Camping Out Is in at Breweries

"As the owner of R&R Brewing, Ryan Roberts maximizes value from every square foot of his property in pickle-famous Mount Olive, N.C.. He built a fenced-in yard for folks to grab BBQ and more from food trucks, ideally to enjoy with pints, but many people didn't venture inside the brewery. "That land still has taxes paid on it, so it's like, what can we do to make this dirt more valuable?" says Roberts, who opened R&R in 2018."

"In fall 2020, Roberts answered a call from Harvest Hosts, a membership program that lets people park, for no extra fee, self-contained RVs on private properties such as farms, golf courses, and breweries. The pitch: He'd provide flat ground, and campers were encouraged to spend money at host businesses. Roberts signed up, spent $60 on a few signs, and welcomed his first R&R camper that December."

"A camping boom began in the pandemic as people sought fresh air and fewer folks, leading them to national parks and campgrounds where cracking beers is commonplace. According to surveys from the Dyrt, a camping platform, 45 percent of its campers bring beer while camping, and 37 percent of beer-drinking campers favor craft beer. Nowadays, securing reservations at national parks is becoming increasingly difficult. Seeking accommodations, campers are turning to platforms such as Harvest Hosts, Hipcamp, and"

Ryan Roberts opened R&R Brewing in 2018 in Mount Olive, N.C., and created a fenced yard for food trucks to attract customers. Underused land and ongoing taxes prompted him to join Harvest Hosts in fall 2020 to host self-contained RVs on flat ground. He invested roughly $60 in signage and welcomed the first camper in December 2020, with campers often spending about $80 per visit. Camp bookings grew after positive reviews. A pandemic-driven camping boom increased outdoor beer consumption and pushed campers toward platforms like Harvest Hosts and Hipcamp as park reservations tighten, leading breweries to add campgrounds to boost revenue.

Read at CraftBeer.com