Long before the City of Troy passed Tuesday night’s ordinance for draft beer service, Sips on the Square owner Jamie Taylor had his beer order in place.
“We’re ready,” he said Tuesday.
Taylor and his wife started their campaign for draft beer service last February. They presented a petition to City Council, citing costs and environmental impact as their main reasons for wanting the service.
Variety was another reason. Starting today, the restaurant will have craft beers and ales like Flat Tire and Angry Orchard on tap.
They won’t be the only ones.
Horn Beverage Company Sales Manager Danny Hughes and his crew spent much of Wednesday filling draft orders.
Other restaurants were counting the days until their taps were running, too. The Dirty Pearl will not have draft today, but employees said it was in the works.
Ruby Tuesday Manager Nichole Wilson said patrons have been asking for the service.
“We will not have it by [today],” she said. “Hopefully, within the next week.”
In order for Pike County to get draft beer service, state officials had to introduce a bill on their behalf. State Rep. Alan Boothe and State Sen. Bryan Taylor introduced companion bills. Boothe said Wednesday, he was happy to help because it would benefit the county.
“Draft beer sales will increase tax revenue and that will benefit the whole county,” he said.
Many restaurants were bypassing old favorites and opting for craft beers. Hughes said the ordinance came about because restaurant owners wanted to offer more variety and that is just what they will be getting.
“There are tons,” he said of the selection. “I think this will be good for Troy.”
Troy resident Christian Izquierdo also said draft beer was a positive for the city.
“I know Troy has wanted it for a long time,” he added.
Some were not ready to jump on the draft beer bandwagon.
That Blue Note owner Anthony Johnson said he was not sure his patrons were interested in draft beer. He hasn’t had any requests for it since opening last December.
“I think it’s great. If I saw it as an advantage for me, I’d get it,” Johnson said. “But, I’m not going to start off right away. I’m not looking at it unless there’s a great demand for it.”
Troy resident Michelle Travis said the new law would have no effect on her life.
“I really don’t care. I don’t drink any of that,” she said.
Councilman Marcus Paramore was made aware of  the demand for draft beer in Troy before he took office.
“When I campaigned for this office over half of the people I talked to brought up draft beer,” he said in February.
He moved forward with the legislation because many of his constituents were in favor of draft beer service.
Paramore said Wednesday that the process of getting draft beer for Troy was fair and well planned.
“All of the options were weighed. Nothing was done hastily,” he said.
Since there were no time stipulations on the sale of draft beer, restaurants that already have beer licenses can start selling draft beer as soon as their doors open today.
The law does not allow the sale of beer on Sundays or the sale of kegs off premises.