Not ready to brave the bar scene yet? Have the bar come to you! The mobile beverage cart industry is gearing up for the return of in-person events. From vintage vehicles and customized trailers, here are six bars that drive so you can drink.
The Little Red Truck, a 1925 Ford Model T pickup, predates the repeal of Prohibition, but now it’s equipped with eight taps that dispense everything from beer and wine to champagne and cold brew coffee.
The motorized hunk of Americana is in such high demand that co-owners Elaina Sendro and Ashley Latta added two puncheon barrels to their business. The large, wooden receptacles can be rented for small, outdoor celebrations or to complement ol’ Red or another bar setup. Here’s a tip: Look for a few cocktail collaborations with local spirit makers this summer.
The Parched Pony Mobile Bar Co.
The owners of The Parched Pony are champing at the bit to service in-person events.
The 1971 pony trailer has been converted into a bar to serve beer in draft, bottles or cans, cocktails and wine at corporate events and private parties. The pint-sized Pony recently made a big impression at a Kentucky Derby Day bash at The Meadows Racetrack and Casino. Book now and get back in the saddle!
You’re going to go bananas for this 1973 Piaggio Ape. The three-wheeled vehicle is only 4 feet wide, 6 feet tall and 9 feet long, but its presence looms large at any event.
Sisters Samantha Dingus and Kimberly Marquette had the adorable ride shipped here from the United Kingdom. They converted it into a mini-bar and replaced the original engine with an eco-friendly electric motor that allows them to do indoor events without creating noise or exhaust fumes.
Full bar service is available to complement the four taps onboard the Ape (which actually means “bee” in Italian). You can choose to dispense booze or non-alcoholic drinks if you’d rather not get … buzzed.
For more than two decades, Jim Streets has been installing, cleaning and repairing draft beer systems at bars, restaurants and breweries throughout western PA. A few years ago, he decided to hit the road with his pal Scott Kurdilla.
The Draft Streets Beer Wagon is a traveling trailer that boasts eight taps plus a two-tap kegerator, a two-tap beer cooler called a jockey box and cornhole boards to keep you busy while you imbibe. Depending on how many brew lovers you invite to your summer shindig, the mobile unit can house half kegs, quarter kegs and sixtels.
Flyspace Productions, a company that organizes some of the largest events in the Pittsburgh region, is getting its mobile bar business off the ground.
The Flyspace fleet currently includes three vehicles and a bicycle that are capable of spouting cocktails, mocktails, beer, wine, cold brew coffee, tea, soda and kombucha.
The 1963 Cushman Truckster debuted at the Dollar Bank Three Rivers Arts Festival and features four taps. A 1966 Piaggio Ape is being retrofitted with a three-tap system. In the 1964 Econoline pickup truck, there’s a full-service bar, two taps and a DJ stage. The bike boasts a two-tap cart. The mobile bars are available to rent throughout the year.
“We’ve collected these vehicles from all over the world, and as vintage car enthusiasts ourselves, the fact that these are all original, vintage vehicles is really special and a feature we have worked hard to maintain,” says Jennifer Owen, a principal with Flyspace.
Pittsburgh Mobile Bars partners with local businesses such as Goodlander Cocktail Brewery, KLVN Coffee Lab and Market Street Grocery for pop-ups and other surprises.
The Tipsy Gypsy puts the booze cart before the horse.
Last fall, Taryn Josephic, a veteran of the local service industry, and her husband, John, a carpenter, transformed a 1976 horse trailer into a bar and are now off to the races.
Tell them about your event and they’ll whip up a custom drink menu using a curated selection of local beer, wine and spirits. They’ll even deck out the vagabond bar to suit your party’s theme. A second equestrian-inspired trailer will make its debut in the next month or so. Yeehaw!