One week into opening, ROAK Brewing is attracting plenty of attention for its craft brews and rock-and-roll inspired tap room design. Where similar ventures have focused on minimalist spaces with industrial details, ROAK's bucks the trends with towering warehouse ceilings, jet-black sculptures, and an enormous chandelier.
Local artist Mark Bommarito was commissioned to design the tasting area. Bommarito tells Eater his initial sketches featured skeleton tap handles. While the owners eventually favored more traditional taps, Bommarito's edginess still prevails in elements like the snakeskin details on the base of the bar and the Kashimir dark ale's label art. The seating area is filled with squared wooden four-tops and leather chairs, which the artists hopes will take on more character as the space ages. Photographers Michelle and Chris Gerard offer an inside look at this new Royal Oak beer destination.
