Above and Beyond with La Verne Brewing and Sunroom Brewing
In a country closing in on 10,000 breweries, making great beer is a must. Our series Above and Beyond highlights taprooms focusing on the little things that can make a big difference.
Make it Personal
La Verne Brewing
Ken Maxey, General Manager
At La Verne Brewing, we pride ourselves on the personal interaction customers get with our staff. We encourage our staff to get to know the regular customers, talk with new customers, and provide a top-notch beer drinking experience. All of our staff go through Level 1 Cicerone Training, and we proudly display their certificates on the wall, so people know when they come into La Verne Brewing, they are receiving a great beer, served by a knowledgeable beertender.
We make sure when new beers come out, that the staff is updated on the new beer, from the type of hops, tasting profile, yeast used and what makes this beer different. The staff reviews this information and is able to relay the information on to the customers to provide that next level experience.
Our mug club is another great example of connecting with guests. We have a limited amount of special Varsity Drinking Team mugs, and these individuals get their own individually numbered mug which stays at the brewery, and they get a 20 oz pour for the 16 oz price. Moreover, we are able to connect with these individuals by holding exclusive tastings for them, early beer releases and special events. Just by talking with them personally, I know they enjoy this level of service and the feeling of belonging to a club.
While we appreciate our longstanding members, we also get excited for new faces. If it is a new person coming in, we simply greet them with a smile and ask if its their first time here. Then we ask what type of beer they usually drink and we try to get them into a beer they are going to enjoy, or we also recommend flights to them. Typically, by getting them into a flight, they are more likely than not to enjoy another pint and return to La Verne Brewing.
Sunroom Brewing: Serving YOU, Serving Beer
Sunroom Brewing
Melanie Miller, Owner
At Sunroom Brewing, our craft beer speaks for itself. We have a wide variety of styles on tap and are currently pouring 16 of our own beers. When people come in the door, they know to expect good beer, and we know we deliver on that. What they're not expecting is the customer experience we provide. As a small, family-owned neighborhood brewery, it's foundational to our brewery's DNA that guests never feel like just another pint poured. Rather, they're seen and heard as the human beings they are, and our team works hard to make sure their visits feel extra special.
Guests are warmly welcomed when they walk in our front door. We introduce ourselves by name, and remember theirs when offered. We share the story of our brewery, and we humanize the interaction so it's relatable and real. We guide them through our diverse menu based on their preferences and desires rather than on popular recommendations. We make an intentional effort to connect with our guests about the beer, and about more than the beer. Our team offers treats and water bowls for dog owners. We offer juice boxes and kid-friendly seating to families with children. We make rounds in the taproom to check in on guests' experiences and to save them a trip to the bar to order their next round.
This effort creates an atmosphere of true community. Guests in our taproom know they're seen as humans, with lives and stories that accompany their visit to us. They're far more than just another beer poured. While our beer is excellent, we know it's only a portion of the reason people return to our taproom time and again - they come because they feel at home here, and we're proud of that.