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Krafty Draft Brew Pub – Where Everybody Knows Your Name

May 27, 2015 | Posted By: [email protected]

Krafty Draft Brew Pub

The Krafty Draft Brew Pub could become to Lexington what Cheers was to Boston back in the 1980s and into the early ‘90s.

That would be just fine with owners Billy and Mary Roberts, sort of.

They envision the Krafty Draft being your neighborhood hangout, maybe “where everybody knows your name,” just leaving out the sports bar atmosphere.

“We live in Lexington County and saw a need for a comfortable atmosphere in our own neighborhood,” said Billy Roberts, who settled with his wife in Lexington over 30 years ago. “Our atmosphere is different in that we aren’t the typical ‘sports bar’ type environment. While we do offer viewing of sports events, our focus is on providing an atmosphere where craft beer and wine lovers enjoy the experience of tasting a wide variety of flavors while enjoying the company of friends they’ve known for years, as well as new friends they’ve met at the Krafty Draft.”

The Roberts opened the Krafty Draft, which offers Lexington’s largest selection of craft beer on tap with 80 today and growing, on June 25, 2014. The pub, which employs ten people, including three family members, is located at 269 Charter Oak Road in Lexington and also has an excellent, handpicked wine selection.

The menu includes a Certified Angus Beef burger, cheese trays, and quesadillas, along with homemade salsa, pimento cheese and hummus. Several of the menu items contain beer as an ingredient.

The ambiance is unique with intimate seating areas with leather chairs and fireplaces. There is also a large open bar area and an outside deck area, which is pet friendly.

“Our goal is to make every patron feel a kinship with the staff and other patrons, creating a neighborhood hangout where people feel ‘at home’ and enjoy every visit,” said Roberts, who finds the business very gratifying.

“Watching patrons connect with others and watching relationships grow through the mutual interest in craft beer,” is the most enjoyable aspect of the job, according to Roberts. “Also we enjoy watching our patrons responsibly enjoy the beer and wine selections while learning more about the industry and the options available.”

The pub offers patrons many options, including brew classes, live music and the opportunity to host private parties. The business sits on three acres of open grounds for outdoor bands, corn hole, and other outdoor games.

“Our dedication to making every effort to provide our patrons with quality customer service sets us apart from other chain businesses where the local flavor may not be as prevalent,” Roberts said. “We have begun the process of brewing certification to make our own beer on site. We should be brewing by fall of 2015.”

The Roberts plan to develop the remainder of the property for retail settings to provide residents with more local business options. They have already leased out space for a computer repair store and a drive up coffee shop.

Roberts also sees the importance of giving back to the community, and the Krafty Draft has made a big splash in that regard already.

“One of the key components our business plan is to provide a business that is locally owned and community minded,” he said. “An intentional part of our outreach strategy includes active participation and support of the local community and charities. We have contributed and or hosted events for six charities during our first nine months of operation.”

Krafty Draft will hold a Grand Opening Celebration on May 30, featuring live music with Port Royal Sound on the deck from 2-6 pm.

For more information, visit www.kraftydraft.com. You can also find the business on Facebook and on Twitter.