Pour your own draft bar now open.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 4:48 pm

Let me tell you, the L.A. beer scene has simply exploded in the past two years. As recently as 2005, there were so few good beer bars that you really had to go out of your way to enjoy a quality pint out. Now it seems a new craft beer place with multiple taps opens every other week. Here's the latest, it features booths where you have your own tap and can pour several of the micros available there without waiting for a busy waitress or a surly bartender. Genius!
http://rundown.com/article.php?article_id=1993

iguenard · Post by **iguenard** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:29 pm

Betcha I could run off on a HUGE bill there... I mean... nevermind.

Looks like a killer idea, wonder if they have you prepay like at the gas station.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 9:39 pm

I believe you have to swipe a card. Each time you select a quantity to pour it adds it to your bill. The thought that springs to mind...what happens to the liability issue with over consumption? In Ontario there are "Serving it right" and "Smart serve" to ensure servers know when someone needs to be cut off. No such safety measure here. For that reason alone it's an innovation you will likely never see in Canada.

Ale's What Cures Ya · Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:17 am

Fabulous idea. Not having to wait for some airhead to come fill my glass is pure winning.

Steve Beaumont · Post by **Steve Beaumont** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:57 am

I've said it before and I'll say it again: If I want to pour my own drinks, I'll just stay at home.

Sure, like everyone else I've had moments of frustration in a bar or restaurant trying to get another beer from the server or bartender, but those are overwhelmingly overshadowed by the great experienced I've had with great bar employees, especially in beer-oriented places.

Anti-social behavior has its place, but not in a bar.

Cass · Post by **Cass** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:10 am

The Real Sports bar at the ACC has a couple of tables with built in taps - wait for it - Canadian and Coors Light. But I believe they are reserved for VIP types. I have never sat there nor would I likely use them

cfrancis · Post by **cfrancis** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:53 am

Brasseurs du Temps has a couple of large group tables with a tap at them. You can request what beer is put on tap and you pay per ml that is poured out.

Philip1 · Post by **Philip1** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 12:56 pm

As soon as I read the title I knew it was about somewhere other than Ontario. A province where you are not considered adult enough to carry your own beer from the bar to your table is not going to tolerate pour-your-own-beer anarchy. I mean (going into Premier Dad mode here) we must protect Ontario families.

thelynchfella · Post by **thelynchfella** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 1:52 pm

They've been in ireland a good few years now. basically it reads how many ml/pints you've poured, it's displayed, and you get charged at the end for it.
I liked the idea at 1st, but the novelty soon wears off

Belgian · Post by **Belgian** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:35 pm

Steve Beaumont wrote:Anti-social behavior has its place, but not in a bar.

British football matches? Hockey games?

I agree it's a novelty fad, except that some really bad ideas do stick around for a long time.

phirleh · Post by **phirleh** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 2:55 pm

Interesting concept.
If you are just going there for drinks, do you tip?
or do you just tip your drinking buddies?

Garthicus · Post by **Garthicus** » Thu Apr 21, 2011 8:02 pm

Guinness and Carlsberg have had them in pubs in Ireland for quite a while.

Colin @ Canada · Post by **Colin @ Canada** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:11 pm

It seems to me that something is lost if you take away the bartenders at your favorite beer bars. All the great conversations and recommendations. So these places in LA where you pour your own draft so that means you have one maybe two taps to choose from? Sounds pretty lame to me. Do I get a clean glass everytime I order a pint? Overall I think this would appeal more to the coors Molson crowd than someone who appreciates all that craft beer has to offer. And don't forget we DO have this in Ontario. You can go to Real Sports like Cass said and slug back all the coors and "Canadian" you want.

Colin @ Canada · Post by **Colin @ Canada** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:19 pm

Another reason I object to this is our lives are becoming so automated. I hate all the jobs done by people that are being replaced by machines. Don't get me wrong, I love the terminator movies but I also like talking to people.

Jon Walker · Post by **Jon Walker** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 2:32 pm

Just to clarify Colin, the bar has about 20 taps, only 3 of those beers are available at the booths and only a few of the booths have the taps. All of their lineup is quality micro with a focus on local brewers...

So while I agree that the concept is a novelty and more likely to cater to the less refined end of the beer spectrum, the bar in question is doing everything else right and seems to be adding the feature purely as a novelty rather than as the thrust of their business.