Boozy Brunch at IHOP May Finally Be in Your Future
The chain is testing mimosas and other alcoholic beverages at three locations.
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Big changes are in store for IHOP! The International House of Pancakes recently announced that alcoholic beverages will now be a part of the chain’s menus nationwide. The libations are courtesy of IHOP’s new “Bubbles, Wine & Brews” menu, which is packed with several different types of drinks.
Among the boozy options are mimosas, Bud Light, Blue Moon and Corona, as well as wines from Barefoot–Bubbly Brut, Bubbly Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. The program is currently being piloted at three locations in San Diego and New Mexico, but there are already plans in motion to expand to additional markets over the next few months, including New York, Rhode Island, Maryland and Ohio. Per Forbes, the new menu will soon be available to all franchisees across the 1,700-unit network, if they so choose.
However, there’s a chance that some IHOP locations across the country may still remain alcohol-free. This is because each individual restaurant must apply for a liquor license if they want to sell items from the Bubbles, Wine & Brews menu. Liquor licenses can cost up to $14,000 depending on the location of the restaurant, and some regions put a cap on the number of licenses handed out.
According to IHOP president Jay Johns, the decision to finally serve alcoholic beverages at IHOP stems from continued customer feedback. He also noted that it marks a “terrific innovation and evolution” for the California-based restaurant chain.
“We see this launch as part of our continued prioritization of the p.m. day part, with hopes of attracting new guests during different times of the day," Johns said in a statement. “While we are offering morning drinks, like mimosas and sparkling wine, we are also offering afternoon and evening-focused beverages to accompany IHOP favorites for meals beyond breakfast.”
As IHOP aficionados may know, this isn’t the first time the fast-casual chain has announced big changes. Back in June 2018, IHOP briefly changed its name to IHOb in an effort to draw attention to its new line of burgers. The “b” stood for, you guessed it, burgers.
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