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Five Guys Burgers & Fries’ Whitemarsh Island location has a new offering on its menu.
Chris Smith, Five Guys’ franchisee for Coastal Georgia and South Carolina, said the store responded to customers’ requests to add draft beer to the menu, making the Whitemarsh Island location the first Five Guys in the nation to offer draft beer.
“Guests said they’d like a beer list with their burgers and fries,” said Smith. “It was a unanimous decision to have draft beer.”
The popular burger restaurant has offered bottled beer in other locations, but the launches have been relatively unsuccessful, Smith said.
With limited time to fill orders, Five Guys needed to find a system that could fill beer quickly and without consuming space in the store’s small counters, said Smith.
The answer, Smith said, was to partner with a company called GrinOn Industries and their Bottoms Up Beer Dispensing System.
“Due to the limited counter space, we needed a custom kegerator for the store,” said Smith. “Along came the bottoms up company, and they filled our need.”
The system uses a magnetic disc to fill the beer from the bottom of the cup, a process that is easy to use and efficient, according to GrinOn Industries’ website.
After launching draft beer two weeks ago, Smith has received positive reviews of the beer, saying customers are “extremely excited and passionate” to now have beer with their burgers.
“We also timed the launch with greater beach traffic to Tybee Island,” said Smith. “People might stop in on their way to or from the beach or for dinner and now be able to have a beer.”
The taps at Five Guys also include two beers from local Southbound Brewing Co.
Now, Smith has partnered with GrinOn Industries to submit a proposal to Five Guys corporate office to offer draft beer in other locations.
He said the proposal will need approval before draft beer becomes a widespread addition to the menu.
Smith plans to offer beer at Five Guys’ Bay Street, Bluffton and Twelve Oaks locations with its approval.
“After 25 years, we haven’t really added anything to the menu,” said Smith. “Sales have pretty good, and this doesn’t affect the high quality of our burger and fries operation.”
ON THE WEB
The beer comes from the bottom of the glass? Go to savannahnow.com to watch a video of the Bottoms Up Beer Dispensing System at Five Guys Burgers & Fries’ Whitemarsh Island location.
