Since the opening of Tied House in May 2018, co-owners Adam and Melissa Weber have immersed themselves in the in the community and are committed to their staff, patrons and paying it forward. And let me tell you, I was blown away by their energy and passion of ensuring everyone feels welcomed and treated equally.

Before I met Adam and Melissa, I learned that, during the opening week of Tied House, they donated a portion of their happy hour sales to numerous nonprofits, which made me want to support them. Soon after, I had the opportunity to meet them, and you could tell that they exemplify what it means to "talk the talk and walk the walk" as they pay tribute to the building's history as a Pabst Brewery tied house.

"For us, Tied House is more than just a rebirth of the historic building; it means being involved in the community," said Melissa Weber. "It’s a hub, a meeting space, where anyone can be included, as we are mission focused."

Tied House’s seasonal mocktails are influenced by Mexican culture. For the Webers, Mexico is almost like a second home, and the epitome of hospitality as it creates memories of comfort, relaxation and much more, which comes through in the refreshing and comforting mocktails – each selling for just $6. 

"We offer mocktails because we do not want our patrons to feel uncomfortable," said Adam Weber. "We are committed to making sure Tied House is a gathering place, where new memories will be created. We want to be something for everyone, and we believe in people while having a responsibility to being professional at all times."

The Feisty Pepino is a cucumber-inspired drink, which I love – refreshing, healthy and filled with vitamins and minerals, plus a little bit of bite to it. Personally, I’m all about cucumber-inspired drinks because they are usually light, and the story behind it was pretty cool to hear. (Ask Adam about it, and you’ll fall for Tied House even more.) It also pairs well with Tied House’s buffalo chicken flatbread.

Meanwhile, the Shrub-It-Off is a drink that absolutely blows your mind and makes you wonder where the inspiration came from. As we tried the Shrub-It-Off, Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" echoed in my head as I wondered if "Weird Al" Yankovic would create a song based off this mocktail.

As for the drink itself, this beet-inspired drink rivals the Purple Haze, one of my favorites at the Juice Kitchen. Both will win you over if you've never had beet juice, but the health benefits alone – boosting one’s stamina, helping lower blood pressure, improving blood flow – should explain why everyone should have a Shrub-It-Off. Plus it pairs well with Tied House’s pan-seared salmon and grain salad.

• Feisty Pepino: Fresh cucumber puree, lime juice, simple syrup, Indian tonic water and Mexican spice citrus salt, garnished with a cucumber ribbon

• Shrub-It-Off:  apple beet shrub, orange juice, soda water and egg white foam, garnished with a lemon peel

The next time you are looking for a comforting and inclusive place to have a delicious meal or an outing in the Third Ward, check out Tied House. You will meet two passionate owners who are committed to paying forward – and two healthy and inspiring mocktails.