Hops and Sessions

It appears that self-serve tap rooms are the new rage. If you haven’t tried one yet, check out Livermore’s Hops and Sessions where you can see a game from every seat in the house while spending time perfecting your pouring skills.  Check in at the front counter for your wristband, which is needed for both beer and food purchases. All guests must present a valid ID, even your grandmother.

Menu items will satisfy everyone from the not so hungry to the famished. Luckily, my table fell into the “in between” set. We started with an order of Padron peppers prepared with sea salt and served with a garlic aioli dipping sauce. While I prefer my peppers more on the al dente side, these still had good flavor and a nice kick that complemented my red ale.

The warm pretzel called out to us, and we weren’t disappointed. Large enough for several to share (although two of us did just fine), it comes with beer cheese (yum!) and mustard.

We finished up our meal sharing the sausage platter, which features a poblano pepper, chorizo and chicken apple sausage paired with condiments. Each was good, but my hands down favorite was the chorizo topped with diced avocado and tomato.

Burgers and tacos help round out the menu. Pro tip: call up the website on your smartphone from your table to review the different brews available along with their tasting notes so you don’t clog the tap area.

Entrees start at $12. Beer, cider, and two wines are available for your pouring pleasure. Open daily from 11:30 a.m. 2339 First St, Livermore.

 

Featured image courtesy of Adobe Stock. All other photos by Janet Fazio