First Draft
1309 26th St, Denver, CO, 80205
First Draft Menu
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Address :
1309 26th St
Denver, CO, 80205 - Phone (303) 736-8400
- Website https://www.firstdraftdenver.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Hipster
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Abbey H.
A pour your own, pay by the ounce beer bar! What a great addition to the RiNo area! The self-pouring/ pay by the ounce concept allows you to experience a variety of unique craft beers without making a whole glass investment to a specific beer. You get to be your own bartender and can sample over 30 craft beers on tap. I am never good at finding the right beer for me and get bummed when I order a beer and I don't like it. Because you order it, you feel like you have to drink the whole glass. With First Draft's concept, I can pour myself 4 ounces of a beer to try and move on if I don't like it. There is a great selection on tap that offers the chance to try new craft beers from all over the country. They also offer wine and ciders. The beer guides are incredibly helpful, with suggesting beers you might want to try based on your taste to showing you how to pour correctly. The process is that you start a tab, you get a wristband with a chip in it that identifies you to your tab, then you match up your chip to the logo for the tap and pour away. The food is amazing! I was a huge fan of the farotto, buttermilk chicken slider, fries and the pulled pork sliders. The chef and owners have created a menu that is unique and not just your normal bar menu. I highly suggest grabbing a bite while visiting. All of the employees are so helpful, laid back and seem like they have a great time working at First Draft. First Draft also has a great outdoor patio for day drinking.
(5)Joseph M.
I wish words could properly express my delight in finding First Draft. Fact is, you would never forgive yourself if you don't frequent this place, it's not only fun, but its phenomenal field of craft beer and full menu of feed will leave you full and feeling fantastic. Seriously, the buy the ounce concept allowed me to sample a ton of beer, compare on the fly and record notes for my bottle collection. I didn't get to try too much on the food menu, but I hope to remedy that over the next few weeks.
(4)Brenda L.
I've come here twice & had a great time during both my visits. Staff were friendly & the beers get changed out. I did not try the food here yet so this review is for the drinks. First Draft is the first serve your own beer place I've ever been to (& heard of). It is like a Menchies for adults. The concept is genius & allows for customers to freely sample all the beers to their hearts content without having to commit to a full glass. You arrive & are given a bracelet that has a little round sensor on it. You take the bracelet and put it up to the sign above the tap of the beer of your choice & it registers your bracelet. You then pour and the bracelet keeps track of how many ounces you've had (with 40 being the max). I drank 19 ounces of beer & it cost be under $10. I loved that all the beers offered were from local breweries like Crooked Stave's, Comrade, Great Divide, Odell, etc. There are also 2 wines you can pour. They offer 3 glass types & you just grab a glass & pour a drink. Between each drink there's a water tap you can use to clean out your glass. There is seating indoors & outdoor & they offer an upstairs area with additional seats. I tried a ginger cider here that I thought was refreshing, fun & tasty. Really this place is great for a casual drink without the rushed I-need-to-pay-now vibe. If you're into minimal contact with waiters & you're an indecisive beer drinker, First Draft is the place for you. What I didn't like about my last visit was how maybe 5-6 of the beers on tap were out (with a red light).
(4)Nicole M.
Great new spot and such a fun concept! When you walk in you register by giving them your credit card and you get a wristband where you can tap the different taps to choose your beer, wine, or cider. The beers are in order from light to dark. There is usually 3 wines on tap too. I also highly recommend their maple fries. Sooooo good!!
(5)Greg H.
Really neat idea! I love being able to try tons of types of beers, and the prices are reasonable. We've had brunch food and snacks, and everything has been tasty -- the quality is way beyond normal beer garden food. Staff is friendly and helpful. One star off for: 1) the lack of shade. It's a desert on that porch, which also has a terrible layout--half of the outdoor seating faces out, which makes no sense on a RiNo side street with little opportunity for people watching. 2) It *says* dogs are allowed, but they are only allowed outside of the fence, which has no shade! I get the health code yada-yada, but tying a dog to a fence with no shade on concrete just doesn't count as dogs allowed. Get some umbrellas for both peeps and pooches and it's a five-star place.
(4)Nick B.
I struggle with this place because the concept is awesome. What I don't like Is if you mess up your pour, you can't redo it or send it back. The prices, if you break it down, are pretty comparable to a normal bar tended bar (sans gratuity), but the risks of screwing up your beer is too high.
(3)Mia J.
The joint is casual and airy, perfect for patio afternoons in Denver. The staff was incredibly personable from the get-go. I really appreciated the hostess's rundown of the tap display, as it was a tad intimidating even to someone who considers them self a moderate beer aficionado. The menu is simple but very tasty from the looks and smells and my experience. As suggested from the girls at the register, we went with the grilled cheese and pork shoulder sandwich-both are must try's. I would absolutely recommend to out of towners and locals alike.
(5)Annette M.
Stopped it at noon in a Tuesday right when they opened. We had the place to ourselves for a bit and the staff really gave us a great run down and tour of the place. So much fun. Excellent selection of craft beers plus a few ciders and wine on the mix. You can pour as much or as little as you want. Thanks to the helpful staff I tried several that I loved that I would not have been drawn to otherwise. The Vanilla Java Porter was my favorite this visit. They do change them up often so we plan to come back for more. We also decided to each lunch here... Yummo. I have the grilled cheese and brisket sandwich,side of local greens and the grilled peppers (shishitos) as an app. For the two of us our tab came to around $75 for lunch which I thought was very reasonably considering how much we "sampled". Love that you receive a print out when you leave of all the beers you tried. That way I can buy them later also.
(5)Karla K.
This place has such a unique concept. For me, it was pretty straight forward and I didn't really find in confusing. Basically you walk in and check in the an employee. You give them your ID and credit card, and then they give you a bracelet and a glass. Then you are able to go over to the taps (so many to chose from!) and serve your self whatever beer you want. It's great because not only is it self service, but you can chose any amount that you want. So if you're only feeling 4 oz of beer, you can do that! The great part is that you just tap your bracelet above the beer tap that you want, and it "unlocks" the beer. It's really fun to do and a great place to take out of towners! I love it because I don't have to wait on a bar tender to get me a beer every time. It's also nice because there is a ton of information about the beers shown above each tap. The only downside is that you're basically paying for tastes that would be free at other bars. But the whole experience trumps that aspect! Would definitely recommend.
(5)E.J. R.
This is a perfect spot for any craft beer head like me. Go in, show your ID and credit card, get a wrist band. And then head over to the multiple taps. You can pour as much or as little as you like. The wrist band counts how much beer per oz has been poured. Want to take a bunch or 3oz tasters? Go right ahead! Find that one special IPA that you want 3 full pints of? Go right ahead! Wanna create a suicide concoction of ciders? Not my cup of tea... But no one is stopping you. When you are feeling peckish you can simply order at the food counter, and sit back down. Everything is added to your tab. As a resident of 5 points, I'm afraid this place will make me an alcoholic. I preemptively apologize to my loving wife...
(5)Ted S.
The concept is simple. Grab a bracelet and a glass, fill and enjoy. Plenty of craft beers to choose from and wines and ciders! Each beer has a price per oz (.60,.55,.49,etc) and the taps go by ounces poured when you activate it. So your tab just accrues on to your bracelet. When you're ready to checkout you just scan it at the register and pay up. The food was enjoyable as well, we ordered the pretzel, deviled eggs, and poblano peppers. The pretzel comes with a horseradish sauce as well as a cheddar cheese dipping sauce, both were pleasing. I would definitely recommend all three. They had a full menu of burgers and sandwiches that looked great but we didn't try them on this day. We'll definitely have to make arrangements for lunch in the future. Open seating upstairs as well as downstairs and outside. Staff was friendly and helpful when deciding which beer was a good starter.
(5)Anna Z.
Review #200!!! And what better place to talk about than First Draft. One of the coolest craft beer locations that have opened up in Denver recently. I don't even like beer all that much but I am a huge fan of this place!! Self serve alcohol how amazing is that?! When you step in, you first present your ID and credit card and open up a tab. Then you receive a wristband that has a white circle on it. The wrist band is actually quite chic looking and it's comfortable to wear since its elastic. Nice design! They have so many varieties of beer to choose from. Some of the ones I tried are ginger beer which is delicious, chocolate stout basically like drinking dark chocolate. You scan your wrist band and then the panel will light up green and then you get however much you want. It then records how much you got and at the end you pay. I got two beers and the total was only 8 dollars what a deal!!! And because it's self serve, you don't technically have to tip. Plenty of seating both outside, inside, and upstairs. It's definitely an awesome hangout spot for people in their 20s/30s it seemed to be the crowd there. A very good time to be had by all! Definitely coming back!
(5)Claudine M.
Had a wonderful time here in First Draft with my boyfriend and our friend. The concept is simple. Drinks are self served. You get a bracelet which lets you turn on whichever tap you want and it measures how much oz you got and your total as well. I fell in love with the pear cider while i was there. TIP: place your bracelet censor between the the letters 'ST' of the FIRST Draft sign of each tap and wait for the green light on top. As for the food. We came during HH and ordered the shishito pepper's, pretzels, and deviled eggs. They did not skimp on flavor and everything was delicious. Loved the shishito peppers and the added bacon on top of the eggs was also a nice touch. Everyone was friendly and glad to help customers on how to work the bracelets. Great space, outdoors and indoors (that have a second floor as well woot!) Can't wait to be a regular here.
(5)Sara G.
We had such a good time at this spot. We got there early, around 530 on a Friday night, so we got a great table inside. You get a bracelet and then grab a glass and you can try any of their delicious beers, wines and ciders on tap! I'm a cider lover, so it was so fun to get to try three different ciders where usually a bar or restaurant only has one option. But the reason for five stars? The food. So delicious. We got the brisket grilled cheese and I almost just ordered another one to go... It was that good. With a side of fries... We were licking our fingers. I will also note that we went with a big group that included a friend and her ten month old - it was an easy place to have a baby and super friendly. It does get packed later and there was a line to close out, but it's still well worth a visit!
(5)Cynthia H.
Love this place because I can try a little bit of a lot of drinks, grab a good bite to eat, and do it in a friendly, open atmosphere. - Pour your own draft beer/cider/wine, you choose the quantity, pay for what you pour (around $0.50/oz) - Staff is friendly and hanging around to deliver/clear food, answer questions, or fix mishaps - They have a good happy hour (ends at 6 pm) - Solid food options (including Little Man's ice cream that you can turn into a beer float!) - They have a patio (dogs can hang out right on the outside) Great addition to Denver with a really cool concept that will appeal to all those except people who like full service bars....those people can go to any other place in Denver. Personally, I hope First Draft is here to stay for good.
(5)Dez J.
Went here on a Sunday afternoon. The guy up at the front was very helpful in explaining how the wristbands and taps worked. Even got us started with recommendations based on our taste. After that, it was a fantastic free for all. Poured a few tasters and sampled a little of everything. They even have the glass cleaner water spout thingy so you could rinse your glass between beers. We had a blast, and I found two great beers that I switched between while we hung out. If we lived in Denver, this would be a very dangerous place. But, I do hope the concept catches on - and quickly. Couple dings. Huge patio out front was unusable in the sun. No umbrellas or shade out there, so the inside got packed pretty quickly. Who wants to roast while they drink? Also, the brunch menu was being served until 4:30, which seems a bit late. Really wanted to try the corn and pretzel and other delicious things I saw in previous reviews. Overall, I fun stop on our little vacay. Will be back next time we're in town.
(4)Alison W.
So far, so good! Not a ton of changes I'd request from the staff. We went on Labor Day and unfortunately, as shared by staff, one person called in (shame on you, hungover employee!) and it showed for that small staff. The woman running cards for us to get our wristbands had to run from each register. Unfortunate, but not her fault. It meant that she was the only one who could run the register, though, so nobody was able to order food when she was at the beer register/vice versa. About 1/3 of the drafts were empty, also unfortunate. Their lines seemed funky - I know how to pour beer (wife's a brewer) and I was still getting wayyyyy too much foam. My wife said their CO2 lines were not so good. I trust her judgment. There was no way to share with them though, because short-staffed. The beer I did pull was great! We finally got some food orders after chatting with the chef and food and drinks between the three of us came out to less than $15, which was excellent! I'm sure I'll be back - it's a unique concept in a central location. Kudos to the staff who kept it together when things could have quickly fallen apart.
(3)Shea W.
OBSESSED!!!! You walk in and give them your ID and credit card on the left hand side. They give you a very futuristic looking watch and you grab yourself a glass! Then have at it! There are, I think someone said, 45 taps? This is where you should really have your observational skills heightened. You're gonna wanna watch the people in front of you make the mistakes so that YOU look like the pro. A: you have to touch the white part of your watch to the letters on the tap. Actually touch it. B: Then the tap turns green. C: Then you want to hold your glass at a 45 degree angle and pull the tap toward you. D: enjoy as many ozs of beer as you want! E: stumble back up to the counter when you're drunk F: give them your fancy watch G: Flinch waiting to see how much it will cost...10 dollars an oz? 100? who knows? ahhh how many did I have?? H: BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED AT HOW CHEAP IT IS!!!!!!!!!!! No but seriously. I got roughly 6 ozs because I had too much earlier in the night and it was 4.00!!! 4! Food looks awesome. Gonna try next time.
(5)Nick C.
Awesome beer selection and concept. Fortunately we came on a Sunday afternoon and didn't have to deal with the craziness that I would assume would ensue with lines and people fighting for opportunities to pour. The establishment is in one of my favorite parts of town. The patio is suiting as is the upstairs seating area. We were greeted warmly and given direction at the taps from very knowledgeable staff members. The idea of being able to pour as many or as little of a beer as you want is novel. With so many options from which I've never seen, and believe me I have been to enough breweries, I had a tough time deciding what to try. The concept of being only charged by what you pour (the ounce), allowed me a more feasible chance of trying most of what I couldn't had I been poured a pint or 10 ounce poor that you would at any other bar. The menu was enticing but we didn't eat. Since the taps change regularly, we're sure to be back soon and often.
(4)Sasha L.
Wow this place is awesome! On a beautiful Saturday I peddled with a group of friends on a Peddy Hopper to various bars in this area and this was by far the best place we ended up! I love the concept, you pour out as much as you'd like of whatever you want to sample, pay at the end, and boom! You have a great craft brew buzz going. Pricing is very good. The food looked and smelled amazing although we didn't order anything. I am going to bring my boyfriend here soon to try all the brews and have a bite, he'll be in heaven!
(5)Jessica H.
What a cool idea for a bar! I loved being able to try several beers in the amount I wanted. They also have a few ciders and wines on tap. Food all looked excellent, although no one in my group ordered anything.
(5)Susanna B.
Awesome...wonderful, cleaver concept and well executed. A friend and I heard about this and were in the RiNo hood. The outside is great, with outside seating. We were warmly greeted and walked through how this works at check in. We walked away with a wristband that had a chip with our personal info and credit card info. 40 beers to choose from each with a tap of its own. There are a variety of glass shapes to choose from. From .30 to $1.20 a ounce we strolled the line. Lots of help to explain the different brews and a little history. So not only was it informative it was great fun to choose different beers and maybe get a 3oz pour to try and then return to a favorite. The food menu was fabulous. lots to choose from and a talented head of the kitchen, running the show. Formerly from Jax. It shows. We had sliders....burger and the brisket. both were great. And a good value. Super friendly, knowledgeable staff. Whether you are an aficionado or just want to learn and taste this is the place! its very interactive. I was a little intimidated at first trying to pour my own but it did not take long to master the technique. This is a fun place for sure.
(5)Mari M.
Get the ribs &/or brisket slider! You'll get a coach to help you pour your own beer - educational. We attended their soft opening, which was well executed with friendly staff. The food was way higher quality and larger portions than expected. Can't wait to go back and have wine on tap. Wine on tap people!
(5)John K.
One star due to pricing. Take whatever you pay for beer at local breweries then double the price and you have First Draft. $11 for a 10 Oz pour of a Crooked Stave Surette.
(1)Melissa S.
Very new so it needs a few adjustments: music, something showing on all the TVs they had turned off and better instructions on how to pour beer. Nonetheless, great beer selection, cool space and concept. Will be returning!!
(4)Carly B.
Seems like a good concept and I'm excited to see how it develops/shakes out! The place itself was a lot less fancy than I was expecting which was fine by me as it will make a perfect post-spin/yoga stop. To start off: the ordering was a little confusing. It wasn't apparent that we were supposed to get set-up at the first counter so we went back to the food counter. Luckily they can set you up there as well (check your ID, take a credit card, give you a wristband) but it was not without us looking totally confused. The beer itself is fun to pour yourself but my first pour was super heady so I wasn't able to get a very large pour without wasting some (and since it's priced by the ounce, you wouldn't want to do that). The first beer, a belgian pale, was also pretty flat. The second beer (Grapefruit Sculpin from Ballast Point) was delicious as expected. They also have tap cider and wine for the beer averse. The menu is elevated above your typical pub grub and was flavorful/inventive. I had the "raw squashes" salad which consisted of mint and lemon dressed yellow and zucchini squash chunks with two cheese filled fried squash blossoms on top. Husband had a smoked trout salad with watermelon as the base. While tasty, price seemed a little steep for the size (mine was $11 and while tasty, lacked the substance of a true "meal" salad as it was primarily raw squash). I would also say that the food/prices doesn't exactly match the casual industrial atmosphere, but that's Denver for you, I guess. The beer prices can also sneak up on you (I think 50 cents an ounce). I had about 12 ounces of beer total and it was about $6. One gripe with the wristband system is that the spot where you scan your wristband is right behind the tap handle. We saw a number of people accidentally move the tap handle forward a bit while scanning so beer would squirt out before they were ready for a pour. There goes $1! All in all, I think it's a fun, unique, casual concept for the hood but I can't say I'm a 100% fan yet or that this is the end-all be-all for beer drinking. It's pretty cool though and I'll be back!
(3)john W.
Welcome to the neighborhood! We walked by and were told they had just opened, so we formed a posse and rolled out! We went for brunch, which was packed with delicious. The ordering process is weird, one of those kinda stuttery processes that has more than one step. Where this place will stand out is the beer (and wine soon). You check in and everyone is given a wristband, bands are tied to your tab that you open right there. The mmm 30 or something beer taps lining the wall are all RFID enabled. you tap your bracelet against the screen telling you about the beer, and a light comes on, you pour your own. Each pour is measured and you see that pour plus your cumulative pours. It's kinda neat. It might suck when crowded trying to get to the tap you want, past the "what do i want" folks, but definitely kinda fun. Can't wait to make this a local hang out.
(5)Sarah W.
Interesting concept, they make it work. For those of you who have't been in here is how it goes: you begin by putting your card down at the register, as a trade for your card you get a bracelet. You use this bracelet to active the taps along the wall. A pretty cool screen pops up when you finish your pour, telling you how much you've had and how much more you can have. We didn't stay long, but I'm guessing that after a certain amount the bracelet stops activating the tap? Our experience was good. We were there on a Saturday afternoon, it was pretty empty the first hour we were then and then suddenly, it was packed! The tap line was SO crowded, people were hanging around an dominating taps, not a plus. Some of the people who came in were clearly pretty far into a bar crawl and couldn't figure out how it worked. It is a unique idea, and they are making it work, but it is a bit of a fad, I can't see is going back after the "newness" wears off.
(3)Jessie A.
First off, beautiful patio! Great space inside as well. Not a great spot for a first date, however. The ordering process is a bit confusing, neither of us had been here before and didn't receive much guidance as to how the place worked. I didn't care for the wristbands, they didn't scan very easily and so we were standing there awkwardly trying to figure that out. Each beer pours differently, and I don't have much knowledge about how to pour many different types of craft beer, so that was a bit overwhelming. There is an art to it! Each attempt I made I kept getting foam, and having to start over. Reading the directions obviously, but again, each is so different. There was someone who worked there standing behind me telling me how to do it, but never actually helped me or showed me. Basically the employee just watched me struggle with it while giving direction. Was unfortunate, and not a great way to start a first date. A really cool idea in theory, but would have appreciated a little assistance. If I had been shown how to do it once I probably wouldn't have had to keep starting over, wasting time and money. I may come back with friends and try again, they truly have a wonderful selection of beer! But never on a date again. Embarrassing and stressful experience.
(2)Bob M.
The place is almost perfect for beer, wine and cider drinkers. The atmosphere is great and the people are really friendly and knowledgeable about their libations. The place is still relatively new but once they get things going full steam I feel it will be a go to spot in Denver! You have to try to brisket sandwich with the baked peppers.
(5)Roberto E.
Not a bad spot to try different beers..hard to tell how much is spending according to what you have going on
(3)Alicia H.
Great beer selection complimented by a stellar kitchen. I am so glad to see yet another gem added to the RINO lineup. Being a regular here is a given if you live in the neighborhood, and is well worth the trip if you don't.
(5)Lauren P.
And yet another new addition to the Rino scene that is making the area begin to boom! I came to First Draft after the first week it was open to see what the talk was about. A similar concept to others in the area of pouring your own drink and trying a wide selection but taking one step further! How so, they are there to please EVERYONE! You have a friend who wont drink beer, another who hates wine, who cares because they have opted for it all. I love that the concept brings everyone together to try different beers, ciders, and wines. You pick your glass style and walk up to pour however much your feeling. They also have food which is always a plus and the fries are incredible! The atmosphere seems a bit cold to me (color wise) but they have a ways to go and I am sure that we are in for a treat!
(5)Alyssa M.
There are so many things to say for why I love First Draft. I love beer. I love trying new beer. I hate being that girl asking for a million samples because I love to taste them all but don't want to commit to one I will hate! The concept of pour-your-own is perfect for me. I can go in, read about all the beers without the pressure of a bartender hastily waiting on my order, and try a 1-2oz sample of any that sound interesting! I also love that it's not just Colorado craft beer. Don't get me wrong, I love our breweries, but I also love that I get to try things from all over the country at First Draft and I don't mind paying a premium for it (cheaper than a plane ticket, right?!). I haven't had a lot of the food (so far) but the 13 hour brisket slider and the ribs were initial stand outs for me! Pretty large slider for $5 and the pretzel bun is the bomb. Nice and buttery! Looking forward to trying the grilled cheese and tomato fritters and the milk and cookies dessert. I will be back here often. Great concept!
(5)Sabine M.
This is a great concept! The beer selection is fantastic! It's not cheap, but I guess you pay for then concept -the opportunity to try lots of beers in one place. There is also an out door seating area! A few of the taps seemed to dispense less beer than what was indicated on the screen. Both my friend and I noticed this. Some calibration is likely in order.
(4)Nicole D.
This place is amazing. Not a beer drinker? Not a problem... They have wines and ciders too. The concept is very cool and very advanced and the food is wonderful. Staff is there to help teach you how to poor so your beer is perfect.
(5)Tom G.
Awesome tap selection, friendly service, nice out door seeking, and the food was great!! If anything it's a little pricy, but totally worth it!
(5)Ben A.
Amazing beer selection and a stellar food menu! Staff is super friendly and helpful! Wasn't quite sure how this concept would work.... But it's awesome! Great use of space with community tables and outdoor seating
(5)Hilary H.
This place will catch on fast! It is so fun to choose and pour your own drink. You have a choice between beer, wine or cider. You are given a wrist band that activates your tap and you pour yourself a drink. They have food here but we didn't eat this time. This is really close to Larimer lounge and we go to a lot of concerts there so this is a good place to go before a show.
(5)Cara C.
I'm in Denver fairly often to visit friends, and one of them recommended that we check this place out. Do yourself a favor and get here. Within ten or so minutes of arriving, the owner/manager greeted us and talked about beer selection and food with us. He seemed very knowledgeable, and he knew on the spot what kind of oil they used to fry things in: rice oil (high five to no peanut oil!). Bae is a craft beer aficionado, so he talked at length about how stellar the beer selection was (especially the Sculpin and a Bruery beer). It's a cool idea that the customer can pour exactly how much they want; I'm indecisive and hate to settle on a whole pint if it's something I'm just trying. I was kind of scared about how the beer would pour out given that I am not a bartender, but all of our dranks were perfect. The brisket grilled cheese was amazeballs - that herb butter is DECADENT. It's rare to find a place that gets five stars for personnel, five stars for food, and five stars for beer. Way to hit it out of the park, First Draft! Will definitely be back for brunch. This would be a good spot for a birthday bash, too, as all the partygoers could have separate tabs. I've got some ideas for you, 1D. Ok, last thing: you can get yourself a pedi after having a few drinks, as there's a cute little nail place just a few steps away!
(5)Kevin S.
I went by First Draft in RiNo with some friends to check out the new tap system and try the food. I figured that beer choices would be great and the new pouring system would make this a great and fun experience for our group. I was not disappointed. It was really a fun time with our group, trying out several different beers and talking to the "beer ambassadors" as they helped us make decisions. I felt like I was able to socialize with friends, learn about new beers from others at the impressive tap wall and try what I liked without buying a whole pint. What really surprised me was the quality and selection of the food! Wow - really good! Service was also great and pretty quick. We tried several items and we were never disappointed in our selection. The menu is really a step up from normal tap rooms or small kitchens. We were able to pair several selections with different beers and enjoyed them all, including desert. I never expected to enjoy the food as much as the beer! Now, I'm looking forward to coming to brunch over the next couple of weeks. I saw the menu and it looked really good
(5)Jonathan G.
Interesting concept! The ordering process is a bit confusing. Our server took a while to explain the process of using the taps. We got foam the first few tries, and we didn't know you could clean your glass using the auto wash right below each tap. Great idea in theory, but it's not a place to go if you want your beer without foam.
(4)Joseph W.
Fun concept, surprisingly easy to use. Also, the milk stout chocolate milk with the fresh cookies is insanely good
(5)Sarah W.
I absolutely LOVE the concept of First Draft. Walk in, show them your ID and credit card, and get a scannable wristband. Then you're free to enjoy all the beer and wine they have on tap along the wall! It's all self-serve, so you can get as much or as little as you want of each drink. Perfect if you want to do a "tasting" and sample a wide variety. The prices per ounce are listed on the screen below each drink. The atmosphere of the place is cool and hip (it is in RiNo, after all) and it has a nice patio! My only criticisms of this place are that I found the wristbands difficult to scan, and the employees weren't very helpful/friendly. I asked a few of them what their favorite light beer on tap was because I was a little overwhelmed with the large selection. I got a lot of blank stares and they didn't seem too eager to offer suggestions. Oh well! I wiłl definitely be back because I love the concept.
(4)BrentandMichelle W.
Eh... The chicken sandwich had a stale biscuit, the fried green tomato was hard and they put something oddly sweet in the batter. The chicken was good. The kale chickpea fritters and tots were good. The fries way too over seasoned. I was not a fan of the beer tasting. Everyone hovers in front drinking their beer making it uncomfortable to get in and taste of your own.
(3)Emily T.
Love the concept, the wristband is very unique and something I've never seen before. Loved that they also offered beer and wine. Brats and pretzels were very good but menu is very limiting. Probably wouldn't come back to eat but definitely drink. Also think they should cover up all the wiring on top of the TV. From the top tables, it's a bit of an eye sore.
(4)Brian D.
Great concept! Pay by the ounce! Try all the beers and then find one you like. The maple fries were delicious. Only wish they had a cream cheese type days r to go with them instead of ketchup.
(5)Kaylee T.
SO IN LOVE WITH FIRST DRAFT!!! This is my new spot! The concept is so cool - the food is UNREAL! This is exactly what the area was missing. I love to try a lot of different kinds of beers, so this is the perfect place to do so since you pay by the ounce... again such a cool concept! We were greeted by the owner when we came in, and he was SO nice and helpful. Gave us the rundown on how the place works, tips for ordering, etc. Everything we ate was amazing, and I absolutely can't wait to come back and try everything else on the menu!
(5)Lauren H.
We went to First Draft on Saturday - their second night open. I wasn't sure how the tap system would play out, but I loved it. It allows you to try new beers without worrying about ordering a full pint of something you don't like. When one tap runs out, they put in a different beer, so every time you go, there should be a new selection. They are fully staffed, and there's plenty of people around to answer any questions about the system. I really love the layout - the garage door open to outside was perfect for a warm summer night, and the patio is spacious as well. As others have mentioned, the food is great. Lots of interesting choices for small plates and large plates for sharing. Our group had about 8 different plates total, and we enjoyed everything. I'm looking forward to going back for brunch.
(5)Taylor S.
Where do I even start?? I was visiting some friends in Denver this past weekend and we stumbled upon this little gem in RiNo. I was hesitant about going to a taproom for brunch/lunch, but man was I wrong!!! The food was absolutely amazing and went really well with every beer I tried. We had the charcuterie with burrata and prosciutto (pleasantly surprised with the amount of prosciutto they give!!), the farrotmeal, the fried buttermilk chicken sandwich, and the pancakes! Everything was VERY delicious and big enough to share. I also loved that we had the ability to pour our own beers. There is nothing worse than having to wait for a waitress to bring you a drink when you're ready to order!! I wasn't quite sure what I wanted, so tried a few small pours first, and then decided on a delicious local beer. First Draft is also great for groups, as there is never a need to split checks!! I really can't say enough good things about the ambiance, food, beer, and concept in general. I can't wait to go back!!!
(5)M G.
This place is awesome. I enjoyed trying several beers to see which one I would enjoy in a full glass. No pressure picking one beer and getting suck with one you don't like. The loved the Evil Twin Femme Fatale IPA beer. The foods was fantastic too. The sliders were so yummy. We are coming back. The staff were nice and v knowledgeable.
(4)Chris S.
I'd say the concept was cool but this idea has been done before. There are several wine bars that have tried this concept and failed. The taps are too close together and the place where you have to stick your wristband to activate the taps is just awkward and inconvenient. The patio was nice and the food looked pretty good but it was pricey for pub grub. I'll give this place another shot but I wasn't impressed.
(3)Lauren S.
Unique pour-your-own beer concept. Really enjoyed sampling a number of beers with the pour system. Very easy to use. The food was also excellent. I would definitely recommend the sliders! You can tell that a lot of time was put into pickling the veggies, making the sauces, etc. the staff was very knowledgeable and helped determine what beers to pair with what food and what beers to try based on what I enjoy drinking. I will definitely be back sooner rather than later.
(5)Kelly C.
I used to live in Colorado a few years ago and came back this weekend to visit the ol' stomping grounds. So many new restaurants and bars have gone up since I've left and I must say First Draft definitely stands out amongst them. The food was great. The owner greeted us at the front door and gave us a run-down of how it all worked. I loved the personal touch! It's such a cool and fun concept and I can definitely see it becoming a Denver staple.
(5)Fred L.
Love it! You can easily try a lot of beers although it can get pricey. Food was terrific. Chicken sliders have a great biscuit. Just a lot of fun.
(5)Matt H.
Unique concept that just opened in RINO. You get to pour your own beer from one of 40 taps. It may seem overwhelming but they have a friendly and helpful staff to advise on the vast selection of beers it has to offer. Super excited it will showcase some of the small breweries in Colorado along with some hard to find out of state beers. Had the Four Noses Citra Ale last night and it was quite good. The most unexpected part is the quality of the food coming out of the kitchen. Get the buttermilk batter fried chicken biscuit. Ask for a side of harissa if you want to add some kick! First experience was great and the outdoor seating is perfect. If you enjoy Falling Rock Tap House or Euclid Hall then you must give this place a try. Excited to go back.
(5)ashley b.
I love the atmosphere and the concept is amazing. We really enjoyed this place, but they do have a few holes in the business model. Some things we worried about were people using the same glass to refill their beer. That throws a red flag especially thinking about winter time and people being sick. Glasses with germs on the taps eeek! Also the bands are a great idea to keep track of how many oz poured. However, they should have something distinguishing for each band because they actually say it scans easier when you take the band off but then you have a few bands on the table that are identical. Also, if someone were to take your band you would be able to recognize that. What about the drunk people that walk away or steal bands and come back at a later time? Maybe they figured that one out. Lastly, if you don't know how to pour a beer, it might be more expensive than you think. The good part for the business owner is they make profit on almost 100% of the keg because you are the one that is getting charged per oz poured. So if you pour a beer with a lot of head, then you are responsible for the entire amount, versus a bar giving you a fresh beer with minimal head on it. Luckily that was not the case with us but hey I'm sure it would be for some people. The food was good to a certain degree. The brisket slider was good but expensive for 1 slider. The corn was just ok, and the bacon seemed more raw than cooked. Don't get me wrong, we had a great time, but we wanted to provide constructive criticism and let others know what the real story is. Great idea, fun place, go check it out!
(4)Emmy M.
I have a bunch of friends that live in the RiNo area and someone suggested trying out First Draft shortly after it opened. My roommate and I both loved the open seating, with the garage door that connects the indoor bar area to the patio. As someone who also frequently ends up in those large-group happy hours, I like that you can easily pay for your own tab and not have to hassle with an enormous bill from a big group table. I also liked not having to stand at a bar trying to get the bartenders attention, and could always easily find a tap with a beer I liked that didn't have a wait. I didn't get to try the food but will definitely be back to do so! Would highly recommend First Draft!
(5)Mark M.
This place has a really cool idea where you walk up to a tap, pour your own beer and it measures by the ounce. Way fun to try a bunch of different beers and the area you sit in is like a beer garden style room. The beers they chose are obviously the work of a beer nerd. Really love this spot, its just fun.
(5)