Beer-bot? Target Field rolls out self-serve beer stand

Target Field has handed over some beer taps to fans.

The Minnesota Twins unveiled a self-service beer station Sunday on the third base side of the main concourse. Another station will be added on the first base side before the All-Star game. These are the first machines of their kind to be installed in a Major League Baseball stadium.

To use the machines, customers buy special debit cards from a cashier, who checks their IDs. There also are employees at self-serve machines to check IDs and cut off fans who've had too much.

With the tap in their hands, fans will have more leeway on how much beer to pour, said Twins Spokesman Chris Iles.

"If you're gonna get a normal draft beer at one of our bars here, there are two size options available — 20 or 24 ounces," he said. "With these new self-serve machines you can get anything from a single, one ounce of beer, all the way up to 48 ounces."

Concessions vendor Delaware North installed the machines. Budweiser and Bud Light are sold for 38 cents per ounce while craft beers are sold for 40 cents an ounce, a company spokesman said.