Hops & Sessions
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H&S was a great place to watch a FIFA match on the Fourth of July. The self-serve style was perfect because we wanted to spend a while here and not feel rushed to order anything. We tried the self-pour beer station, which is really neat, and is charged by the ounce. Among the food items - garlic truffle fries (could've been warmer, and crunchier), beet salad (very average), and bulgogi tacos (delicious). Service was very good and spending a few hours here is really easy.
Needed a nice meal on a patio with a beer after a long hike, and this is where we ended up. It checked every box. The inside and patio are both casual and open, similar to a brewery, and they have a self-serve tap wall, which is awesome. First time using one, and despite the self-service setup and ordering at the counter, the service we did get was great. Wait time for food wasn't long at all. I ordered the Sessions Burger, and it was lowkey one of the best burger's I've had in a while. I love blue cheese on a burger, and the caramelized onions had a deep, rich flavor. I also liked that it wasn't obnoxiously large for no reason. The fries were perfect, and the ranch was excellent. Honestly, ranch is a good way to judge a place like this, and theirs was rich and smooth. Also really enjoyed the beer I chose. Pouring it yourself is a fun experience, I could spend all day trying different beers. Great spot. Would definitely come back if I'm ever in town again. And no, it's not just the post-hike hunger talking, this place is serving seriously good food.
Really a 3.5 for me. The food was great and the place itself is really cute with a relaxing vibe. It was also very clean, which I always appreciate. They have a solid beer and cider selection if that's your thing, plus plenty of cocktails to choose from. We ordered a few things to share. The mac and cheese balls could have been skipped, but the bulgogi and shrimp tacos were both really good. The grilled Cali club with added white cheddar was also a win. I could pass on the truffle fries though. The main downside for me, and honestly my whole group, was the setup. It's basically serve-yourself style. We were there for a work lunch using one card, so we all had to stand in the order line together. The food came out at different times, and the constant back and forth was a bit annoying. I know a lot of places are moving in this direction, but I'm just not a big fan. Overall, good food and cute atmosphere, just not my favorite service style.
Great place to sample local beers - with self serve taps, you pay what you pour. Lots of choices from ciders to DIPAs to stouts. It was fun to sample so many then pouring what you really liked. The food was good too - they offer a variety of appetizers and mains for a sports bar. We enjoyed bulgogi fries, loaded nachos, the smash burger and the wedge salad. All the food came out quickly and hot. No complaints except the jalapeños were not hot on the nachos or the jalapeño burger. Service was prompt and with a smile. The place is a typical sports bar - multiple TVs viewable from wherever you're sitting. There is also a large outdoor dining space you can enjoy if you're not watching any of the games.
We were in town for work and decided to stop here for dinner. I absolutely loved the patio space--it looked like the perfect spot to relax. The hostess was super friendly and explained how everything worked, to us forst-timers. Since it was a little too warm outside, we grabbed a seat indoors, and I really enjoyed the natural light and overall atmosphere. The food was delicious, and the self-pour beer wall was a great touch with plenty of variety. The only downside--and this isn't unique to this brewery--is the growing trend of parents bringing young children (even babies) to breweries and wineries. It's one thing when kids are quiet and well-behaved, but when they're screaming, tossing toys, or having meltdowns, it can really impact the experience for everyone else. These places have traditionally been adult spaces, and I think they feel more enjoyable that way. My advice to parents: treat yourselves to a night out and leave the kids with a sitter--you'll probably enjoy it more, too. My advice to brewery owners: if families are going to be welcome, consider designating a family-friendly section, similar to how smoking sections once worked. That way, everyone can enjoy the atmosphere in their own way.
Went here on a weekend for some drinks after dinner with friends. I didn't really know what I was walking into, I was just following my group in. Lol I was greeted by the host/cashier and they told us how it works. Takes my card to swipe and gives me a card to tap when I pour my own beer. I think you need one card per one card getting charged so if you have a group and you want to charge one card, I am not sure if you will all have to use one card or you can get multiple cards. There's also a cocktail bar against the wall and a menu for food. I tried a couple types of beer but I ended up just going for one type, I think it was a guava cider. Really good stuff, easy to drink. The entire place was pretty big, also gets really crowded and loud, eventually it got harder to hear people talking. Really cool place for beer pours and cocktails!
We were seated outside in their outdoor patio at our request. Because of this, I didn't really checkout the interior of the restaurant. When we were seated, we were provided with food and drink menus. We were instructed to go inside to fulfill our orders. Basically, you need to walk back inside anytime you want a drink or order food. The staff give customers a drink card that allows you to pour different alcoholic beverage you want. You will only see staff when they drop off your order at your table. So, if you're looking to be waited on this isn't the place for you. Having said that, I ordered the Bulgogi tacos with the queso dip as an appetizer. Unfortunately, the queso dip was served with our main course at the same time. The chips were fresh and crunchy. However, the cheese was nothing special and tasted like the nacho cheese you would buy at a grocery store. I would choose the chips and guacamole to try next time. The tacos were amazing. All the ingredients paired nicely with each other. It had great taste and a nice little crunch. Three tacos was just the right amount. I wasn't left hungry, but I didn't feel overly full. I would come here again for the Bulgogi tacos.
Food was good and came out quick.They were simi busy .Staff was kind and we were seated right away.with a party of six.
This was a cool spot to stumble upon! Convenient location. There are a few TV's to watch whatever games are on. To order food, head to the counter and they'll give you a number for your table and they'll bring the food out to you. All the staff we interacted with were very friendly and helpful. The self serve beer wall is cool. Solid variety in the selection. I'm actually not much of a beer drinker myself but I was pleasantly surprised to see 3 different ciders available on tap. The food we ordered was pretty good too. We loved the bulgogi tacos! The Buffalo chicken fries were really good too. We liked that there was a good amount of crispy chicken pieces and the Buffalo sauce also made it down to the lower fries. The fried Mac balls were decent, nice crisp to them, but flavor wasn't too crazy. Would come back here though!
First time going to a bar with this concept, but first you put your card on a tab with them and they give you these cards for the self serve beer stations, and im pretty sure each card has a limit with how many oz you can pour to a certian point which is a good feature! The service was great, with them being amazing explaining how everything worked. It wasnt too busy for being a sports bar but they do close earlier than most bars around which is a bummer! But wish there were more bars like this down closer to SF, (there may be some I just havent discovered yet)! Ordered the wings and garlic truffle fries and it was very flavorfull, the lemon pepper was LEMON PEPPERING, the garlic truffle was TRUFFLING! Would def go again.
Got the carne asada fries, kinda disappointed. They were drowned in cheese sauce and the meat pieces are basically so small I feel like it was almost minced. The patio ambience was nice though. I did not have the on tap beverages but I did see they had lots of options. The fries were disappointing, but I know they are good without drowning them in cheese because the person I was with got them as a side and they were crispy and good. Probably give it one more try....
We got there late so we couldn't enjoy the place as long as we wanted to, but we've been wanting to try it for some time. Looked super cute from the outside and pouring your own beer from the tap? FUN! Lots of beers to choose from, I had the Mango Cart and it was great. Fun little downtown spot and the staff was very nice as well.
Reviews are generally positive. Many highlight the burgers and tacos, self-serve beer wall, and lively atmosphere.
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5 years ago
This was not my first time at Hops & Sessions, but it was my first time actually ordering food. I went for "balance" or at least that's what I told myself. I ordered the wedge salad and truffle garlic fries. Both were amazing choices. I was in the mood for a sour and ended up loving the Tropical one that was on the rotational beer menu. Our server Veronica was super attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. My fiancé like to play the "what do you like" game with our servers and Veronica offered so many different options for things that she liked on the menu. She was super friendly until the end of our stay and made sure our beer glasses stay full. Just a side note: this is probably my 3-4 time at this restaurant & they literally have the best customer service. All of the servers are super friendly, work well together and it shows. It's a great place to visit if you have a chance to stop by for a beer and some shareable bites. read more
Came here on a busy Sunday. There was plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor. They don't currently have the taps open for the "pour your own" option. Would have been nice to know prior to coming here. We ordered the baked potatoe fries and they were so salty! We finished them but wouldn't recommend ordering them again. read more
Watering hole. A term that has been used for many years to label a place in which people gather to enjoy libations. Over the years, while the phrase has remained the same, the landscape in which a watering hole can exist has evolved greatly. From offering more choices, to those choices becoming more complex, no other evolution has made quite an impact than self-serve. That's right, a watering hole in which you serve yourself your own pour of beer. Let's take a bite....errr, sip...into Hops & Sessions. The Place (4 out of 5) - Hops & Sessions is located in the heart of Downtown Livermore and surrounded by it's small town feel, but huge community gathering of people, good eats, and good vibes. The building is mixed in with a bunch of other storefronts; however, it being on the corner, having a pretty prominent outdoor seating area, it's easily distinguishable. Parking can sometimes be a bit of a pain. There's a row of parking just in front of Hops & Sessions, but there's also a bunch of street parking in the surrounding area. Inside, there's a small bar top area and a bunch of bar tops and tables spread throughout that's able to accommodate a good sized capacity. For being a self-serve bar location, definitely one of the more spacious and "comfortable" I've been in! The Service (4 out of 5) - Now, if this is self-serve, what could I possibly say about the service. Plenty! Upon walking in, you're immediately welcomed by a greeter working the front counter. They ask if this is your first time visiting and, if so, walk you through how it all works. You supply them with a credit card and ID and then they give you an RFID badge that allows the dispensing of beer when tapped on the readers below each tap. The guy was super friendly, welcoming, and happily showed me the process. At the bar, the bartender (for mixed drinks) took our food order and was really friendly as well. No complaints! The Food (4.5 out of 5) - I wanna preface this with the fact that, originally walking in here, I had no intention of ordering food. My friend and I were there mainly to just drink and converse, but after looking at their menu, there were a few things that caught my eye so I ordered and I'll say this...I'm so glad I did! To start, my friend and I shared the fried mac & cheese bites and then I ordered a spicy chicken sandwich. The fried mac & cheese was good. Super crunchy, cheesy, and wasn't bland at all, which mac & cheese can sometimes be. The star of the show without a doubt, and something I still think about to this day, especially as I'm writing this out, is the spicy chicken sandwich! This is an absolute MUST get! First, the bread was really buttery and soft, the spicy mayo gave it that umami bite to it, but where the sandwich really shined was the chicken itself and its breading. The breading was REALLY flavorful and enough spice to let you know that, yup, it's a spicy sandwich without being too overpowering. The ratio of chicken to breading was spot on and it was cooked perfectly and super tender. I absolutely could've had a second one and can easily say this is probably one of the best spicy chicken sandwiches I've ever had and would have no qualms of driving out of my way just to get it again! Overall (4 out of 5) - Obviously, this place is about it's beer selection and service more than it's food, BUT there's absolutely nothing wrong with a place being able to, not only deliver on both, but having it's beer served in a unique manner that's becoming more and more common place these days. Hops & Sessions has a good thing going here and the ease of pouring your own beer while serving up good eats, it's bound to be a good time when you visit. I'll definitely be back to this "watering hole"! Keep a spicy chicken sandwich hot for me haha! Thanks for the hospitality, Hops & Sessions! Cheers! read more
3 years ago
Your local spot to hang-out! Attentive team making sure your food and drinks comes out as expected! Having a full bar and choice of beer to sample and enjoy pairs well with your meal! While probably best for adults in the evening, the outdoor sitting is great for having lunch with the kids and even with a pup in tow! Looking forward to another visit next time I'm in town! read more
2 years ago
5 years ago
I've been coming here since It's opened. Great vibes all around. Wonderful service with a smile. Lots of beer, and wine options. Yummy appetizers, like this balsamic glazed brussels sprouts with parmesan-cheese traditional comes with bacon, but I asked them to remove it. ( just don't like bacon) Can't go wrong with a beet salad or chicken southwestern salad, followed by Buffalo chicken loaded tots. Love this place. Clean and open space with ambiance. Great job guys... doing well! read more
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I love Hops and Sessions! The thing I love the most is that I am the bartender. I will not name any names but there is a bartender nearby who I can not stand, so now if I don't like the bartender, that's on me. Great selection of beer and also a couple wine options, super friendly service, giant window for people-watching and an enormous pretzel that saved my life on the 4th of July. Beer me! read more
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Hazy IPA number 22 go for it. Nice environment, good food. Actually we ordered fried zucchini and they were delicious with chipotle sauce... read more
4 years ago
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Have been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint. We had the zucchini sticks which had a surprising, delicious cajun kick, and the fried chicken sandwich with pomegranate slaw was excellent. As was their regular burger. We tried out a stout and pilsner to go along with the food, and they were good as well. Service was great. Hops is definitely on our go to list now! read more
3 years ago
6 years ago
It's time to go back to our favorites! Hops and Sessions has lots of outdoor seating! The food menu has more options than I remember, on this trip, we were just having a snack. I had a nice glass of Wente Riva Ranch Chardonnay and my husband two beers. At this time, he could not go in and select his own pours, he ordered full pints. That's a Covid safety measure! We had the Zucchini sticks with chipotle ranch dip. The zucchini had a crunchy panko crust, tender inside. The dip was spicy and boy, was it great! read more
3 years ago
4 years ago
I think this place is pretty chill. This is my second time here. I wish they had red wine. I'm a red wine girl. Lol read more
5 years ago
Amazing service by Eliayah, she was so sweet! We were able to try different beers to fit my palette for the day. The blue cheese wedge was great and the beer cheese was yummy! My son enjoyed the atmosphere! read more
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5 years ago
It's our second time here and I love their Sessions Burger. I really enjoy the gruyere and blue cheese and the fries are yummy too. Service has always been friendly. Can't wait to go back. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
Beer Drinker's Dream! I may not be a beer drinker myself, but I know enough of them to know this place is basically heaven on earth. You get a wristband when you come in and then just scan the beer you want and pour. All beers are priced by Taste, Half, Full Glass. Most seemed very reasonable priced $2 for taste, $4 for half glass, $7.50 for full, although I did see some as high as $25 for a full glass (12% alcohol). I also saw 2 wines and 1 cider. We didn't try the food, but everything looked and smelled great! read more
More info about Hops & Sessions
2339 First St
Livermore, CA 94550
Directions
(925) 495-4118
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http://hopsandsessions.com
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Ask the Community - Hops & Sessions
How many options can you choose for the flight and what is the cost?
$13 for a flight and you can pick 4! :)
Does this location allow/accommodate a party of 12 for a birthday, during Covid?
Yes! Please feel free to give us a call at (925)495-4118 so we can discuss any other questions you may have regarding dates/times
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
10 reviews that are not currently recommended
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