So maybe it’s fitting that in addition to their main business tapping into sports performance and analytics, the Hub also installed a self-pour beer wall as part of their café. “We wanted (the tap wall) since it’s a sports hub and we wanted parents to be able to come in here and just sit, relax while their kids train,” studio coordinator Abbie Kiel said. “We thought it was a good idea.
People love it so far.” The self-serve beer wall at the sports hub is the most recent example of this type of drinking technology being brought to NWI. Self pour taprooms have continued to crop up around the region, as they offer a promising way to showcase local brews, even as beer gets more expensive and bars contend with staffing challenges.
"In this day and age, how much you're spending is really important," said Kevin Eckley, who owns Valpo Pour House in Valparaiso. "With self-serve taps, you can see what you pour, see what you're getting into. The novelty is in pouring your own stuff, but (that means) you're not spending $9 a pint on something you find out is garbage.
" The way the taps work is customers pour the beer themselves, via a card system which tracks their pours and allows people to purchase beer by weight. The ability to sample, mix and match was a big draw for many customers to 313 Taproom in Munster, said owner Tony Hanas. “Customers can sample something, take a little sip, move on,” Hanas said.
“You don’t have to ask the bartender for a flight or a taste.