Scott M. Thede posted this photo on February 3, 2015 in the Facebook Group “You know you are from Sebewaing, MI when …”.  He said:

“How many times have we heard about the stories of the free tap at the Sebewaing Brewing Company? Here is a challenge. Referencing the link at the end of this post, what room is the tap in and what piece of equipment is the closest to it? Good luck! https://sebewaingbrewingcompany.com/…/Plans-Page-5-September…”

Here are the comments from the post:

Joyce Harder Ok Scott the free tap was in the brew house and the closest equipment is the brew kettle. I remember lots of times taking my dad down his lunch and that was where I found him next to the tap with a shell of beer. Thanks for the memories.

Scott M. Thede Nice job Joyce!!!!

Fred Sharpsteen I found it also.

Scott M. Thede Nice job Fred!!!!

Mark W Rummel I’m doing this from memory (and I was maybe 8.) Here’s where I think the free beer tap was…

Scott M. Thede Very close Mark and good guess from memory. You actually remember the tap? That is awesome! If your red circle were moved a bit to the right, the word “Tap” shows the location. But maybe they moved it to the the spot you indicated? Your father wrote one dandy of an article about it titled “Strange Brew: Why Old Style Couldn’t Last”. I know you are aware of it. Some of the members here might want to red more about it. Follow this link. https://sebewaingbrewingcompany.com/…/Huron-Daily…

Scott M. Thede Thank you all for playing.

Bob Fournier Not fare I just got the post.

Scott M. Thede Sorry Bob. I was up a little later last night posting and took advantage of the night owls!

Bob Fournier I do remember I got there after some farmers had been drinking a while. Had one shell and they put a bag over the tap and said, come back a little later.

Scott M. Thede Bob, do you remember the tap on the left or the right side of the door going into the Filter Room? It might have been near the big orange brew kettle near the metal stairs?

Bob Fournier Left or west side

Mark W Rummel Want more details? Here’s a repeat of the “Free Beer Tap” story from “Sebewaing 150” published in 2003 for Sebewaing’s 150th Anniversary. I didn’t remember there were actually TWO faucets there, one for fresh beer and one for hot water to clean the shell glasses.

Bob Fournier That sound right to change the barrel they went to a room behind the tap. I don’t see the chill room?

Scott M. Thede I do not see a chill room on any of the plans. the only thing close to chill is a Wort Cooling Room on a different plan page or any of the cellar spaces. Maybe the writer meant the Filter Room?

Bob Fournier I blew the print up, there it is the sink and tap adjacent the filter room. Was the filter room cool?

Mark W Rummel Here’s the combined photo blueprint and artwork showing the location of that famous free beer tap. Thought it would be nice to let future generations know where it was.

Lori Fisher Boy, I sure missed a lot about our town, having been a goody two shoes back in the day, but it’s never too late to learn!

Scott M. Thede Brilliant Mark. The annotation and story was a great idea!

Karen Nolan “Shell of beer” – my dad uses that term/phrase…clearly a regional thing. Have never heard of it anywhere else that I have lived..

Christine Kotenko when i lived in washington state in 1992 i order a shell of bud and the waitress had no idea what i was talking about

Judy Terrill Lori you just wasn’t a town girl. You know Nancy and I were best buddies. We had opposite lives. She loved being in town with us town girls

Mark W Rummel Christine K. asked about a shell of beer. They were always called that when I was growing up. It’s a good question.

I’ve always heard that a shell of beer was a small-ish (maybe 12 or 16 oz) serving of draft beer. Here’s what realbeer.com says:

Christine Kotenko Very interesting. had no idea its a michigan thing. Had the same thing happen when i lived there and ask for a POP.

Bob Fournier Shell, Mug, or Shooper. You do get some looks when ordering.

Judy Terrill My dad sold Draft beer by the shell. Large and small. I am thinking a 6 and 10 oz. I don’t remember the pricing. But I am thinking back in the 60’s THEY WERE cheap
Like a 10 and 15 cent shell. Of course it was Sebewaing beer. Lol

Thank you to those who took the time to comment in Facebook.