Redwood City's The Yard hosts mocktail tasting event

“Having a place to go where you can socialize and hang out where it’s really just not an issue is helpful,” Feig said. “I hope it also helps us stay open later and have a place where people can hang out that’s different from a bar.” 

Alcohol-free drink alternatives have also become more accessible, extending much farther than sugary mocktails, Feig said. 

The Yard is hosting a tasting event from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, to explore just that. 

“They’re not like what nonalcoholic beer used to be 15 years ago anymore,” Feig said. “Now they’re just good drinks. You tell us what tastes good to you and we’ll order more of that stuff.” 

Through the distributor Zero Proof, those at the tasting event can try alternative wine, beer, canned mocktails and spirits such as rum and tequila. Input from attendees will greatly inform how the mocktail menu will be built out, Feig said.  

“It’s not something that you pay real close attention to until you’re tasting different things side by side, and you have a guide on a flavor wheel that can help you pick out different flavor notes,” he said. “That act of comparing and being thoughtful about it is interesting, you’ll taste things you wouldn’t normally notice.” 

Following the pandemic — when many, including Feig, consumed alcohol more regularly to subside anxieties — the shift in how people are considering their alcohol use is becoming increasingly popular.

“Stuff was so uncertain and so stressful, but hopefully now we’re in a better place,” the owner said. “It’s a way to transition away from how it was and drinking so much.”

Some bars offer alternative beverages on their menus, but alcohol-free evening spaces are few and far between, Feig said. 

“I don’t see many options for a place to go that offers something different from a normal bar or cocktail scene,” Feig said. “It felt like something that seemed missing to me.” 

Beyond providing space for those who are trying to be more conscious about their alcohol consumption or are sober, the decision to sideline pursuing a beer and wine license aligns with The Yard’s community-centric mission, Feig said. 

Though Feig has, and continues to, contemplate offering alcohol down the line, doing so would likely mean more age-restricted events or hours, which he “really didn’t want to do.” 

“I want parents to be able to bring their children,” Feig said. “For especially high school kids, I really would love for The Yard to be a place where they can come and have their band play and hang out in the evening.” 

Though it is uncertain whether the “sober curious” movement is a trend or a cultural shift, Feig is excited to keep The Yard ever evolving and inclusive of as many people in the Redwood City community as possible. 

Hours are now extended, offering a space for caffeine fixes and cozy hangouts from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. 

The Yard is located at 1018 Main St., the site of the Offerman House, the city’s oldest building. 

Visit https://shorturl.at/bFzSL to sign up for the nonalcoholic tasting event.