All Arkansas beer, all the time

Jeff Della Rosa/Special to Siloam Proud Owner Keith Rutledge finishes a pour from the tap. The taproom has 21 Arkansas beers on tap.
Jeff Della Rosa/Special to Siloam Proud Owner Keith Rutledge finishes a pour from the tap. The taproom has 21 Arkansas beers on tap.

Creekside Taproom has been serving the finest craft beer the state has to offer since the downtown business opened Sept. 25.

The taproom only serves beer and wine made in Arkansas.

Creekside Taproom

Operating Hours:

Monday: closed

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: 4-9 p.m.

Friday: 4-10 p.m.

Saturday: 1-10 p.m.

Sunday, 1-5 p.m. (only in summer)

Before they started the business, owners Keith and Rhonda Rutledge wanted a place where they could bring together all the top brews in the state.

"The craft beer -- it's about taste," Keith said. It's also about promoting locally-based breweries.

"Support your local brewery," he said. "Maybe some day Siloam will have their own brewery, and we'll support that."

The Rutledges have been interested in craft beer for about 10 years.

Before they opened the taproom, they visited breweries across the state, asked a lot of questions and researched the craft beer business.

On tap are 21 beers from 12 breweries and nine wines from two wineries across the state.

"All that beer in there is mine," Keith said looking at the cooler behind the bar. The cooler is full of five ½-gallon slim kegs and 31 ½-gallon barrels.

The amount of each type of beer they keep in stock depends on popularity.

"We know which ones go faster," Keith said.

Some beers last three weeks, Rhonda said. Others last three days, Keith said.

Keith's favorite types of beers are wheat or ale. He'll try anything Belgium.

Rhonda's favorite is Fossil Cove La Brea Brown, which is on tap.

Either Keith or Rhonda like every beer they have on tap.

"We like to know what we're serving," Rhonda said.

The taproom has a self-imposed limit of four pours per person.

"We don't want anyone to over do it," Keith said.

A pour is 16 ounces, unless you are a member of the mug club. Members get a 20-ounce pour for the 16-ounce price. They have special mugs that sit on shelves on the wall behind the bar.

Even with the limit, four is plenty because most craft beers have a greater alcohol content than regular domestic beers.

The average person drinks between one and two pints, Keith said. "It's all about taste."

The taproom is a cozy room with several tables, a small stage and a bar.

"We're pleased with our size," Keith said. "We want it to be intimate."

A beer garden with a gravel yard and a fire pit are outside. Sometimes people play baggo there.

"We wanted a chill place to hang out," Rhonda said. And one that's family friendly.

Often, families will purchase a pizza a Fratelli's Wood-Fired Pizzeria and bring it to the taproom to enjoy. Outside food is welcome.

"We encourage people to bring your food," Rhonda said.

On weeknights, families come to eat, relax and play board games. Big Rock root beer, which contains no alcohol, has been a popular drink for children.

Thursday nights and weekends have been consistently busy.

Every Thursday night is trivia, which has been very popular.

Teams face off in an eight-week trivia battle. The winning team receives prizes, such as T-shirts and other freebies.

On Tuesdays, the taproom hosts happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. Two beers and a wine are on sale for $3 each. It's a good opportunity to try out a new beer.

The taproom also sells six-packs of beer and 64-ounce growler fills. These can be taken home and enjoyed.

When the Rutledges opened the taproom, they didn't know what to expect. Keith had been a school teacher and band director for 36 years and Rhonda had taught for 33 years.

The taproom is their first business.

"It doesn't feel like a job," Rhonda said.

They miss the students and colleagues but not the paperwork.

"I don't miss the day-to-day grind," Rhonda said.

In the first five months of the business, Rhonda and Keith ran the business by themselves.

Now, they have two part-time employees. Their daughter, Abby Trinidad, who lives in Centerton, handles social media and the website. She's also a co-owner.

Rhonda said repeat customers have been an important part of the business. Many customers don't drive but walk there.

They've gotten to know a lot of people, Keith said.

"We're a part of downtown," he said. "It's a little community."

The Rutledges started renovating 100-2 E. Alpine Street in April 2015.

They took advantage of the utility discount for downtown businesses. They also received grant money to purchase a sign through Main Street Siloam Springs.

They acquired a native beer permit that allows them to serve craft beer and wine. At $15 per year, it's less expensive than a regular permit.

They hosted a fundraising campaign to help pay for the cooler and tap equipment.

Also, the mug club helped to get the business started.

Members pay $100 per year. Membership is limited to 50 people.

In September, the new members of the mug club will be selected. A big anniversary celebration with live music is also in the works.

Community on 06/29/2016