One Barrel is still young, but it has matured so fast. I remember when it first opened. I was impressed but not blown away. Then, as the kinks got worked out and bam! Brilliant. It is now a major player and a place I find myself gravitating toward. The crowds can get dense, but that is just a sign of a place doing a good job. Besides the people there are usually friendly and the staff is superb. By way of example, the other night, when the bar was packed, the bartenders were on their game. Not once did I have to wait more than a minute or two to get a beer. And the guy remembered the name my tab was under every time. That is one impressive feat for how busy they were.
The beer is great, Care Bear Blood is a must have, and they recently added pizza to their limited food options. No wonder we've been the last patrons out the door before.