Lawyer to Bar Owner: Entrepreneur Invests in Second Brass Tap Franchise Location

Steve Sheets, a local attorney and current owner of The Brass Tap in Round Rock, Texas, will be opening his second location in early August. The Brass Tap in the Triangle 815 West 47th Street is slated to open on August 4, bringing 63 craft beer taps, craft cocktails, fine wine and a range of food to the Austin community.

After seeing strong success with the Round Rock location, Sheets said he looks forward to opening the Austin bar and is optimistic about its potential for success after noticing a wave of excitement from those who live and work in the Austin area.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Sheets: I’m a lawyer by profession; I’ve practiced law for almost 50 years. In 2012, my son and I started talking about craft beer. He went to college in Savannah, Georgia, and he worked as a server and bartender at a pub.

Through that, he got involved in craft beer. So, when he graduated, we talked about the possibility of working together to run a craft beer bar in Round Rock. We did some research and discovered that The Brass Tap had franchises, so we investigated, and it looked like a pretty good deal.

We signed to put one in downtown Round Rock. That one was pretty successful. My son has since gone on to other things, but the success we saw in Round Rock led to my desire to venture out and open a second location in Austin.

Sheets: I didn’t really have a perception of franchising, just a passing knowledge about what a franchise was.

Sheets: I think what sets The Brass Tap apart from most other craft beer bars is that we provide first-class service.

We actually have table service so that you can go in, sit at a table, order drinks and food, and it’s brought to you. I would say most bars don’t have table service. You go to the bar, stand in line, give your order, wait for the bartender, then walk back to your table. When you want another drink, you have to go do it all again.

The Brass Tap is an upscale craft beer bar. At the Austin location, we will have 63 taps, which is significantly more than most bars. Some of the other craft beer bars don’t offer cocktails or even wine, but we offer both. Our primary focus is craft beer, but we’re a full-service bar with craft cocktails, fine wine and good food.

Sheets: I’m pretty much done with the two locations. I don’t have plans for growth in terms of unit count, but I think that the location in Austin is very encouraging for success. We have already received a lot of encouragement from local people who live and work in the area.

Sheets: I didn’t really know anything at all about craft beer until my son introduced me to it. I think that I’m also probably getting into this at a more advanced age than most of the other The Brass Tap owners in the country; that makes me a little unusual.

The Brass Tap is a Tampa-based craft beer bar and entertainment venue known for its extensive localized brewery offerings, specialty cocktails and premium wines paired perfectly with a select menu of upscale shareables. Every location provides a unique space for social gatherings and entertainment, with an unparalleled atmosphere created through live music, trivia, sports, exclusive beer tastings and tap takeovers. For more than 10 years, The Brass Tap has offered franchise opportunities to qualified operators, continuing to grow its family of nearly 50 bars in 16 states. For more information, visit