Hidden away in fast-growing North Suffolk, newly opened Decent People Taproom has 44 self-serve taps filled with beer, cider and wine waiting for their guests.

The business, run by Wes McCullough, Eric Langhorst and Todd Walsh, started from a simple love of good craft beer and a home-brewing hobby.

McCullough and Walsh were working as commercial divers in the Navy Reserves when they got into home-brewing, and Langhorst was a network engineer before breaking away into their current business.

“Wes was the best man in the wedding in San Diego, and the night before we went to this taproom with the self-serve concept,” Langhorst said. “It started as a conversation over a beer, and here we are a few years later and we are open. It kind of spun from there.”

Suffolk was a no-brainer for the trio when they decided to open up shop, because there wasn’t any competition for the kind of business in the area.

“We looked in Virginia Beach and Norfolk, but there was already too much competition. Here there isn’t as much,” Walsh said. “There are a lot of people here that really enjoy good craft beer.”

“We knew we wanted something in Hampton Roads, and we had talked a few options. We wanted to go to an area that was growing and had a need for craft beer. Virginia Beach was too expensive, and it was a crowded market,” Langhorst said. “It’s a prime location. It felt super underserved, and we decided to bring it to that area.”

While the beer list is ever-changing and is sure to draw a crowd, the food will also fill folks’ stomachs. The menu is a mix of everything from wings to salads and burgers.

“We didn’t want your standard bar food,” Langhorst said. “If we have to comply with ABC, then might as well do it right.”

The taproom gets its name from what the restaurant wants to be. Decent People wants the atmosphere to be comfortable and welcoming.

“We want to make people feel comfortable. We don’t want them to feel like there are barriers to craft beer drinking,” Langhorst said. “We want to be approachable and have a lot of different styles.”

“It’s open and friendly. The way its setup gets you out of your seat, and it’s an opportunity to meet people,” Walsh said. “It’s really an opportunity to chat about beer.”