Opening its door just a few short weeks ago, Taplands is bringing craft microbrews to our Keystone-laden lives. Taplands markets itself as a “taproom,” “bottle shop,” and “neighborhood brewery.” To an unexperienced beer-drinker (aka myself) those all basically mean the same thing to me. However, after a little research, these apparently mean different things, yet Taplands embodies all of them perfectly.

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Photo by Amy Miller

A taproom is typically used to describe a bar one would find in a hotel, while a bottle shop sells craft brews by the bottle, and a neighborhood brewery brews its own beer. With an assortment of small plates and appetizers, craft brews, and growlers of in-house made beers, Taplands clearly fulfills all of these qualities.

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Photo by Amy Miller

Nestled away in an unsuspecting strip mall on Homestead Road, Taplands warm ambiance with a business-professional vibe is perfect for the upperclassman Bronco looking to feel adult for the night – a great opportunity to put those beer-educated skills to the test! Inside are rustic wood-paneled walls, large leather sofas, and flat screen televisions displaying the best sporting games around. Pretty big change from a beer die table and a dimly lit living room am I right?

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Photo by Amy Miller

The friendly staff is more than ready to help you select a beer that meets all of your preferences – and they’ll give you samples beforehand just to make sure you like it! Pretty sure the other bars nearby don’t do that (p.s. if you’re wondering which Santa Clara bar you are check out this quiz)

However, my favorite part about the restaurant (and probably what yours will be too) was the food. There is no need for Taplands to have a large menu because I’m pretty sure everything on the menu is already stellar. With charcuterie and cheese plates to paninis and salads, anything you order will make you feel sophisticated.

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Photo by Amy Miller

So if you’re looking for a welcome change to a night out on Bellomy, check out Taplands for a casual yet classy night – or just grab a bite to eat and a few beers as a pregame, I won’t judge.