'I'm madly in love with craft beer:' Meet the woman who opened her dream taproom in Gilbert

"I am madly in love with craft beer, the whole industry, everything about it," said Jennifer Gallego, owner of the newly opened Tap Dragon Craft Beer & Wine Bar in Gilbert.

After spending years learning about beer, tasting different varieties, picking up shifts at bars and even brewing it at home, she made the decision to turn her obsession into a career and leave the corporate world behind. In 2020, she almost signed the lease on a property where she planned to open a taproom. Then the pandemic hit.

Her plans ground to a halt as she, and the rest of the world, tried to figure out how to move forward.

About two years later, her taproom has become a reality. In November 2021 the beer began flowing. A lot of beer. 32 different taps, to be exact, with wines coming in at a close second with 31 options available.

Gallego and her team of knowledgeable bartenders now pour pints and glasses at Gilbert's newest beer destination, Tap Dragon Craft Beer & Wine Taproom, located at the southeast corner of Gilbert and Warner roads.

Tap Dragon is now open in Gilbert

Walking through the glass double doors into the taproom, two things are likely to catch your attention. First is a giant black silhouette of a dragon painted from floor to ceiling, which stands out against a burnt orange wall. The dragon's tail snakes away from the mural all the way onto the front door.

Second is a colorful smattering of chalkboards announcing the current beer menu. Neon pink, bright green and orange names indicate different types of beer, Gallego explained.

There are plenty of local Arizona options brewed everywhere from Tempe to Tucson along with craft brews from around the country. And the menu is constantly evolving. Whenever one beer runs out, Gallego replaces it with something new.

"Every time I put a new beer on, I can't wait," she said. "I'm so excited when we blow kegs."

Gallego's favorites, IPAs, are the most popular, she said, closely followed by cider. She serves Crush Craft and Cider Corps among others.

Wines are also proving popular, she said, noting that she carries bottles from Chateau Tumbleweed, an Arizona winery known for its creatively designed labels.

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"The selection is making me a destination," she said, adding that people are excited to return and see what's new on the menu.

How an 'obsession' became a business

While she's been a fan for many years, Gallego hasn't always worked in the world of craft beer. Until July 2021, she worked as a C-level executive assistant, most recently for a microchip technology company.

She credits her friends for pushing her to take the next step. After getting bored with her relentless desire to visit taprooms and breweries, her friends began asking when she was going to start her own.

"My girlfriends called me out on it. So I formed an LLC and then it was like, game on," Gallego said.

When she started building the taproom, she kept her day job for as long as possible, she said. But eventually, the construction schedule became all-consuming and she took the leap.

"Working a full-time job while opening a business, it was 24/7. It truly was blood, sweat and tears," she said.

When she was handed the keys to the corner shop in a Gilbert strip mall, the space was "completely gutted," she said, describing the bare-bones interior with a concrete floor and unfinished walls. She ripped up some of the concrete to add plumbing for the extensive tap system and set out to build a bar, seating area, roll-up garage door and large patio.

The ongoing pandemic added an extra layer of difficulty, from finding labor to increased costs and supply shortages.

The furniture for the taproom was delayed for four months, Gallego said, along with an extra three-month wait for the outdoor signs. When she held her soft opening event in November, the garage door hadn't arrived yet, she said.

After years of planning and months of work, she finally scheduled her grand opening for Saturday, Jan. 29.

"I find myself just standing here staring at the space," Gallego said, gazing out over her business. "It was a huge challenge and I'm quite proud of myself."

Lifting up others through collaborations

As a woman entering the traditionally male-dominant world of craft beer, Gallego said she has experienced some obstacles and intimidation.

"They are slowly getting more and more women in the industry, but from the outside looking in, I could tell there was a fight for women to gain their place in the industry. I was excited to be a part of that and join that fight," she said.

One way she's doing that is by supporting other women and first-time business owners in the Valley.

"It's nice to see more women standing up and grabbing the world by the reins and making their own path," she said. "There were people that supported me and I am paying it forward."

She's partnered with local food businesses for bar snacks and the dragon mural, which was painted by local artist Mackenzie Schneider. She explained that the dragon represents two things. First, Gallego wanted a logo that incorporated something mythical to represent her tagline that "great beer isn't a myth." Second, the dragon represents strength.

"I wanted to be a powerful woman in the craft beer industry and I wanted to showcase amazing beers," Gallego said. "The dragon represents that. She's phenomenal, she's powerful, she is confident and she knows what she wants."

Tap Dragon Gilbert

Details: 835 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert. 480-841-5566, thetapdragon.com.

Food available: Popcorn and bar snacks are available at the taproom. Customers can also order from neighboring restaurant Taco Santo and have their food delivered right to their seat at the bar.

Grand opening event: Tap Dragon's grand opening event will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 29 from noon to 11 p.m. The event will include live music all day, special beers and distributors with samples and swag.

Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram at tirionrose.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: New Gilbert taproom: What to expect at Tap Dragon Craft Beer & Wine