PHOTO BY GINO FANELLI Greg Searles, co-owner of Birdhouse Brewing in Honeoye, pours a pint of ale. As much as St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish holiday, it is also very much a beer holiday, one in which sales of suds increase by 174 percent on average, according to a WalletHub report. The American St. Patrick’s Day celebrates the culture of pub drinking, the all-day sipping sessions of the Emerald Isle’s low-alcohol, malty brews and the camaraderie that comes with it. But for the second year in a row, COVID-19 has put a damper on traditional revelry. “It really is sad,” said John Urlaub, owner of Rohrbach Brewing Company. “Not just as a brewery owner, but it’s part of who we are as Americans. I think social interaction is a key thing.”
Eat, Drink and Be Murphy: Looking back yes, we have to at COVID-19 2020
MPNnow
Oh, no, not a look back at 2020. Most everyone is trying to forget it, and here we are bringing it right back up.
For many restaurant and bar owners, 2020 is considered a four-letter word, thanks to COVID-19 and resulting business shutdowns and slowdowns, employee layoffs, and flying by the seat of your pants to stay afloat while the rules of operation change midstream.
Heading into 2021, many remain fearful of the impact the pandemic will have on their livelihoods. The warm weather gave a much-needed shot in the arm to the establishments that could provide outdoor service, but as the heart of the cold season approaches, the coronavirus could undo everything and set everyone back to square one.