It’s been almost exactly ten years since I was last on this block. Back then, this space was occupied by Hogshead Tavern, a pioneering uptown beer bar. Thankfully, Rough Draft, which opened last fall, has picked up where Hogshead left off. It’s a simple, straightforward draft list that’s composed mostly of local beer, a draft cider, and a cask engine that was occupied by the delightful Dutchess Ales Augur Porter on this visit. Rough Draft is a small and charming yet utilitarian beer bar — despite just 10 draft options, if you can’t find a beer you like here, you just might not like beer. Grimm, Fox Farm, Hudson Valley, and Hill Farmstead stack this beer list, and if that’s not enough of a greatest hits list, there are cans of Heady Topper and Focal Banger in the fridge. A beer list this short favors quality over quantity. And best of all, with ten draft lines, the beers turn over faster and the pours are fresher.
A copy of Garrett Oliver’s The Brewmaster’s Table is displayed cover-out above the beer taps. A poster by Em Sauter pairing beer and books is displayed next to a community bookshelf. Yeah, this studio apartment-sized place is a beer nerd’s dream come true. And apart from the cask engine, there is one noteworthy British-like feature of Rough Draft: they don’t charge a premium for short pours. A half-pour is priced at exactly half the price of a full pour. Somehow, this is a novel concept in the U.S. and I wish people weren’t punished so often for moderation. Kudos to Rough Draft for making it easier to enjoy things in moderation.
The Tab:
1 Happy Hour Dutchess Ales Augur Porter $8
1 Happy Hour Fox Farm The Cottage $8
The Location:
Rough Draft
126 Hamilton Place at West 143rd Street, Manhattan
1 Train to 145 St or A/B/C/D to 145 St