Stephanie C.
Yelp
I want to review this brewery in two parts: the first for their service and inviting (TOTALLY KID-FRIENDLY) atmosphere, and the second for their actual beer.
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I am a mom of two, the oldest of whom has autism. As a special needs parent, I don't get to venture out and enjoy too many public outings with my boys -- it's honestly just too difficult, and my son really thrives on routine. However, we had some friends in town with their own kids and all decided to check out Settle Down Easy Brewery after grabbing dinner, and I am so very glad we did.
We got a table in the very back, in an attempt to get the kids out of the hustle and bustle of the main room. They had a great time and the parents all enjoyed themselves -- we didn't get a single dirty look, even though we had four little ones in a brewery at 8pm on a Saturday night (something we NEVER do). The kids were excited to see a stack of games at the entrance, and spent like two hours building domino tracks all along the brewing area.
My older son didn't play with the little kids: instead, he fixated on the forklift that was parked in the back of the brewery. Now, I think all little boys love machinery, but my ASD kiddo obsesses over them... he spent the majority of our visit just staring longingly at the forklift and going over to inspect it closer before returning to the table.
At some point, one of the owners of the brewery walked over. We figured he would say something about my son checking out the forklift or ask us to move... however, he didn't. He stood there and talked to my son, let him check out the machine, and was simply wonderful. My son came back to the table a few minutes later, much happier having gotten his "construction truck" fill, and was an absolute angel for the rest of our time there.
I can't really express how much I appreciated such a simple, but meaningful, gesture. By taking a couple of minutes to let my son explore a bit, and being such a kind and understanding person, he not only made our brewery experience incredible but also warmed this autism mom's heart. Our family was able to enjoy a rare night of socializing out -- WITH our kids -- and that meant the world.
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Now, on to the most important part of my review: the beer. :) Our group is no stranger to craft beers, and we have pretty high standards. Between all of us, we tried nearly every beer on the menu at SDE, and enjoyed them all.
I am personally a big fan of sours and LOVED The Drive Thru (Cherry Limeade). It's a bit more tart and packs more flavor than the average sour, but that was right up my alley. My husband loved the Brunch in Bavaria and the Virginia Creeper, and I didn't hear a single complaint from anyone.
We will absolutely be back to SDE, both with our kids and without. Not only are the beers wonderful here, but the atmosphere and people are excellent.