First Draft

I am so incredibly disappointed with First Draft. The biggest disappointment that I suffered was the $ 26 (excluding tip) that I paid for two (2) beers. When I questioned the cashier, I was told that they «must’ve been really big pours». Considering the sarcastic response, I responded in kind questioning how a glass can fit more fluid than what they were intended for.
The beers were okay — nothing to write home about (more about those on Untappd).
The environment was cool and I really like this concept. But, for the price, I will go elsewhere.

First time I’ve been to a well-​executed, pour your own beer bar. They have 40 different taps, which include, craft beer, wine and one cocktail tap. Beer is usually around .50 cents per oz. which gives you the luxury of trying many styles if you choose. Food is pretty solid, not too much of a selection, but then again it is a beer garden.

As my friend put it, Yogurtland for adults. Instead of fro-​yo, it’s craft brews, and it’s amazing.
Although previously I had heard that one could get a band and have AYCD from these fantastic flowing taps, this is no longer the case. Instead, there is a card that you tap (see what I did there) on the respective beer you want, and that records how much to charge per how many ounces you pour.
I like the freedom of choosing how much I want to try for different beers, and the ability to just take from one if I really enjoy it. My favorite is the Pineapple Express, but there are all kinds of other drinks, including wines and mixed drink that you can pour.
The garlic fries were a great pairing to the beer, and the sliders are cute and delicious. Definitely take advantage of the happy hour food. Would come again to try even more beers — but a really cool experience!

First Draft was cool. It’s a pretty cool concept. I like that you don’t have to wait to get a drink, but that could also be dangerous. I’m not really a beer drinker so I tried the Moscow Mule. It was delish! I’m not usually a fan of them, but these were hitting the spot. Hubby and I usually don’t get down to this part of town, so not sure how often we would return, but I would be up for coming back. Cheers!

LOVE the concept. Nativ hotel in downtown has a similar concept but with an awesome patio and delicious food, First Draft is my choice.
The set up is simple, as others have mentions– walk in, get your card, and start the pours! This place gets packed sometimes so keep that in mind if you’re venturing out on a weekend.
The food: we sampled the Brussel sprouts, wings, and the pretzels. The sprouts? SO GOOD! I don’t really remember the wings (which says something).
All in al, the place can get a little pricey if you aren’t watching the pours (or your hubs like to go all in & only do full pours…)

First time that I’ve ever been to a pay by the ounce self serve beer bar. I found two beers, the Plum Sour Stout and the Funky Gold Simcoe, two sours that they had in their selection. After tasting them briefly with a small pour, I filled up my glasses halfway with each one and I got to decide how much to fill my glass. Kind of a cool feeling because I like trying different beers but don’t want to pay for an entire glass.
They also have a full kitchen and menu here but since I had just already ate, I wasn’t able to try the food. The menu does look very appealing and has the typical gastropub selections of appetizers, mains, sandwiches, and sides.
For newbies, make sure to check in with the hostess/​cashier person to get yourself set up and instructed on how to use their pay by the ounce system.

I’m basically like a 4 year old because I have a serious fascination with doing everything myself. I’m the gal you see at the self-​checkout at grocery stores for example, and so, when I heard there was a place where I could pour my own beer I knew it was just a matter of time until I would be checking it out. And of course, my do-​it-​myself, self loves it.
I love it because you can pour as much or as little as you’d like.
I love it because you can try so many different kinds of beer.
I love it because each tap has a little info screen so you know more about what you might drink.
I love it because even though they are a beer place they have two wines, one cocktail, and a kombucha on draft too in case anyone in your crew isn’t a beer person.
I love it because there are all different shapes and sizes of glassware.
I particularly love all the different sour beers I’ve been able to try here.
And I love it because they have a pretty decent food selection to accompany the beer.
I have been several times now, both in really large groups and in small sets, and have always had a good time. I have eaten grilled shishitos, pretzels, Brussels sprouts, chickpea fritters, the burger, the brisket grilled cheese, the mac & cheese, and the beet salad, which is basically the entire menu. My favorite has been, by far, the grilled cheese, but it was all enjoyable. And the milk and cookies with fresh baked chocolate chip cookies & malted stout milk is a great way to end a meal, if you have room. I definitely love this spot!

A range of styles available from a wide range of breweries both regional & national, in a setting that’s perfect for the area. Inside & out are perfect with the industrial finishes and huge communal tables. Prices are reasonable, and the pour-​your-​own is done well, with easy tech that works. Friendly helpful staff.
I wasn’t there for a meal, but food offerings looked minimal.

This place is the WORST. The staff, particularly the management, are awful. My husband planned my surprise 30^th birthday here 3 months in advance. 4 days before the party they called and said they had double booked. So my husband was left scrambling to find a place for 40+ people on very short notice. Instead of taking responsibility like they should have, they turned around and blamed it on my husband – the manager tried to say my husband didn’t communicate well enough even though he had been there to meet in person with them and had several emails with plenty of communication.
We were reluctant to give this place a try but went ahead and went with some friends last night. Same issues. The staff and managers were extremely rude to multiple people in our party. And my husband had 3 beers, myself 2 TINY glasses of wine, and somehow got charged $ 45!?! Would NEVER go back.

Came here right before work one Friday evening, and was curious to see what it was all about. The pros: they have 40 different beers on tap, and they’re all self-​serve. Unique and interesting concept! Also, the cashier/​hostess was extremely friendly, patient, and knowledgeable. She walked me through the entire process step by step.
Now, for the cons: there was limited food. Not much actually looked too appetizing to me, but I went with the roasted peppers they have, and wasn’t too interested in finishing them. Just kind of bland and harsh on the stomach. It didn’t really pair well with beer, in my opinion. And, of course, they don’t serve cocktails (which is to be expected). They could also use more diversity in the beer choices they offer. There were entirely too many pale ales & IPA’s in comparison to any other kind. And, for the price, they should offer a lot more choices and a lot more food. A little pricey for what they did have. Overall, I’d maybe give this place 3 ½ stars out of 5.

We had a lot of fun here. I like that the staff come over to help if you’re a newbie but maybe I should have asked before I tried of pour a Nitro that was all head! Trust me, you have to commit to the tap!
It’s a good system to pour your own beers, they check your ID & a copy of your credit card when you enter, then it’s just swipe and pull. There’s information above each of the taps telling you what they’re like and you can pour as much or as little as you like (within reason). We were mixing #25 with the cider and it was delicious!
It works out to be a little expensive at $ 0.50 or $ 0.60 an ounce but it’s fun and totally worth it.
We didn’t have the food here but it smelt delicious! And it was nice that it didn’t get too busy on a Sunday afternoon.

With 40 Taps lining the long wall downstairs, you’d think I would have been most excited by the vast array of beer options offered at First Draft. Well, since I only get to tast beer these days, I was pretty pumped to see every style under the sun available for sampling, from serious sours and stouts to incredibly hoppy IPAs, and even a few dedicated to vino and kombucha! You could literally spend all night standing in front of this wall!
But the food. Oh yes. The food was the perfect foil to all the liquid goodness flowing through this place.
First the pretzels. The pretzels. The pretzels! I was going to be good and only «taste» a half of one and by the end of the meal I had devoured two of these! I’m not sure if it was the salty, crusty exterior, the soft sweet doughy inside, saison cheese sauce or the fantastic whole grain mustard that made them go down so easily, but sweet baby jebus these things were fantastic!
Then the burger. HUGE BURGER. A massive mound of colorado meat on a pillowy soft bun topped with fresh fixins, all added up to a magnificent mouthful!
Side note: French fries were fabulous. Brussel sprouts perfectly prepared. Merguez sausage a bit of a let down (kinda bland).
But the piece de resistance had to be dessert! Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies, warm from the oven, served alongside a tulip filled with chocolate stout infused milk. Ooey, gooey, soft and chewy, cookies, perfect for picking apart (not so much for dunking) closed out the meal in a most magical fashion.
Beer drinker or not, First Draft is fun for all. If you happen to come on trivia night, you’re in for a hilarious addition to your evening. Make First Draft a first round pick for a night out in Denver!

I would definitely recommend this place to anyone who visits Denver! It’s an absolutely beautiful space with both indoor and outdoor seating. The service was exceptionally nice and helpful.
I love that there’s tons of self-​serve drinks on tap (beer, wine, cider, coffee, kombucha). They give you a plastic card to tap at each tablet and you are charged for every ounce that you pour into your glass. Most drinks were about 50 cents an ounce. It’s really neat that you can try so many different types of beer. Be careful though since your bill can add up quickly this way.
The food was equally amazing too. I got the brisket grilled cheese ($ 14) which came with a small arugula salad. The sandwich was amazing! It’s definitely heavy but extremely flavorful and the meat was very tender.
Overall my friends and I were super impressed. I would go back next time I’m in Denver.

This is a love story out of a book that your parents tell you to stop daydreaming about– and now you can finally tell them they’re wrong.
You’re telling me right now that with this magical piece of plastic I can serve myself as much craft brew I can fit into my body??? Every kind is so eclectic and the displays are so detailed. Honestly, this place is like Disneyland– you stand there in awe of the colorful bright displays and wonder exactly how many you can try in one sitting. You thought you hated school but then you start reading up on the history and art of distillation of these fancy delicious drinks and you suddenly realize– you would live to absorb this information. and alcohol content as well. They even go out of their way to cater to the Belgian lovers and provide enough options to overwhelm. I can tap a card for food too!!! Come on… I know I must sound like an old lady and maybe I kind of am but come on– the burger was cooked perfectly with a gentle char and summoning season… I don’t really understand it. The seasoned fries too– order them right now. The artwork and atmosphere of this place is inviting, relaxed, and overall so happy. It was so very difficult to leave… and I honestly can’t wait to return when it’s snowing and see them close up the wind-​able windows– they really excited me.
and also, how did I only spend $ 6 bucks on 12 beers!!!
Such a magical place

Beer Heaven.
I LOVED the concept of the 40+ taps, self serve style. It gives the adventurous soul the opportunity to try tons of different brews without having to fully commit to a pint of just one. There’s endless selection, everyone as good as the last. They have a cool concept of giving you a card that you swipe at each tap, and every ounce poured is between 35 – 60 cents give or take, and you pay your tab at the end of the night at the front counter. The card is sort of a running tab that gives you access to the taps!
Although there may be standing room only, it has an awesome urban and modern feel, and the place is normally always booming. That’s a good sign by the way! Great place to hang out and unwind from a long week with some friends
TIP: Keep track of the amount you get over the course of the evening. Not just so you don’t leave wasted like a 16 year old at their junior prom, but the pours add up $$$!!!
Also, ATTENTION GARLIC LOVERS. They have some amazing garlic fries that pack a punch. Hot, crisp, garlicy, and simply amazing. This isn’t just a great place for beer, but they have some great selections for bar food as well!
One of my new go to places for a great night out!!!

I’m addicted to this place! I’ve been several times now. Avoid it at peak times as there is a line out the door, but if you go in the afternoon or late night, you’ll be good.
I love the concept of sampling beers. I’m one of those! Committing to an entire 12 oz when there are so many amazing Colorado craft beers is impossible. I’m the flight orderer! Oh! and they also have kombucha, cider, and wine on tap!
The STAFF is trained well, super helpful, super friendly! This is a BIG DEAL! The food is trendy and perfect for eating with beer! Loved the brisked grilled cheese. Order that! Also, prices won’t burn your wallet.
Cool industrial vibe, like the rest of RiNo. Love that it is 21 and over only! Check this place out. You’ll probably see me there!

Love the concept! I think an alternative name for the bar would be «Bartender for a Night!» Who doesn’t love pouring their own beer? And with so many to choose from it can take a while…
What I love is that you can try a bunch of different beers to see which you’d like a full (or half) glass of. It’s a shame they don’t do a free ½oz/​1oz taster like a lot of places will do, but the glamour of pouring your own beer ensured I didn’t feel too sad about that!
We had a feast of epic proportions — I wish I’d been able to finish the loaded table of treats. My spaetzle mac and cheese was great — and apparently only a half portion! Holy moly, I don’t want to know what the full looks like! I didn’t really get where the spaetzle came in — it seemed like regular macaroni to me, but it was delicious. The pretzels were another highlight for sure — hot and steaming with great dips!
A super fun spot I’d definitely return to.

Beer makes people social, and First Draft makes beer social too. With a line of 40 taps for you to ponder and try, you’re bound to make a new friend while picking out your beer.
A lot of the food has a beer influence to it as well. The pretzels are heavenly, and come with beer mustards. The horseradish mustard has some pretty awesome kick to it.
The burger is quite fatty, but… In a good way? It’s unbelievably moist and tender and will coat you tongue with enough beef grease to cut down the most unruly IPA.
Get the Stout Milk and Cookies. Do it. They’re the most badass cookies and milk you’ll ever have… If that’s a thing. It’s a stout malted shake with hot chocolate chip cookies. the perfect thing to finish off a meal, or to finish off a night of trying to make your way through the 40 taps.
At $.50 to a dollar per ounce, it’s by no means a cheap way to drink beer, but if you want to drink small amounts of many types, this would be a great place to do it. Colorado has a fine mix of exceptional craft brew. First draft is a good place to go if you want to educate yourself in the local beer scene.

I LOVE the concept here! You check in and get a card that will track the ounces you pour yourself of around 30 different draft beer/​cider/​wine options. Very interactive, which is always something I like. The staff was very knowledgeable and helpful and the layout was wide open and had a social vibe to it. Long picnic style tables filled the building, which felt like it was built to be a garage. This place would be great for groups. There was an upstairs area that I’m sure would give a great view when the business picks up, but let’s face it, why would you want to put yourself so far away from the taps?
We didn’t order food, but everything coming out of the kitchen (openly visible from the tasting/​dining room) smelled and looked AWESOME. We noticed that they had a happy hour and a brunch menu as well, certainly worth a visit. I hope to eat next time.
Ultimately, this is a great spot to taste and try several different beers that you otherwise might not take a leap of faith on. Costs seemed to round out to roughly $ 5 – 6 per full beer, which is about what you can expect for craft brews. 5-​stars because I really can’t come up with a single complaint.

There was another place in town I found that had the pour it yourself concept and it wasn’t nearly as well done as this place, so bravo First Draft! I really like how they give you one card to put your food and beer choices on and just pay at the end. My bf even pointed out how it would be good for large groups so everyone could get their own card and just pay their portion more easily.
The place was smaller than expected, but cool and I bet in summer that patio is kicking. I really liked how they had a mix of local beers as well as ones from other states. Also, the food was reallllllyyyy good! I had the beef burger and it was pretty bomb. The staff was quick and friendly as well.

For a slow drinking, beer sample loving person such as myself, this place is amazing! I love half pours or even smaller, especially because my beer often gets warm if I have a full pint, and to be able to taste to my heart’s content here made me a happy girl. They no longer use bracelets, now you get a plastic credit card type thingy to hold in front of the 40 (!) taps to be able to pour your beer (we had no issues, worked great). In addition to beer, they had a couple varieties of cider, tap wine and even a kombucha. On a Thursday night, it was busy but not overly crowded. A friend tried their brisket grilled cheese which was served with a massive platter of perfect looking french fries, which I was too full to even sneak a bite of, so I’ll definitely be back to try their small menu of small snacks, charcuterie and cheese boards, large plates, salads, sandwiches and desserts.
I was in a dark beer mood as usual and loved my salted caramel stout (collab with Salt & Straw ice cream in Portland, yum) and a robust porter from a brewery in SF. Speaking of ice cream, you can add scoops of Little Man ice cream to your beer for just $ 2 to make a float, something I love to do at home. There was a crème brûlée stout I tried that would have made a super tasty beer float. More casual inside than I expected but really nice industrial interior. I saw prices from .50-.70 per ounce. They had two sizes/​styles of glassware for your pouring pleasure. Such a fun place!

I was glad to try out the beer here. Unfortunately, I must not be skilled enough to do self serve tap beer. When I pulled the tap, the tap came gushing out and filled my glass wish foam. When I asked the staff if he could help, he said to wait and the foam would calm down.
When the foam did settle, I was left with about 2oz of beer. When I talked to the staff he again, he just said «sorry». So, I only had my 2oz of beer although I was charged the full $ 10 for 6oz.
The other reviews look great but I think I’ll be sticking to bars with bartenders.

What an awesome place! We came here to come for some dinner before we had to catch our flight back home. This place was recommended by some locals. We were so excited that there was such a huge selection of beers on draft that you can fill your own glass by the ounce which was really neat. The food was delicious and we had a good time here! Would definitely visit again!

What a great experience. Trying different types of beer. The food we ordered was incredible. It was fun learning about the different types of beers and breweries.
My only issue is that they closed the kitchen on us without notice. I didn’t get my brisket grilled cheese. Will have to come back next time in Denver.

For the love of beer and all things on tap, I can’t get enough of this place. Surely an angel from heaven came down and built this sacred spot so people could be blessed with a mouthful of hops and share a splendid evening with friends with unlimited choices.
The atmosphere is loud with laughter, so if you wander in and it is quiet… then just wait for the people to start pouring in because this place is hip and happenin and is usually fairly busy! Not only do they offer plenty of seating, they have a superbly friendly staff who are glad to help explain the idea behind the experience at First Draft.
In case you don’t know, you start at a counter where someone greets you, scans your license, and provides you with your very own card that will keep tabs on what you drink throughout the evening (you can bring this back to settle up at the end). You grab a glass (they provide different glasses that coordinate with whatever type of beer you think you might be pouring down your gullet) and then you line up with a bunch of other crazy beer lovers at a wall filled with 40+ taps and pour away! I not only tried samples of all different beers from oatmeal stouts and IPAs, to Saisons and sours. No matter your palate, you are sure to find something you enjoy! During this process, you may also find that everyone is extremely friendly, and interested in what you are trying. I would suggest you take an interest in what they are trying as well for a full of fun FirstDraft experience. This is one of the reasons I think this is a new favorite spot of mine. You will most likely leave here with a few new friends.
I cannot wait to come back here when the weather is warmer so I can enjoy their patio, which is fairly spacious on the front side of the building. Next door there are some cute little shops, in case you are good at spending $ when tipsy like me. This will be a Denver staple for me to bring any out-​of-​town friends to for a fun 5280 experience. Certainly a favorite. Cheers First Draft!

Serving yourself doesn’t come at a discounted price. Fun to try small pours of a bunch of different brews. Upstairs was reserved for a private party on a Saturday night, which made seating pretty tight. Almost-​burnt roasted Brussels were incredible. I’m going to start broiling mine at home even longer!

Highly recommend for anyone who’s slightly indecisive and loves to try everything! They hold a huge range of beers, from wheats, to stouts, to lagers, to IPAs, and even to kombucha! You can hang out as long as you want at one of their big beer hall tables, bring all your friends. I didn’t try the food but it looked really good as well :)

If you were the kid that lived for soda fountains and times when you could fill your own cup, then this place is for you! If you were me, you took it one step further and mixed all the sodas together! While I refrained from mixing any beer together at First Draft, I was definitely in my element! I love the concept First Draft has set up. You walk into a tasting room of sorts, you get a wrist band that keeps track of how many ounces you are drinking (I know, so futuristic!), and you can taste or guzzle a little or a lot, from as many as twenty different beers.
The building is simple, with pour spouts and picnic tables. Friends and I had a wonderful time sampling different beers and hanging out. While the beer selection was good, none of them blew me away, so I do hope that they keep a good rotation going.

Technology, y’all! I think this place is really cool and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. When you go in you give your ID and credit card to the ladies at the front and they give you a little bracelet thing which you use to activate the taps and keep track of what you drink. I felt like the selection was thoughtful and relatively diverse. (Just FYI the wines they had on tap while I was there were TERRIBLE.)
The food is absolutely DELICIOUS! It far surpassed my expectations for what appeared to be a tap house that happens to have food. I would say it was much more equal parts tap house and restaurant. My group ordered a wide variety of items and each and every one was truly fabulous.
Overall, it was a lot of fun and we would certainly go back.

This place is legit amazing. I came here expecting just a normal bar/​beer garden, but got so much more. To witness this technology in action is just fantastic. Basically, you go to the cashier and charge your credit card, attaching your bar tab to an RFID card or bracelet. Once you have this card/​bracelet, you can go to any of the 40+ taps in the opposite side and pour your own beer, which is priced by the ounce. Each tap is equipped equipped with an LED screen telling you the name of the beer, type of beer, alcoholic content, and price per oz. You wave your RFID gadget in front of the reader, and then pour to your heart’s content. After you finish pouring, the screen will read how many ounces you’ve poured, so you can figure out how much you’ve drank. Dangerous if you like to keep score with your buddies, ha. They also have ciders and even wine on tap, so if you don’t drink beer, there are definitely options for you.
The space itself is pretty big, although I would personally avoid bringing massive groups here, as there are only a few communal tables, whereas the upstairs seems more suitable for small groups or couples. The front door opens like a garage during the summer, so there’s even more space outside during the warm weather months. Obviously, we came during the winter, so everything was closed, but again, there actually was a considerable amount of space for our larger 10+ person party.
We ordered a few of the small plates including Brussels sprouts, Chili wings, burgers, brisket grilled cheese, shishito peppers, and fries. My favorites were the Brussels sprouts, as they had a distinct garlic butter flavor, and the brisket grilled cheese was also outrageously good with its buttered sourdough too. Ridiculous. My only qualm with the place was how salty some of the food was. As I mentioned before, the quality of the food was good, just definitely over-​seasoned. In my opinion, I can actually take on more salt than most people, but the cajun fries, shishito peppers, and burger were just way over-​salted. I can understand why, given that they want you to drink more beer, but it was just too much. Pretty much the only reason I’m giving it a 4-​star rating instead of 5. Really, I guess it should be 4.5 stars.
Food service was really quick. They use the numbering system where you place your food order (also using your RFID card/​bracelet) and then you get a number to post at your table. Pricing is pretty fair, with most beers at $ 0.50 an ounce, and most dishes at around $ 8 – 10. Once we were done with our tabs, we submitted our RFID cards/​bracelets back to the cashier, and then all we had to do was sign the receipt and we were done. Really quick, and beats having to wait for a bartender to do all that stuff for you, while also needing to tend the bar.
Despite the salty food, I would easily recommend First Draft, and I will definitely be back the next time I’m in Denver. Will need to try the new rotating beers, as well as the outdoor space when it’s warmer weather.

It seems like a cool concept. Pour your own beer, TONS to choose from. On top of that, if you’re hungry you can just go order some yummy pub food. You have everything you need for the makings of a great night. But, based on my experience here I don’t think it’s executed as well as it could be. Perhaps my experience wasn’t as great because it was a busy Saturday night? But it should be great not matter what night you go, right?
You need to check in with the front counter and provide them ID and a card for your tab and then get a bracelet. You use the bracelet to release the taps of whatever you want to pour, so you pay for what you drink. Some girl behind me had to show me that it must be placed between the «S» and the «T» on the sign. WTH? How about a little light or something on there to make that a little more noticeable.
I won’t get into all the types of beers they have, because there are so many. None are their own, but from many local breweries. It gets very crowded by the beer taps, and can be hard to try to browse what you want. It would have been nice if it was spaced out a little more to allow us some breathing room… again it was Saturday night, so it was pretty poppin’.
When i saw buttermilk fried chicken, it seemed to be calling my name so I decided that was it! Well, the chicken and fried green tomato were delicious, as was the shishito pepper chutney. The biscuit it was served on though, was disappointing. To be frank, it was too crispy and more like toast than a biscuit. Yeah. don’t make biscuits anymore, guys. Every entrée comes with a side of greens unless you ask for fries. I just got the greens, which was basically an arugula salad. Boy, that was awful. It was DOUSED in salt and maybe a bit of oil. Tasted like they poured an entire salt shaker worth onto my salad; yuck. Inedible.
My love ordered the burger and fries, and mistakenly chose the «old bay“seasoning for them. Again, salt galore. They were WAY over seasoned. It was nearly inedible. Another from our party made the same mistake and she didn’t touch hers. The burger though, was the saving grace. The meat was fresh and delicious, seemed like they grind it in house.
I’m curious what it’s like on a less busy night. I probably won’t be ordering food from here again, would just go for drinks if at all.

This place is awesome! Check it out. End of Review.
Oh you don’t trust me? Well you must not if you’re still reading. Fiiiine… I’ll tell you more: P
Okay so this place is a new concept for me. It’s like one of those froyo places with the flavors in the wall that you fill your cup with. EXCEPT — It’s refillable, you can try them all, there’s like 30 different kinds, oh and the best part it’s not froyo IT’S BEER! Not a beer fan? Gosh, why are you reading this? Why don’t like you like beer?! I don’t like to jump to assumptions, maybe you are planning on taking a new friend or group here and you don’t know their preferences — No worries, I saw wine and kombucha on tap too.
Located in a great area and a pretty cool atmosphere. When you walk in the amazing people at the counter give you a magic wizard bracelet that unleashes the almighty flood of beer. You grab a seat and grab your glass off the wall. I loved that they had the different styles of glasses depending on which beer you are drinking. Or you can do what I did and grab the coolest looking glass and watch the other more experienced beer wizards cringe as you fill your goblet up with a pilsner and obliviously cheers it with your other magical friends.
But not just any mortal can walk up and get beer! I will let you in on the real secrets. After getting your introductory wizard bracelet, make sure to use your hand as a wand and wave it around on the sign above the tap you want. Preferably between the S and T. Feel free to come up with your own spell name and confidently shout it in your best wizard voice. If you have successfully completed the spell you will be rewarded with beer! I was unaware of this on my first drink so I dumbly tried like 3 taps thinking they were out of all the beer before someone told me to use the bracelet — haha, rookie move!
I spoke to one of the workers and they mentioned they frequently rotate taps so every visit will be a new page of adventure on your quest!
Last tip for you, you only get 30 ounces so make sure you don’t use up 10 ounces on your first pour… unlike someone I know… which totally isn’t me…
My only negative feedback is that seating is pretty limited and can be difficult to find on a busy night. The crowd does rotate regularly so you only have to wait probably 10 minutes before finding something that opens up.
Although I did not eat any of the food — It all looked amazing. I was mesmerized and seriously debated stealing a bite of a sandwich from our table. But then came to my senses and realized it was a lady with a different group of people we were sharing the table with and she might not appreciate it as much as I would! Next time we come back I will be bringing my appetite!

Service here is fantastic. The seating is mostly long, communal tables. It’s a nice place to hang out when the garage doors are open and there is patio seating as well.
I love the concept here — serve yourself and only pay for what you pour — and the food is good. Most of the beers I tried weren’t to my liking, so I never opted for a full glass, but it is still fun to taste. They also have a couple of wines on tap and even kombucha. I mostly drank wine when I was there.
The cheese board is nice. I thought the deviled eggs had too much vinegar & salt. Three of us didn’t finish 6 deviled eggs. The pork sandwich was really tasty — I would order this again.
Super chill spot for hanging out & I’ll be back. Parking in this part of RiNo is not plentiful, so you may have to walk a block or two.

First Draft is fun. I like that you can control your portions, even if the wall of taps is essentially a beer buffet. [Those who know me know that I normally hate buffets of any type.] The food is elevated pub grub, which I like. Atmosphere is casual & friendly.
The bracelets can seem tricky at first, but staff are willing to help you get the hang of it. There is kombucha and water if you’re the DD. Staff can answer questions about teh beers and guide you to one that you’ll enjoy.
But let’s get back to the food. Oh. Em. Gee. The spaetzle mac and cheese made my husband so happy that I got one bite before it was all gone. When we was done, he wished he could order two. The brisket grilled cheese rivals the brisket at Masterpiece. Yeah, I said it. First Draft brisket grilled cheese is pretty darn good. It came with an arugula salad that was great – especially when added to my sandwich.
I’ve visited for small plates, and those are good too. Deviled eggs, pickles, and more. Hearty snacks if you’re sampling a lot of beer. The pretzels are VERY hearty – almost like brioche pretzels, if you can imagine. They’re a little sweet, but they still have a chewy pretzel texture.
I also recommend dessert. Milk and cookies is sooo good. The cookies are warm and gooey and chewy and hearty. The malted stout milk is super-​thick and delicious. A very adult milk and cookies but not terribly boozy.
This place is exceeded my expectations on all levels.

Serve yourself beer cider and wine– what is not to love?! I love when this place ends up being a stop during a night out. The concept is new and fun and the crowd is always relaxed and friendly. I love it even more in the summer because they can open up their «garage door» so it becomes one big open indoor/​outdoor hangout spot.
Try the grapefruit beer if they have it (menu rotates). It’s fruity and refreshing!

This place just isn’t my style. Sure you can try a lot of beers, but you have to get up and get it yourself, I know lazy. The price is good and the food looked good, though I didn’t try any. The bracelet was tricky, but someone showed me how to do it, much easier after that. There are a few wines and ciders too.
But, I’m a spoiled-​give-​me-​a-​drink-​while-​I-​chill kinda gal. Please check it out if you don’t mind getting your own drink.

It’s about time someone took this concept to the next level! There’s a couple of bars that have tap tables but First Draft has the whole lineup as a self serve. You open a tab, get a wrist band, and pour whatever you like from a massive selection of beers from across the country. You are charged by the ounce, and each tap has a screen the describes the beer and the cost. After 34 – 36 oz you are cut off, presumably so you can check in with the staff to make sure you aren’t over the top. This is a great idea too.
Although we didn’t indulge, they also boast a kitchen that boasts some food that would appeal to the foodie crowd like myself. I never got the name of the gal who was working Sunday but she was very friendly.
This is a refreshing change of pace, I’m happy to come back here.
Cheers!

I’m from Houston and this place is unlike anywhere I’ve ever been.
For starters, the food was great. I recommend the pretzels and deviled eggs for your appetizer. They have other items that sound great, but I went with the aforementioned combo and was incredibly satisfied. I got the brisket grilled cheese sandwich for dinner. It was delicious. It came with an arugula salad + citrus vinaigrette that was surprisingly delightful. My girlfriend got the pork shoulder sandwich and garlic fries which were a-​1.
The best part about this place, however, is their modern approach to a bar. Basically: they have a wall of different beers and you pour your own /​serve yourself. You get a wristband with some kind of magnet detector device (?), you place the magnet up to the beer selection you want, and voila. You get charged by the ounce so it works out pretty nice, and you can try a variety of beers without running up a large tab. They have a ton of good beers to choose from as well.
You really can’t go wrong with this place. It essentially uses the idea of modern self-​serve froyo places and applies it to beer. Pretty fly. Highly recommend it. Rdouble.

The concept of First Draft is the BEST thing to hit Denver! They have tons of taps that they regularly change for seasonal reasons. It’s great to be able to try as many beers as you want and pour your own.
The food is also delicious, try the shishito peppers or their maple fries (seriously delicious). You can get a snack while you drink or order a full meal. They have a fairly large outdoor area with tons of open seating. A definite must try to any beer, cider, or wine drinker (yes, they have wine and cider on tap).

This bar is AWESOME! So when you first go in, you give them your ID and credit card. Then they give you a little bracelet that you use to pay for the beer.
The beer is set up like how froyo is set up, all lined up across the wall. and you can click your bracelet on the sign so you can try the beer and pour as much as you’d like. I tried 5 different kinds of beer and a whole pint for maybe $ 7!!!
I mean, it’s kind of very easy to go crazy here and start just pouring one after another. so be careful. I only resisted b/​c I was DD at the end of the night. But I can imagine not having to drive… I would want a pint of all the delicious beer!!! Their sour beer was really good. Hopefully they have that again when I go back.
I heard the food here is really good as well. and you can pair your food with beer by trying all the different ones. :)
They have an upstairs section that was blocked off for a birthday party. but I think on normal nights you can go there to chill too.

I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of First Draft when I first heard the idea. I assume they would have basic micro-​brews available anywhere with the selling point you were able to pour your own beer in any volume you chose allowing for multiple tastings.
I was thoroughly impressed with the wide range of micro-​brews from all over the US. I have even been able to have a few beers from New Holland out of my home state of MI and from Sun King in Indianapolis. My most recent visit was during the pumpkin beer tap takeover. This was what really impressed me with the wide variety and the many different types of pumpkin beers they had!
After my first visit, I was unaware First Draft had prepared hot food on the menu. Naturally, when I returned my friends and I had to sample some of the small plate offerings. I had a few of the sliders and they were amazing! I will most certainly return to First Draft for more food and drink at a later date!

Unique concept. The girls (as well as myself) loved the fact that they served wine on tap!
Normally when I go out for drinks with my fiancé and her friends, breweries are NOT an option. This place solves that problem! They had beer, coffee, & wine to choose from. I was happy, and so were the women! Everyone wins.
This place loses a star due to beer selection. As I visited in October, they had pumpkin beer. A LOT of pumpkin beer. Too much pumpkin beer. I don’t like pumpkin beer :(Fortunately though, they rotate the taps, so I’m eager to go back & see what new they have now!
We ordered some food, & it was overall pretty good. Outdoor seating is recommended, as the inside of First Draft smelled weird.

If they add red wine, we can make it 5 stars.
Great selection of beer (specifically seasonals). I love the concept of the bracelet scan. Although you probably can end up spending a lot more then you had planned. When you sign in, they connect your credit card with your bracelet. Then you’re free to roam and taste up to 40 oz of beer/​white wine. Typically each oz is 50 cents. The white is ~$ 1.50. We ended up spending 20 on drink pours. Try the garlic fries! They are crispy and super garlicky deliciousness.

OH MY GOSH. Remember when you were a kid in that candy store where you fill the bag up as much as you want, and then your parents yell at you because you took too much and it’s weighed by the ounce and then your stuck…
This place is the adult version! A beer lovers haven. Here’s the deal– show your ID and credit card and they set you up with a special wristband. Then you tap the wristband on an electronic iPad like screen and it displays your profile. You then pour yourself and it chargers you per ounce poured. There are 30 beers and wines to pick from, most are local. Sound good? Have fun sampling!
Other cool things–
They have a unique food menu to complement the beer.
The system cuts you off after drinking a certain amount. Love that concept because it leaves accountability so people aren’t getting irresponsibly drunk.
Definitely on the pricey side BUT it’s more about the experience and opportunity of trying so many different beverages. LOVE LOVE LOVE.

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!