Brian Rasdale was tired of measuring the success of his brewery and tasting room by how many people peeked in then walked away because the place was too crowded.
BAD Brewing Co. had only been open three years. But it was ready to expand.
"It was getting crazy," says Rasdale who opened BAD Brewing in downtown Mason in July 2012. "There was no where to sit. Especially on certain nights of the week. This was the answer."
The answer Rasdale refers to is the expansion of his 1,600-square foot brewery at 448 Jefferson St. into an adjacent storefront and an outdoor patio space. While Rasdale had bought the building next door in 2015, he didn't get started knocking out the wall between the old and new spaces until March 2016. The additional 800-square feet of renovated and restored space includes a second bar, more seating, and an interior design that accentuates the exposed brick, wood and other characteristic of the nearly 150-year-old building.
"The atmosphere here is relaxing and inviting," says Rasdale. "People feel really comfortable here. Now there's room for more."
Rasdale also quickly got to work adding an L-shaped patio on the back. The 1,200-square foot space integrates natural shade from mature maple trees, canopy lighting, and a spot for
Good Bites food truck to park from Tuesday through Saturday. And while seemingly seasonal, the patio will be open year-round, with a fire pit and heat warmers providing comfort on chillier days.
Between the addition and the patio, BAD Brewing upped capacity by 90 people. The expanded brewery is about triple the original size and can seat 140 people within 3,600-square feet of space.
The brewery also added 10 taps, bringing tap beer selection to 20 to 25 brews. Six people plus Rasdale currently work at BAD Brewing, with two to three part-time staff slated for hire as the expansion drives demand.
The acronym BAD, Rasdale explains, stands for "Brian After Dark" and came from a joke among friends. Before opening BAD Brewing, Rasdale had been home brewing for about 12 years and worked in law enforcement.
"I never really thought my life would be this way," says Rasdale, reflecting on his career change. "It's artistic. You have the ability to create what you think is good."
Source: Brian Rasdale, Owner, BAD Brewing
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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