taproom
TAP-room
/ˈtæp.ruːm/
A room or establishment in which beverages, especially draught beer, are served from taps.
Modern taprooms are frequently attached directly to a brewery, allowing visitors to sample drinks at the source.
The story behind the word. Combining 'tap' (from Old English tæppa, a peg or spigot driven into a cask) with 'room,' the term originally designated the bar area of an inn. It gained immense popularity with the modern craft beer movement to mean a tasting hall attached to a brewhouse.
Word relationships
- tavern: Taverns historically provided food and lodging, whereas taprooms focus on poured drinks on tap.
- pub: Pubs are traditional British social houses, whereas modern taprooms showcase craft taps directly.
Commonly confused with
- speakeasy: A speakeasy is a hidden or illicit drinking spot, whereas a taproom is an open tasting space connected to taps.
Word family
- tap (noun): A valve controlling liquid flow from a keg or pipe.
Collocations
- brewery taproom
- spacious taproom
- taproom manager
Example sentences
- "After touring the production floor, visitors gathered in the spacious taproom to sample a flight of pale ales." Hospitality
Memory hook
A ROOM filled with handle TAPs dispensing icy cold craft beer. The room where taps flow directly.
When not to use
Avoid using for full-service dining restaurants where food takes precedence over drinks on tap.
Fun facts
- In colonial America, taprooms functioned as informal civic centers where town trials and political debates were held.
Explore more words
bartender, self-serve, brew, showroom, refreshments, beverage
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