I've been here twice now and I can say that I will probably be back. I enjoyed the french dip sandwich I had when I had dinner there and I enjoyed the popcorn and drinks on the night I came here after dinner at another nearby restaurant. Being located on the outskirts of the Lakeview District makes this an attractive place because they are close enough to the action but far enough away to have its own unique vibe. I really like the spacious layout and the private rooms that are available for reservation. I was able to briefly speak to one of the owners one night and she was extremely nice. I will be back! read more

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We came here on a Sunday afternoon - it was kinda dead inside. I'm not sure why as this place was very cool. The atmosphere is great inside, and all the servers were friendly and checked on us frequently. The food was decent. We ordered off of their 'game day' menu, which has more small bites, but they do have a normal menu as well. I liked the truffle fries that we ordered - they are a weakness/ favorite of mine. The drinks were good. I tried the Walker County (so-so) and the Odyssey (off of their rum menu - very good). They have a HUGE space. Lots of private rooms/areas for parties. Each of these has a TV in it, which is great for game day viewings. There are also TVs in the main area which help with catching your favorite team as well. I look forward to coming back. read more

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Had an event there and everything was amazing! The food was great! Try the pork nachos! Yum yum! The margaritas were delicious and even better no headache the next day! read more

Food outstanding, impeccable service. We took the distillery tour and found it informative and entertaining. We had a group of 16 and our needs were well met. No complaints from any of us. read more

My husband convinced me to go to the Open House for this new distillery in Birmingham. I wasn't sure what to expect, but I can say that I really enjoyed myself. All the employees, including Carl (the Master Distiller), were so friendly and answered any questions we had. After arriving, we were able to to take a tour within about twenty minutes. The tours are $10 per person and they include a sampling. I learned so much. They explained the meaning behind their name. They had a vodka and whiskey for purchase. They also have equipment to create microbrews. They will eventually have gin, a rye whiskey, rum, and bourbon. There was even talk of possibility having absinthe at some point. I don't know about you, but seeing fairies is cool with me! The place is huge! It will be perfect for events: I could definitely see wedding receptions being held here. They will also be opening a restaurant. That's a game changer because I don't think many of the distilleries around here sell their own food. We bought a couple of bottles of whiskey. Since this is like a first edition, we had that Master Distiller sign one and that will sit on the shelf. If you can swing by and catch them out, I think you'll like it! I foresee this place being very popular! read more

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My husband reserved us a table one night when we weren't really sure where to go for dinner. We were tired of all our same places and wanted to try something new. Thankfully, it turned out to be a wonderful experience. Unfortunately I completely forgot to take pictures of our meals. But the short rib and polenta I ordered was divine and my husband ordered a burger that he says is the best in Birmingham! On top of the great food offering are the cocktails. I especially love the smoked old fashioned. read more

Dread River Distilling Company - Entrance - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Everything was wonderful! From the ambiance to the bourbon. My wife and I wish we didn't split the burger. We also did the tour with Billy and he knew a lot and answered any questions our group had, no matter what it was. We will definitely be back when in town and will recommend to all our friends and family up there! read more

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This was a fantastic evening! Take advantage of the valet parking. We started out with a distillery tour ($10 + tax per person). Note for future tours--they said it gets very hot during the summer when everything is running. We're looking forward to the spirits they're currently working on, particularly the blue agave spirit. Carl and Michelle are super personable and knowledgeable of their respective crafts. Afterwards, we went up front for dinner. Great menu that looks like it may periodically have special offerings, particularly from the bar. Our table ordered some truffle fries as an appetizer; drinks included a beer flight, the Bham mule, a White Walker, and a plain whiskey rocks. The White Walker was mine, and it makes quite a visual statement. I absolutely ordered it because of the Butterfly Pea syrup, and I hope that this vodka -based drink will stick around a while. Two of us ordered the French Dip. Fantastic variation on a heavenly bun. Lots of food for the price. The Chicken Paillard was quite the pleaser, too, and was a plate full. The only remote disappointment was the beef short ribs. Our diner requested the brussel sprouts on the side, so our heartiest appetite was crestfallen when his plate was presented. While a beautiful plate served atop a creamy polenta, he was just expecting more quantity-wise. A quickly served additional order of wings, and we didn't miss a beat. All of the food was cooked to perfection. Our waitress was Star, and she made the evening that much more fun and enjoyable. We will definitely be coming back! read more

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Rented out a private side room before an event and was very happy with the choice. Food and drinks were great, we even had a server assigned to the room to make ordering easier. Feedback: be a little more intentional with the questions you ask when booking a room. Having the dedicated server was great but the room didn't fit our groups size and the table setup wasn't accommodating to a group just getting appetizers and drinks before an event. I would go again. *the orange chicken is 10/10 worth it read more

I nice venue to enjoy happy hour or a special function. Open atmosphere with televisions and separate private spaces too. The food options are plentiful and the drinks are of top quality. Friendly staff and you can take a tour of the distillery. It's a great addition to Birmingham's nightlife and after hours landscape. read more

Dread River Distilling Company - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

The old fashioned was solid, but the booze cherry was amazing. Will go back again again and try more than the one drink.

There are some great places to eat, drink, and be merry with friends in Birmingham. One aspect almost all of the other places are missing, though, is comfortable lush seating. They want to put you in some skeleton of a wooden chair that might barely hold it together for the duration of your meal. Dread River is one of the most insanely gorgeous, comfortable places and the employees are terrific. We had great service and the cleanliness/COVID precautions made us feel safe at all times. The drink options were great. Food options looked great, until we realized almost everything is fried. Overall, this is a beautiful place, excellent cocktails, pretty ok food. My advice: do NOT order the Homewood. She pretty but tastes pretty nasty. read more

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I came here recently on a Friday night and it was hopping! Tons of people milling around. A live band in the corner. Very bustling. I had some chicken fingers and fries and they were great. I also had some of the spring rolls and they are to die for. The staff was very friendly. *Edit*: a manager reached out to me from Dread River to talk about the drink situation. She said that several drinks they were serving that weekend were topped with soda water. Everything is made in house and the soda water is added to help thin their homemade syrups and purées. More than likely what I observed was the bartender had filled a cup with their soda water so as not to crowd the soda water keg while making drinks. Unfortunately though an open container like that quickly loses it's "fizz" so it looked like water and tasted like flat water. It also doesn't look very "craft cocktail" either. She assured me she would educate the bartenders on topping the drinks from the kegs so that the soda water is fresh and the presentation is enjoyable. She was very nice and passionate about her craft, and I'm looking forward to returning. Edited portion of original review left for context: {I reduced some stars for what I saw at the bar. I ordered a drink and stood there while it was being made. I watched as the bartender cut not just my drink with water, but several other drinks as well. She filled my glass with about 1/4 cup of actual drink, the rest with ice, and then water. Not even soda water, plain water from a cup} read more

This place is a vibe. Nice, comfortable atmosphere. Good food options. The distillery tour is nice as well.

I enjoyed the our tour guy from my visit. I can't remember his name but he was knowledgeable about the processes and the procedures with the company. I love the tasting of the different liquors and they were smooth read more

Came in on a Saturday night with a girlfriend of mine and we FELL IN LOVE with this place. First of all, I am sucker for comfortable upscale decor and this place embodies all of that. The interior is perfectly designed to make you feel comfortable while still ensuring the same luxury of being out at a cocktail bar. It's also definitely a good spot to come in with a bigger group because they have couches and big seating areas. The drinks were amazing as well. We tried the Lugosi and the Latin Lover which were both incredibly crafted cocktails. My favorite was definitely the Lugosi though. Overall, this place is about as versatile as it gets. It has the perfect ambiance for a date night, chill night with friends, or even just grabbing a quick night cap. Not to mention that the staff is lovely and they go out of their way to make you feel at home. Next time I'll be sure to sign up for the distillery tour, but until then, this will definitely be a go-to spot for me! read more

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The staff was super friendly, the drinks were great, and the distillery felt very classy, it could use a fresh coat of paint and a few dry wall patches lol read more

Such a great venue with great staff!! Do the the tour, have some drinks, and eat some food.

Fascinating tour. We really hadn't toured a distillery before. They've done a great job of stream lining without sacrificing quality or creativity. The event venue is very nicely decorated and has some smaller rooms for private parties. The tasting is extensive and customized to your tastes. There is a full kitchen with menu and party offerings. And besides t-shirts and golf shirt, they sell very nice bar mats with their attractive logo embedded in it. Would highly recommend for the tour and tasting or any special event. read more

Yall. Fall in Alabama is the hardest thing. On the one hand, I want to go absolutely bonkers for all things seasonal like the basic lady I absolutely am. On the other, walking outside is like being held tight inside the sun's own armpit. The surprisingly refreshing seasonal cocktails here are the solution: a ginger old fashioned, an apple margarita, and something with rum and fig. They taste like fall, are full of complex flavor, and aren't cloying. Yum! The service was friendly without being overbearing. We happened in on a trivia night and loved the game and the host. The interior is nicely decked out in ways that made me think "wedding after party" or corporate event. And, importantly in this COVID age, it seemed scrupulously clean. We can't wait to come back! read more

Came on grand opening day for the tasting and tours. What a great team in the distilling/brewing side as well as the bar/dining area. Love the tours and enjoyed tasting the gin, vodka, whiskey, and porter (pre-release, :P). The dining side as well as merchandise store is pretty cool as well. Great cocktails for a decent price. I can definitely see this being a new hot social spot in Bham. Ended up coming home with a bottle of the gin, vodka and whiskey, as well as some shirts. Will be back! read more

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What an awesome place. Went during Restaurant week and the food and drinks were phenomenal. Chef came out to check on us and Trey our server made sure we had everything we needed. read more

Took the Dread River Tour and Tasting. Also ate at the AFTER TOUR room. The tour was first class with great information and time to examine the processes and ask questions. Suzanne was a great hostess. The tasting was excellent. Allowed to taste the full range of liquors that are made their. The food service was in a private room for our tour group. The food was excellent, and we had the chance to order our favorite drinks from the tour. I had the grits and sausage which was unique and very tasty. read more

This place has so much potential. We made a reservation on open table for dinner and could have definitely just walked in without one as they weren't busy. We went outside to eat as it was a nice day. There was a dj setting up inside, but the outside could really use some speakers to play music to block out traffic. They could even put a dj out there or someone on guitar playing music. The patio is huge with a ton of seating. The service was very much lacking. We never saw the same servers twice and one even told us they would be right back out to check on us at one point during our visit and we never saw that person ever again. We ordered our drinks inside as well as our food. 2 of our 4 meals came out 15 minutes before the others arrived so my friends had finished their meal by the time we got ours. The strawberry margarita was good, but the mojito was disgusting. It didn't taste the slightest like a mojito and had a terrible aftertaste. My food was good but it was annoying getting it so much later than my friend's. read more

I've been wanting to check out this place before they even officially opened for business to the public. I had a opportunity to go to the friends and family open house , but I didn't make it out . A few weeks ago on a random Saturday afternoon, a friend and I decided to do the $10 tour of the distilling facility . The tour lasted for about 45 mins and it was a really hot day so it may have been cut a little short! Lol We were shown around the distillery and educated on all that does into the products and how it all got started . They seem to have a unique process that shrinks the production time all while still being able to produce a complete, successful product. Smart! This part of the tour was about 20 mins . The remainder of the tour was sampling their unique, original products. We tried rum, vodka, gin, whisky. I believe this was all. Now , I must say that I'm not a fan of any normally but of them all, I preferred the whisky . It was really smooth , not overpowering in taste at all. In general , I do think the addition of this distillery is great for the Birmingham. Also, the building's structure is beautiful inside and outside! The quick glimpse of the taproom was breathtaking - so warm and inviting!! Such a great use of the space overall! I can't wait to go back to check out the food menu and take in more of the atmosphere! I really enjoyed the tour and it was well worth the $10. Fun times! read more

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This was my first visit and I absolutely recommend this place! The food tastes so fresh and so much tonight has been put into the flavors. We were seated at the bar right away (come early or make reservations!) and had wonderful service! I recommend the spring rolls, out of this WORLD burger and anything on their dessert menu. Cocktails are also excellent and a good value for the price, gorgeous atmosphere, wonderful experience overall! read more

Dread River Distilling Company - Bar area - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

this was such a vibe! my partner and i booked the tasting tour before our dinner reservation and the tour was awesome! Billy was our tour guide for the tasting tour. Billy is so polite professional & funny he keeps you laughing while giving great knowledge about the distillery the tasting part had got me buzzed big time lol the staff in general are very welcoming & such a joy to be around. The dinner was good! i had my eye on a specific meal that i seen from another yelped but i was informed that they change their menu up so i had the whiskey burger with fries and my partner had the bbq chicken empanadas he said it was spicy but good my burger was PERFECT! & the drinks were awesome! i will definitely come back read more

Dread River Distilling Company - sitting area - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

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Wow!! This place is amazing. Went to sample and maybe purchase some of their spirits. Ended up staying for some snacks. So glad we did. There is a great feel to the place. While we were there the front walls were open adding to the awesomeness. One thing the whole party noted was the lack of loud background music allowing us to actually converse. HIGHLY recommend Dread Distillery. read more

Went on a tour of this distillery and learned so much! I think this will be a really neat spot to hang out once the event room is finished and open. Learned a lot about the process for vodka, whiskey, gin and beer. I do believe they'll also be making small batches of wine and also will be distilling rum. This distillery will really be a unique one in the Birmingham scene. read more

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We had a great night!! Our good friend, Danny Ray Winter, former owner of Brennan's Pub, was guest bartending, so we decided to go on Halloween eve. It's a beautiful place in the old Peck &Hill's building - what a transformation! Very spacious, so while we felt in the middle of a busy social scene, we were able to keep our distance comfortably. Cocktails and dinner were great. In face, dinner was five-star - we had fried catfish with mixed veggie slaw and something called the Flameado - slow-roasted pork between two pieces of fried pepper jack cheese. Yah, I know - but it was delicious. The pork was a little spicy and a little sweet - this girl has no gall bladder, so I just had a nibble and the taste was awesome. The catfish was crispy with no grease - could it have been air-fried? - and the slaw had a snappy cilantro vinegar flavor in the background that was delicious. Did I mention cheddar grits underneath? Oh yes, my friend - the best cheddar grits. Mmmm. Anyway - they had a great garage band in the lot on the side and we loved them. That outdoor space has large gravel, though, so flat shoes are a must. Our waiter was Caleb and he was a sweetheart - when we were there it was really crowded so he was hustling. Service was fantastic. Overall 10/10 for the decor, experience, drinks and food - we will be back for sure and we'll bring friends. read more

We went here for my daughters 21st birthday. We got her a drink in the bar and did the tour and tasting. The Blue Agave, Whiskey, Gin, Vodka, and rum are very good. The tour guide Bruce was awesome. The staff at the bare were nice and prompt. The atmosphere is also very nice. We will be going back. read more

This is an amazing place. A Distillery in Alabama. Food is good and so are the drinks. The french fries with truffle salt are so good. Great place for a date or for groups. read more

Of course, the spirits are great. Not just whiskey but rum, vodka as well. The burger was perfect and the Reuben egg rolls are fantastic! The waiter was friendly and helpful! We definitely will be back. read more

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME with great food and an amazing staff. We had a surprise party for my mother here yesterday and they couldn't have done a better job or had a nicer place. Everything was super clean and the staff was absolutely awesome and accommodating. Highly recommend! read more

I LOVE this place and I always recommend it to everybody I know. I first came here when it was brand new on a tour of the distillery. It was $10 and you get to sample 3-4 liquors at the end of the tour. After that, head over to the bar/showroom area for a small plate and drinks. The cocktails are the fancy crafted kind and the space is absolutely gorgeous. I'm talking rent it out for a photo shoot or private event level of gorgeous. There are many side rooms to go have small gatherings in or private conversations. Plenty of TVs around and the staff is wonderful. The food is great, from the chicken to the fish and grits to the truffle fries. Please, go and see this amazing place for yourself. read more

Dread River Distilling Company - Catfish and cheese grits - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Took the tour which was very informative and personal as it was just myself and wife with the tour guide. Had a drink prior to the tour at the bar and it was good as well. Decor is nice and the layout is very nice. We enjoyed and will be back for a meal soon. read more

Highly recommend the whole experience the food, drinks and atmosphere! Your and tasting is a fun and interesting Birmingham activity!

This place is Fancy, just personal opinion, very clean, very relaxing, very great service! The drinks were tasty and refreshing and had a nice variety of options. Let it be known, if you do not drink but still want to feel included as if you are drinking with others; they make un-alcoholic versions of what they have. Also shoutout to our bartender with the bun, he is really nice, and his boots are clean, like they just look nice! read more

Dread River Distilling Company - Blueberry Basil - Distilleries Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Food was delicious drinks was delicious I will definitely come back perfect place to hang out great music service was fantastic. read more

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Had to find a server after being told to go sit because she needed to clean the bar, finally got served and got told we needed to move because they were setting up for an event tomorrow. Staff was rude, everyone looked like they hated their lives. Drinks weren't great, very unbalanced. Wouldn't go back. read more