[ethinson]

When I talk to folks that have or are planning to open some form of brewery and we come to business models considered, they tend to break down more or less like this; Tasting room (beer production, small room, maybe snacks or food trucks), Pub (beer production & SIMPLE food service), Restaurant (beer production with full service restaurant). To me Pub implies that there is something more than a bowl of peanuts or pretzels yet I don't expect a full menu and exceptional service. My $.02

This makes a lot of sense.  I'm sure some of it is the American influence, but "Pub" to me is a place that will have a small kitchen, perhaps only a deep fryer.  Fish and chips, chicken strips, fries/tots etc.  Snack type food to munch on while you drink. 

Of course, to parse it even further you have "brewpub" which to me, signifies a restaurant that brews it's own beer on site.  Usually will have a bigger menu including sandwiches and burgers, but usually not full on service like steaks/pasta etc.

[Stevie]

Brewpub has its own legal definition in some states. Has to do with licensing.

[pete b]

A pub has darts.  Real darts.  Not the plastic crap that you find in bars.

Excellent point(s)! 

Yep Beer and darts. If I wanted food  I would call ahead and see, expecting a 75% chance of getting a meal.

[RPIScotty]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

[toby]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

[RPIScotty]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

  What can I say. I couldn't resist the literal reply to Stevie's question!

[toby]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

  What can I say. I couldn't resist the literal reply to Stevie's question!

If I'm being honest, I almost did the same initially.

[RPIScotty]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

  What can I say. I couldn't resist the literal reply to Stevie's question!

If I'm being honest, I almost did the same initially.

It would seem that in the states we think of the word Pub and think BrewPub, which should definitely have food.

I was a bar kid growing up and believe me, there are no hard and fast rules. I have been to bars, taverns and pubs that have all had/not had small kitchens in them.

[BrewingRover]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

  What can I say. I couldn't resist the literal reply to Stevie's question!

That was my first thought and I've been in many pubs in the UK that didn't have food. The worst times have been outside of cities on Sundays when pubs that do serve food only do lunch. One Sunday evening in the Lake District, my dinner was three pints and a packet of cocktail onions.

[klickitat jim]

Sounds like terminology bounces around. To me:
Tasting room = wine, cheese crackers, rich people who pretend to know about wine
Tavern = BMC and pool, maybe a country band Fri sat nights
Tap Room = Large selection of beers other than BMC, expecting 6 of 10 to be IPAs, and $12 salads
Pub = Old guys in cardigan sweaters and fishing hats looking over their sholder at the stranger. No food, it just soaks up beer
Bar, Lounge = Smoke filled sleazy place to drink hard alcohol
Club = Expensive beer, wine, hard drinks, and really loud electronica music Un ta Un ta Un ta.... brika brika What?

[hopfenundmalz]

Pub -> short for Public House.

public house
n. Chiefly British
A place, such as a tavern or bar, that is licensed to sell alcoholic beverages.

Can you lookup 'connotation' and 'denotation' while you're there.  ;p~~

  What can I say. I couldn't resist the literal reply to Stevie's question!

That was my first thought and I've been in many pubs in the UK that didn't have food. The worst times have been outside of cities on Sundays when pubs that do serve food only do lunch. One Sunday evening in the Lake District, my dinner was three pints and a packet of cocktail onions.

Well, at least you were in the Lakes District, a favorite of ours.

Sundays and Bank Holidays can be a challenge in the UK. Sundays, Holidays, and Ruhetags can be a challenge in Germany.

[RPIScotty]

Back to Stevie's initial post: Unless specifically labelled as a "BrewPub", I don't see there being any hard and fast rules about food service in pubs, bars, taverns, etc.

At least in my experience.

[toby]

It would seem that in the states we think of the word Pub and think BrewPub, which should definitely have food.

The funny part is that BrewPub doesn't even mean the same thing all over the states.  Something like BJ's or some GordonBiersches could be considered a brewpub by some even though many of them don't brew on premise (the GB in New Orleans has a top notch brewer, though).  It even gets weirder when you bring legal definitions in.  What most of us would refer to as a brewery is a 'manufacturing brewery'.  A microbrewery is something like a brewpub or tap room where the beer is only sold direct retail (no distribution or resale) with a total production limit.

I think people in the states generally associate Pub with a relaxed atmosphere neighborhood bar.  Most people expect food, because generally speaking, our beers are higher ABV than standard pub fare across the pond.  If I'm hanging out in a pub drinking 2-3% DEM, I'm OK without a snack.  If I'm drinking 8% DIPAs, I should eat something.

[hopfenundmalz]

It would seem that in the states we think of the word Pub and think BrewPub, which should definitely have food.

The funny part is that BrewPub doesn't even mean the same thing all over the states.  Something like BJ's or some GordonBiersches could be considered a brewpub by some even though many of them don't brew on premise (the GB in New Orleans has a top notch brewer, though).  It even gets weirder when you bring legal definitions in.  What most of us would refer to as a brewery is a 'manufacturing brewery'.  A microbrewery is something like a brewpub or tap room where the beer is only sold direct retail (no distribution or resale) with a total production limit.

I think people in the states generally associate Pub with a relaxed atmosphere neighborhood bar.  Most people expect food, because generally speaking, our beers are higher ABV than standard pub fare across the pond.  If I'm hanging out in a pub drinking 2-3% DEM, I'm OK without a snack.  If I'm drinking 8% DIPAs, I should eat something.

50 states, 51 sets of laws including DC.

Here in MI a Brewpub must have a food license.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/lara/BrewpubInfo_501305_7.pdf

The Microbrewers (still used by the MLCC), must be <60,000 bbls/year and don't have to have a food license.
Brewers are >60,000 bbls/year, and don't need a food license. Those that don't allow you to call in food from local to go places.

Most Microbrewers in MI have food. Bell's and Founders are the two Brewers, and have food.
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/cis/Brewer-_Micro_Brewer_211769_7.pdf

[toby]

50 states, 51 sets of laws including DC.

It's even worse than that since some metro or county/parish governments have additional licensing requirements.  There's a 'microbrewery' in New Orleans that's considered 2 or 3 different ways by the state and city government and local zoning district.  That's why I always laugh when people ask me when I'm going pro.