Very fun bar you can pour on your own. They give you a card and red solo cups to use for the several dozen taps there. The beers are quite reasonable in price and cocktails are costly but it is nice you can try a bit of everything. They have a good collection of beer from the area to choose from. My wife and I went after a Blue Jackets game and tried lots of drinks on tap for a decent price and the staff was very friendly too. read more

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Stopped in while waiting on a dinner reservation. We had no idea what it was. We'd never been to a beer hall. The guy who explained it was great. You serve yourself, so I can't say much about the service. Empty glasses were cleared promptly. There were a lot of empty taps, which was a little disappointing. But they had Guinness and that's my go-to. So I was happy. She found a cider that she really liked too. Sports on multiple TVs and 90s rock/grunge playing, which is my jam, so I was happy with it all the way around. We will return. read more

This place is genius. There is definitely something for EVERYONE. The tropical margarita was amazing, but beware, cannot taste that alcohol and it goes down like juice (ha ha my favorite). You can drink inside or outside. Matthew was amazing, he kept checking to make sure we were good, he was super nice. read more

Loud and no seats if it's before anything at the arena. Many unusual beers on tap. Pay for what you drink. You pour it.

Being from out of town, I had never seen a place like Whistle & Keg, offering dozens of beers, wines, and cocktails in a pour it yourself environment. Upon entry, you give them your credit card to put on file and tie it to your wristband/swipe card and then off you go to boozy Disneyland. You pay here by the oz., so it's a great spot to try new-to-you brews or wines. I was a big fan of some of the local Ohio brewery pours but could not find a cider to my liking. My wife tried some of the cocktails and was a fan. There are lots of tables and a large outside patio area to enjoy the outdoors and socialize. My only drawbacks: no food (that I could see), music way too loud, and the location was a bit hard to find from the direction we were walking. To be fair, they are located right downtown and in the shadow of Nationwide Arena, so it may have just been the way our walking directions pointed us. For those that aren't drinkers or if there are non-drinkers in your group, I wouldn't bother going here. read more

We stumbled upon this gem while staying in downtown Columbus and had a blast. Amazing beer selection and concept. Staff were very cool and knowledgeable about the selections. They offered a variety of cocktails and wine on tap also but were beer drinkers. It's a serve yourself, pay by the ounce concept so we could try unique beers. So much fun, hope to return next time we're in town. read more

Cool concept 50 choices serve yourself with a bracelet to activate a pour. They have everything wines, ciders seltzers and many many brews. No wait which is cool. There is a way to rinse your cup in between pours. It's right beside Nationwide arena great location. read more

Whistle & Keg - Some not all of the choices. - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Yo! Joe Thomas strait outta Thomas Thomas....cool place...friendly and fun staff. Stopped by here after the Carrie Underwood concert. Fun to try all kinds of dranks...loved the ciders...would def come back!! See ya!! read more

Whistle & Keg - a row of beer taps - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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First, I love this concept. I'm someone who wants to try a little of everything, so sometimes committing to a entire drink is not my jam. Here, you get an RFID-wristband that's linked to your credit card which you use to pour yourself your own drinks. Grab a cup and have at the 30 (or more?) beers, meads, ciders, and wines that are on tap. The variety is solid--lots of different styles and many different flavors. Each drink is priced individually by volume. They've also got a spirits bar if beer isn't your thing. This place doesn't have a kitchen, but they welcome patrons to bring in outside food, which is really nice. (We brought in our sandwich and spuds from Warios across the street.) Our visit was on a Saturday. We arrived three hours before the Blue Jackets game, and the bar was quiet at first, but by 2 hours before game time, it was picking up--loud and lots of folks. They've got a nice music selection. And there's a patio, but it was too cold to use today. I'm sure that's amazing in the summer and fall. Looking forward to visiting again--this place is a beer fan's playground. read more

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First time here. Stopped in to pregame the CBJ game. We have been waiting for something new and cool to take over this prime spot outside the arena. This place is perfect. Love that they have ciders. Love that they have a bar. Love that you pour your own. It's an awesome concept. So here's how it works. You get a wristband when you check in and put a card in the computer for your tab. You pick a glass from the many many glass options (or a plastic cup if you're going outside to the patio). The wristband has an chip in it that you touch to the tap for drink you want. It reads the chip and shows you how many ounces you have poured (out of the 96 you're allowed). After you've scanned your wristband, you start pouring. It registers how much you have poured and keeps a tab. The patio is awesome. Right there at the front gates of the arena. They have turf down with two cornhole boards. They have several high top tables and tables to stand at. They have shuffleboard inside along with a corner bar if you prefer spirits. They also have a cooler where you can get white claw and cans of the main domestic beers if you don't like craft. They also hate ciders, wines and mead. Love that you just go up and get what you want, when you want. No waiting for a waitress, no waiting for bar service. It's awesome. If you're in a rush, and don't have time to wait to cash out, they have an express check out at the door where you can leave your wristband and they will tally up your total and charge your card at the end of the night (with a 10% convenience charge). We will definitely be back. read more

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Totally love this new place!! My friend and I came here before the Harmony Project concert at Nationwide Arena. We didn't even know this existed but we saw the sign and wandered in. The interior is spacious with lots of seating options for groups big or small. We were greeted at the door by Chef Miguel and his associate. They explained the concept of their bar and got us checked in. I learned that Chef Miguel is from my favorite city in Puerto Rico so I was already optimistic that I was going to enjoy myself and I certainly did! Chef Miguel explained to us how the bar worked. You pour your own drinks and pay for them using a wristband that is connected to your credit card. You can choose from wines, meads, ciders or drafts. I was happy to see that they have my FAVORITE Dreaming Tree wine, Crush. They have so many options that it's a little overwhelming at first. I can't wait to come back when I have more time to try more! They advertise a happy hour from 3-6. They also have a patio that I look forward to trying when warmer weather gets here. They also have a small food menu. Chef Miguel recommended the buffalo chicken dip and it was delicious! I went with the plain hot dog and my friend got the CBJ dog. The food was great and was an excellent value for the price. Everything was great at this spot and I've already been telling everyone to go here! I can't wait to come back soon! read more

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The vibes are very straightforward and depending on the crowd can be very fun. I like being able to sample the many beer options. Service is always friendly and honestly had some comical interactions with their staff. Would recommend. read more

I planned a social event here for 120 people. Scheduling with Whistle and Keg was very easy and they helped make the event fun. The pizza was amazing. The atmosphere and lighting was also great. Everybody loved there experience and many said it was a great venue choice. read more

Whistle & Keg was a great place to stop in for a drink or two before heading to Nationwide Arena for a concert! It is one of those newer concept bars, where guests are in control of pouring their own beer. Right when you walk in you have to give your card and ID so they can hook you up with a wrist band. The wrist band is what controls each tap and also keeps track of how much you pour. When you head to the taps they have it sorted by wine, ciders, ales/IPAs and then darker beers. You can choose between pouring your drink of choice into a glass or selecting a flight. Two rounds of drinks for two was close to $25-$30. So not awful considering they have a great outdoor space and you are steps away from Nationwide. Definitely worth a stop in! read more

Whistle & Keg - Cider and sour flight! - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I enjoyed this one. I've been to several set ups like this across the country. They have all the makings to turn this into a big success and a staple of the Arena District. Note that this is for a weekday shortly after open at 4 PM when I was one of the few customers here. I only tried the beer and kambucha, no food. It could be a different experience when it's busy and you want a meal. I met the two owners, Mike and Joe, who are brothers. I can tell that they take pride in what they've built. They were busily leveling chairs, cleaning tables, and answering my many questions. The process is pretty simple. Show a credit card and ID, take a bracelet. Tap the bracelet to the bottom of a screen above a tap, wait for the green light, pour. It measures to the .1 oz. When you're done with a glass, take a new one, and repeat. When you're done, take your bracelet to the front and cash out. They do have a happy hour! It's from 3-6 on weekdays and based off the number of the tap. Even numbers some days, odd numbers other days. They said their facebook has all the detail (I've yet to check). It's half off the even number taps today, which is a really good price. They pour by the .1 oz. Most would come out to about $7.50 for a full 16 oz. Happy hour is an amazing deal. They have the standards, like bud light (for the casual drinker) and weihenstephaner (for the craft drinker). They also have a ton of other craft beer, many from Ohio, wine, mead, and kambucha. I tried 8 different beers, most on happy hour, got 32 oz, and came out to just under $10. If they keep up good customer service, they have all the ingredients for success. I'll be back. read more

Whistle & Keg - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

My girlfriend and I were visiting Columbus for the NCAA Tournament, our first time in Ohio. Our team lost on Friday so we spent Sunday exploring Downtown, Battelle Riverfront Park, Bicentennial Park etc.. We decided we wanted to watch the last NCAA game, in-person if we could secure last minute tickets or just at a nearby bar. We arrived at the Whistle & Keg and paused at the entryway for a moment to see if there was a host or if it was self seating. We didn't see a host and it wasn't crowded so we sat ourselves. The first person to approach us worked for FanDuel and told us about their special promotion. A few minutes pass and the first employee of the Whistle & Keg approached us and asked us if he could get us anything. He didn't provide a menu or explain the bars unique concept. We told him we needed a couple minutes. 5 minutes later another man, stumpy white guy with a mohawk, approached us and is the first person to explain the bar has self-serve beer taps. He said we just need to provide a credit card and ID to get a wristband, then asked us if we'd like to get a wristband. I asked if they have a full-bar or if it's just the beer and cider self-serve taps. He said they have a full bar in the back corner. At this point, I become distracted by the NCAA tournament game that's playing throughout the bar that only has 20 seconds remaining and my attention shifts to the game. At this point the employee goes from seemingly friendly to ballistic and says, "Don't give me those fucking dead eyes!" My girlfriend and I were taken aback by his remark and I apologized for whatever look he thought I had given him and attempted to explain to him my eyes had been drawn to the 100 inch screen behind his right shoulder where there was under 20 seconds left. He shifts his weight to intentionally obstruct my view and responds, "I don't care about the game. I asked you nicely if you wanted to get a wristband and now I'm telling you, get a fucking wristband or get the hell out of here." It was the most random, unprovoked, aggressively rude treatment I've ever received anywhere in my life. We immediately gathered our things to leave and when I looked back he pointed at me and said something that I couldnt quite hear but presume it was something to the effect of "dont fuckin look at me" and at this point another employee is physically holding him back from coming towards us. My girlfriend, an ICU Nurse, is convinced he was intoxicated. This happened on Sunday 3/20 apprx 7:50, right before the FDU/FAU game was going to start. I encourage ownership to inquire with other employees working about this incident and review security cameras(if available) and determine if this is how you want your employees to treat patrons. He should be terminated immediately. read more

This is a nice bar to hang out and watch a game going on. The selection is nice and the concept of you scan, fill, and pay as you go is cool. Although the space, place, and concept are cool I don't think the price is worth it. I got two beers and it was about $27. I was with a group of people and we ended up going to another bar after, where I got the same beers, and it was much cheaper. read more

Whistle & Keg - Storefront - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The taps all taste a little bit off, even the drafts which we know well and usually enjoy.

The food menu leaves more to be desired. A very limited menu and if you don't want hot dogs you're out of luck. However I love the self pour beers and the many options on tap. A great place to go for happy hour before the blue jackets. read more

Whistle & Keg - Drafts. - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great people and awesome selections!! Fun place to grab drinks at! It's super nice to not have to wait to get served.

Loved it! We stopped by before the Crew game opener at the new stadium on 7/3, and it was a great place to be. DJ Axcess was in the courtyard, there were tons of people, and the beer selection was great. You pay by the ounce on tap and are given a wristband. I had two of their ciders - Ace Guava and Rainbow Seeker Pineapple + Sage - and they were delicious! They also have a few wine and hard liquor options. They also have merchandise to purchase: glassware, shirts, etc. read more

Like everyone else, stopped in before a CBJ game. I don't really understand the appeal. Not everyone is very good at pouring beer and there's no way for the tap to account for foam. I think they let some of their beer get stale, either that or the lines need to be cleaned. I feel like you're rolling the dice on whether or not the cups or anything else in that place is clean. It was crowded, standing room only. Not surprising before a game though. The food did not look great, menu is limited and what I saw come from the kitchen didn't look like it was prepared fresh. The wait for food was also surprisingly long. Someone on the staff recommended I go to chipotle around the corner. Staff all seemed angry or just sad to be there. Not sure why the receipt asked for a tip since you have to serve yourself. With all the other options in the area I'm not sure I would stop in again. read more

Had a blast here! So fun trying different drinks (a little or a lot- your choice!) The concept is so fun and makes the night super enjoyable! Carson was great and showed us how everything worked, and made us feel comfortable and ready for the experience. Would definitely return! read more

Such a great concept at a prime location! Stopped in with my parents who love different beer styles and a friend who prefers mixed drinks and they have it all! The wall is all priced per ounce so you can sample any of the taps, you could pay the price of a pint or so to sample 6 beers rather than $20+ for a flight! always a great selection and i love that it's not just beer. there's a liquor bar in the back and there's two hand-crafted cocktails on draft. if that doesn't float your boat, they also have a limited selection on wines, ciders, seltzers, and mead. Whether it's a busy day or non event day it's a great place to try whatever they brought on draft that week. The staff welcome you in and make sure you know what you're doing before sending you off to the wall. And they cycle the taps almost every week so there's always new stuff to try. My favorite thing right now is their Peach Tea MarTEAni which is one of the cocktails on draft!! I highly recommend giving it a try or even making this your next event venue with all the space they have! Can't wait to stop in before the next CBJ game! read more

Whistle & Keg - "Teenie Weenie Peach Tea MarTEAni" - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Fun concept and good beer. 2/3 of the staff we interacted with was super friendly and helpful. Enjoyed the option of pouring our own beer while looking through the selections. No server to wait for was also nice. Atmosphere was also really fun. Downfall was the happy hour sign out front that said half off taps. Then inside it said half off even number taps. Asked the manager and he said yeah half those prices on the even numbers and you guessed it checked out to find out wine is half priced on Wednesday's. Got charged for a pour that was all foam and watched others do it on other taps as well. Told two people and both said youre not charged for foam. I was. One staff member was not friendly at all. Update. After being told our bill was $18 on our way out I was charged $19.95 and then it finally came through $21.95. Unbelievable read more

Really cool concept here, pay by the ounce for beer and it is self-serve! It's a little on the small side and pretty crowded, but they have a great mix of beers, meads, ciders and even wines that you serve yourself. There is a sign that says there is food, but I'm not sure how you order it? There aren't servers. The staff member that showed us how the system works was helpful, but he was a little stern and short with us. They're new and crowded, so I will chalk it up to that. read more

Cool concept for beer lovers. Had a large variety to pick from. I opted for a flight and tried small servings of multiple beers. The one thing i wish they had was a way to label the beers for a flight. Mixed up the order and wasn't sure which beer i was trying. Maybe they could put note cards and pencils to label. read more

Great atmosphere, decent beer & seltzer selection. Super fun experience! Bathrooms are crazy far away but that's really the only negative.

Stopped in for the soft open. This is a carved out portion of the old frog bear and wild boar. Great setup with some patio space. Spoke with Greg the general manager. I was semi excited about this place with the concept of a great selection of rotating taps and virtually no wait for beers since you pour (however much you want of) your own. Find out they have a kitchen and a patio grill. Greg has some ideas for here that make for compelling reasons to keep coming back. Tap takeovers, beers from small or distant breweries, wine (also on tap and self pour!) and food pairings, beer pairings, beer infusions, casks, so many reasons to come back for something new! I have upgraded to super excited for this place! read more

Whistle & Keg - Beer, wine, mead, cider, kombucha - all self serve. - Beer Bar Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It's a great concept. Went to it after a CBJ game. Was not too overly crowded walked in and the guy behind the registered barked at us need ID and Credit card. He really did not explain how to use the taps. Figured it out on my own. Love all the variety of beer but the beer come out to fast or too much co2; half of my pours were head. I know how to poor a beer. Felt cheated because you pay for the head. The bathroom are not convent have to walk outside the bar by one of the main entrance of a different building. read more

Pretty cool place that lets you buy beer by the ounce. Not sure if you like it? Only buy an ounce. This way you aren't stuck with 5 more you can't get rid of. Always have specials and food is reasonably priced. Great place. read more

My Husband and I came here for our first time before the Blue Jackets the other night , was a awesome experience! So many choices it's nuts ! Staff is very friendly, the place is clean . I had a sweet girl give me so much Info and she was so helpful, her name started with a J . She was so awesome . If anyone is looking for some fun and wants to try new beers or wine on tap this is the spot . read more

First off, I LOVE the concept- lots of different kinds of beer, ciders, and wine and you can pour as much or as little as you like. That being said, most of the beer I tried was flat and not very cold. If they could get those two issues fixed, this would definitely be a five star location. I'll give it a few weeks and then try it again. read more

I love this concept! Very nice to not have to wait on a bartender/etc. and just be able to get your own stuff. Love being able to try a bunch of things out and be in a laid back atmosphere. 100% will be coming back FREQUENTLY. read more

Great place to sample beers and wine, meeting up with friends in the outdoor area. After dinner, we walked here and hung out for a couple of hours sampling a wide variety of beers and wines. Really fun place - highly recommended as a before or after dinner place. read more

If I could give 0 stars I would. I cannot express how disappointed I am with our experience at whistle & keg in the arena district. I was in contact with someone for 2.5 weeks in planning an event. Everything was confirmed and they said the space would be reserved for our party. On the day of, we tried to call to confirm, and got no response. We called over ten times with no response and even tried to go to location (it was not open even though it should have been open according to the online hours). When we finally got in touch with someone by physically going to the location later in the day, they told us they were not informed of our reservation until 3:30 for the 4:30 event. The place was packed and they had a table of 7 reserved for our 40 person event. We had to cancel our event and go to another local place (who luckily was great and accommodated our party on short notice). I'm shocked at the lack of professionalism and consideration in this event. I will definitely not be visiting whistle & keg any time soon and will not ever plan an event there again. I would highly discourage anyone from planning an event here if you actually want to have a successful event. Extremely disappointed in how this turned out and will not be giving them my business. Go to Bar Louie down the street instead. read more