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Mellow Mushroom is “ a state of mind , a culture , a way of being ,” according to the restaurant ’ s philosophy .
joven mezcal , along with peach puree , jalapeno and housemade agave sour . Mellow Mushroom cocktails are priced at around $ 9 each .
“ We will continue innovating moving forward to bring cocktails using only premium ingredients , with superior service and guest-first execution ,” Arenas says .
SASSY SANGRIAS AND FINE WINES A super-premium take on the classic , Mellow Mushroom ’ s new sangrias feature fresh fruit and Hennessy V . S . Cognac . Each sangria is made fresh to order , from all-natural ingredients .
The Rotating Selections sangria option on the menu will change twice per year to bring in new flavors . For instance , the Purple Reign summer sangria combined Hennessy VS Cognac , Bonanza cabernet sauvignon , black cherry puree and Fee Brothers rhubarb bitters .
Wines on the list include selections from renowned wineries like the Wagner Family , and the winemakers behind Caymus , Jackson Family , Kim Crawford and La Marca . “ We seek to offer only premium-quality wines that guests recognize both on- and off-premise ,” Arenas says .
“ Wine is a special category for us , in that most don ’ t associate wine and pizza ,” he notes . “ Our outlook is that wine goes well with anything , as long as paired properly . We seek to have wines that offer not only exceptional quality , but are truly a fit with our fun and unique brand .”
What ’ s more , Mellow Mushroom guests can now enjoy wine in a variety of pour sizes , including a 6-oz . glass , a 9-oz . glass or a bottle . Prices vary by market but average about $ 7 for the 6-oz . glass , $ 9 for the 9-oz . and $ 29 a bottle . The varied pour sizes enable guests to try multiple different wines or indulge in their favorites .
The restaurant has seen a considerable rise in the wine category as a whole since introducing the 9-oz . pour offering , says Arenas . “ We feel quite good about this additional option for Mellow guests .”
BEER HERE Perhaps not surprising for a pizza concept , beer is the leading alcoholic beverage at Mellow Mushroom . Beer currently hovers around 12 % as a percentage of overall food and beverage , with spirits at 9 % and wine at 3 %.
The company has mandates specifying core beers — in both draft and package — that are category and market leaders in their respective styles . These beers drive the majority of beer sales , Arena says .
“ We also have created a beer optimization framework for our operators to be able to pick the right number of taps for their specific market ,” he adds . “ These taps are largely available for local and regional craft beers .”
Oberon , a citrusy wheat ale from Kalamazoo , MI-based Bell ’ s Brewery , was a summer craft beer selection .
HELLO MELLOW Founded in 1974 in Atlanta , Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers was “ born out of the free-wheelin ’ hippy culture of the Seventies ,” according to the company ’ s mission statement . The Mellow Mushroom franchise operates under Home-Grown Industries of Georgia and currently has 169 locations across 20 states , primarily in the Southeast . The brand clearly aims to put the fun in fungus : Each Mellow
14 • Fall 2022 www . cheersonline . com