We couldn’ t sell beer so you had to buy the glass and the beer just happened to be in it,” Fix said.
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We couldn’ t sell beer so you had to buy the glass and the beer just happened to be in it,” Fix said.
regular live music and other events in the tap room, expanded production facilities, a strong retail presence and a partnership with Oklahoma State University.
Although craft beer has a reputation for the bitterness that comes from hops and the Iron Monk staff loves to play with ingredients and styles to come up with unique, often small-batch brews, Fix says lighter beers like lagers are growing in popularity within the realm of craft beer.
Iron Monk’ s top sellers in the marketplace are Stilly Wheat and 1890 Original, a blonde ale known as the official craft beer of Oklahoma State University and brewed“ by Cowboys, for Cowboys.” The top seller in the taproom is currently a Mexican-style lager called Iron Sombrero, he said. Beer drinkers searching for something a little different will find a pickle-flavored sour beer produced in partnership with Made in Oklahoma hitting the market in a few months.
The taproom continues to improve, with a recently installed roll-up door to let in sunshine and a breeze on nice days and plans to install 100- inch TVs to create a better viewing experience for sports fans.
As Iron Monk Brewing Company continues to grow, its production facility and tap room in downtown Stillwater remain the heart of the business, and that’ s not expected to change for Stillwater’ s pioneers of craft beer.
“ We’ re as local as it gets,” Fix said.
Stonecloud Brewing Co. is a popular hangout in downtown Stillwater.
Right down the road is Stonecloud Brewing Company: Stillwater’ s backyard. In the four years since it opened, Stonecloud Brewing Company’ s taproom in Stillwater has become the gathering place for a broad cross-section of the community. On any given night people of all ages, including families with children, can be found playing games at tables, relaxing on couches, or enjoying the fresh air in Stonecloud’ s expansive outdoor space. Although it features craft beers, the taproom also sells wine, ciders, and a variety of non-alcoholic beverages so there’ s something for everyone. They even have free popsicles for kids.
Stillwater Tap Room Manager Matt Sullins said although the business is built on beer, he realizes some people don’ t like it and some people don’ t drink alcohol. He didn’ t want people to come in for one drink then move on to another place where everyone could find something they liked.
“ The whole goal is once they’ re here, they enjoy the space and want to stay,” he said.
Founded by Stillwater native Joel Irby in 2017, Stonecloud launched in Oklahoma City, but it was always Irby’ s plan to bring Stonecloud to his home-
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