Iron Horse Brewery, which was established in 2004, recently created a menu that not only featured the brewery’s beers but also various sorts of food that are now available.

One bartender and server at Iron Horse who wished to remain anonymous, said that the bathrooms and kitchen were renovated over the summer in anticipation of the restaurant serving food. The ultimate decision to sell food to customers was made during last summer as well.

“I don’t know if there was an actual discussion day,” the server said with a laugh. “But we’ve always had a full kitchen and supplies [to make food].”

The best part of working at Iron Horse to them is the people who come in, whether they are passing through or if they are people who come in regularly with their friends and family. They make working at the brewery very worthwhile as they are all nice and friendly.

Service at Iron Horse has been good since they’ve started selling food, the server said. Some of the most popular foods on the menu include the finger gun beer pretzel, the Korean short ribs and pickled chicken thighs.

Iron Horse gives its customers feedback forms which the customers can use to share their experience. The brewery has received all positive feedback. There may be some changes in the menu from time to time, depending on what is more in season, but that there won’t be any drastic changes in the near future.

“[It’s the] best company in the world,” the server said of Iron Horse.

Aimee Bach, another bartender and server, said that Iron Horse did not have any official promotions for selling food beforehand. The co-owners, Greg Parker and his father, Gary Parker, wanted the word to spread throughout town by mouth that the brewery was beginning to sell food.

Bach originally started working at the Iron Horse coffee shop by the beer production facility at the start of December. But when the coffee shop closed, Bach began working at the brewery at the end of December.

Iron Horse had a soft opening of their menu on March 8, according to Bach.

“[The owners] wanted to do something other places in town don’t do and they didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes with the food thing,” Karina Mohan, a fellow bartender and server, said.

Mohan, who also started working at Iron Horse in December, said that the pickled chicken thighs and the Kevin Bacon dates are a big hit with all of the employees at Iron Horse.

Mohan is in the craft and brewing program at Central. She decided to work at Iron Horse because she wanted to work somewhere that was relevant to what she’s studying.

All food available at Iron Horse is sold for less than $20. Some food such as the finger gun pretzel, edamame and Oaxaca quinoa can be made vegan. Gluten free foods served include the edamame, chicken curry salad and the Oaxaca quinoa. There are also Cajun prawns and spicy grits served here.