I am usually wary of self-pour beer bars. Minus Brewport in El Segundo, they are generally way too infested with big beer.
I am also wary of out of state chains heading to DTLA because I have been waiting for the Alamo Drafthouse to open since forever and it still isn’t.
Did my visit during a media night preview of First Draft. A taproom and kitchen change my mind?
It did. I knew it was a good place by the tap choices spread over their multitude of tap handles. They were primarily local. Old Stump, Sanctum, L.A.A.W., Phantom Carriage, Green Cheek, Eagle Rock plus a few taps for cider, wine and the kombucha for those who like vinegar. Even their cooler held a small selection of good choices.
The pouring system is pretty simple. Get set-up with a card, swipe in front of the First Draft logo, you see the green means go light and you pour. A little or a lot. The taps are arrayed on either side of this cooler…
…with a few taps upstairs as well. There is outdoor seating and a nice food menu.
I sampled this wide ranging set of beers to give you an idea of the choices available…
Brewery Rex Study in Subtly table beer, Wiretap Supernet Saison, Maine Beer Woods & Waters IPA and Knee Deep Breaking Bud.
The location below on Olive and 13th is away enough from the DTLA core to make parking a shade easier but still pretty close to Staples and the Mayan and the Ace Hotel if you are heading to events there.
I will check it out again to see what beers have rotated in.
