Indiana HB1275 opens the doors for family-friendly brewery

ELKHART, Ind. --  In accordance with Indiana HB 1275, which went into effect July 1., a local spot, Westwind Brewery Co. is allowing minors, accompanied by a family member or guardian over 21, inside.

The changes allow the family-friendly environment in certain establishments that serve alcohol, such as wineries and breweries. Owner of Westwind, Aaron West, had been on the board of directors for the Indiana Brewers Guild for three years.

“Having an opportunity to learn some of the laws that impact a business and a small business… definitely have played good roles in developing me, challenging me in new ways to think outside the box of, ‘hey what is the next thing that’s gonna allow a business or a brewery to succeed at a high level?’,” said West.

Since opening in 2019, Westwind has become a staple for the Elkhart Community, “Aaron’s done a really nice job in the number of years since he’s been here, this was my old heating and plumbing contractor until Aaron took the building,” said Chuck Krumwiede, a frequent Westwind Brewery Co. patron.

“We have a lot of regulars that, even since we opened back in 2019… that have children now from, you know, five years ago… that… don’t come as much because…it’s expensive to have a babysitter. Here’s an opportunity now to come out, still enjoy a great local craft beer produced here in Elkhart,” said West.

Just minutes after the brewery opened up on the first day of the new environment, the Kelley family walked in, bringing along their daughter for the first time.

“We’ve been patrons since the day they opened, so we’re very excited that now we can bring our children in with us and experience this as a family,” said mom Jamie.

Many of the customers, like Jamie, said they’re all for the new changes, but said it’s up to parents to set expectations.

“We’ve taken our kids out with us in public since they were little and they know what they can and can’t do when they’re out and they’re around. So, I mean it’s not gonna be a space for children to run around, and it’s not a playground, it’s not Sky Zone, it’s not Chuck E. Cheese, but it is a good space to have your family come to and have a good drink and a nice meal,” said Jamie.

For Aaron, it was time for Indiana to adapt to the same laws many other states have, and he said more change is currently being crafted.

“A business is only as good as getting bodies in, having them eat and drink and then sending them on their way, and the Brewers Guild does a nice job about looking at opportunities… The next thing that’s coming down the pipeline that’s been in the works for many years is basically just being able to ship beers out of the brewery, so directly to consumers. So, that’s another thing that’s coming down the pipeline, that’ll be a big one here in the next, hopefully, several years,” said West.