In Interior Ny Redesign Rochester
Thu, 25 Feb 2010 03:42:45 +0000
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Rochester Mills Beer
by Edward Glass
(Beer Delegate, MI, USA)
Rochester Mills Beer Company: the vibe wasn't right
Rochester Mills Beer Company
Rochester Mills, MI, USA
The key to a happy and fully-expressed life is the willingness to experience it as a journey; not every destination will be that private beach with crystal clear blue water, wonderfully exotic locals and intrigue around every corner. Yet every destination (by definition) is the place to be, with the potential to be as memorable and exciting as the traveler can create.
The key to finding good beer and the cherished watering holes to serve them is just the same; you put yourself out there, throw your money on the bar and you deal with what flows from the tap.
It was that experimental desire that prompted me to journey out and experience the newness of The Rochester Mills Beer Company.
Let me clarify, the last time I was in Rochester was way back in '94, when I briefly attended Rochester Adams High School. At the time I was way too young to drink and the Beer Co. was four years away from its grand opening in 1998. So while the Beer Co. isn't exactly new, the experience from my vantage point will be, and what follows is my attempt to see it again for the first time.
Downtown Rochester has gone through a major redesign over the last decade. Yet at first glance it looks like a bad clone of Ann Arbor and a poor imitation of downtown Royal Oak.
Sure, it's clean and prospering, but it comes across as some over pretentious frat town that lacks character, identity and the unique gems that set it apart from the rest of the "wannabe" Birminghams of Michigan.
Enter the Rochester Mills Beer Company. Located inside the historic Western Knitting Mill at Water Street, two blocks east of Main Street, the Beer Co. adds just the right dynamic curb appeal to an otherwise pedestrian downtown Rochester.
The charming all-brick faade, rows of period inspired windows and sun-soaked patio allows it to stand out as the most significant building downtown. And rightly so: on approach it overshadows nearby buildings, beckoning all who see it to stop in like an understated giant singing a siren's song.
The Rochester Mills Beer Co. stands as a testament to the city's rural market heritage and rich industrious history. Unfortunately, the interior is not as true to its past, or as impressive. It is shades above most local bars, aesthetically speaking, by far. But more goes into making a great local bar than just dressing up an old building.
I can't say that the interior was drab or elementary; it just didn't read as a cool place to chill with some friends. Was the interior well-designed, immaculate, with loads of space and the typical bar amenities (think pool tables and dart boards)? Yes. Did I find the hardwood floors, massive wood beams and numerous bras accoutrements conducive of an atypical cozy and comfortable bar environment? Most certainly.
But the Rochester Mills Beer Company isn't an atypical bar; or at least it shouldn't be. With as much inherent, ready-made brand appeal, one would expect an interior filled with character reminiscent of its original 1900s mill pedigree, instead of the cookie cutter franchise decor.
Now if the idea was to duplicate a generic bar formula and incorporate elements of the other two Beer Company siblings (The Detroit Beer Co. and Royal Oak Brewery - the other parts of an apparent attempt at creating a trinity of brewpubs), then maybe I could give the Rochester Mills a pass. But not even the other two pieces of the triumvirate were as depleted of character.
Yet as uninspiring as the interior was, and as forgettable as that day has become, I do have to admit that they have a nice selection of beers. My personal favorite was the Lazy Daze Lager (click for review).
I didn't have quite the experience that I had expected. I didn't try as many of the Rochester Mills Beer varieties as I wanted, nor did I really explore the menu; for some reason the vibe just didn't feel right. I want to blame the exterior for raising my expectations, and the fact that I just picked the bar haphazardly.
But as I stated earlier, not every destination can be the perfect beach. But the only way to find that perfect spot is to meander through the occasional wasteland and search. Lesson learned.
- Posted in Cd Cover Art Designers
