to try out, indulging in old favorites or stumbling upon new ones, in a comfy environment that promotes socializing and making new friends.
BEERS AND BITES
Along with introducing folks to new beers, they hope to do the same with their rotating schedule of food trucks. Patrons can enjoy unique flavors downtown every Thursday through Sunday. “It’s been nice having the food trucks,” said Wells. “People can come and enjoy beers with food they can’t often get in Winter Haven.”
Downtown Winter Haven has its fair selection of upscale restaurants and fast-casual haunts centrally located to the taproom. Guests are invited to order food from downtown restaurants, many of which will deliver to Union. Fire is a frequent go-to for Colin and Meagan. “Their wings are fantastic,” he said. “Beer and wings – you can’t dispute that pairing.” Another downtown meal to wash down at Union are the burgers from Rocco’s according to Wells.
Take your beer into your own hands! Stop by Union Taproom to make some new friends and discover some new brews. Until next time – Cheers, Union!
Union Taproom
245 W Central Ave #102, Winter Haven, FL
FB @uniontaproom
IG @uniontaproom
863-268-4921
