Final Draft Taphouse Turns 7 Years I Craft Beer Connection & Community I Vancouver Wa.

We’re celebrating SEVEN Years Together! Our love of craft beer and craft beer culture, and our journey of meeting our “people” in the craft beer community prompted us to start Final Draft Taphouse seven years ago. We set out to create a place that is welcoming, non-pretentious and focused on creating an atmosphere where people can create connections and come together in community around local, quality independent craft beer!

For seven years, we’ve watched people come together and find their people at Final Draft Taphouse.

We are celebrating seven years together on August 9, 2024 and will come together in celebration with a Ruse/Final Draft Taphouse Collaboration Beer Release, the Right On!, and a party with cake and giveaways and a Right On Cheers! as a huge thank you to all of you who have come together at Final Draft Taphouse and who’ve made Final Draft Taphouse what it is today.

We also wanted to celebrate by sharing SEVEN Stories of Connection!

While we would love to highlight all and KNOW that there are many, here are seven stories to celebrate the power of connection and community and what craft beer is all about!

Thank you to everyone who was willing to share….and Thank you always for your love and support us and always supporting local craft beer!

Jen & Eddie

Where are you from? How long have you been in VanWa/PNW? 

We moved here almost 5 years from Austin, Texas.

Tell us a little about your craft beer journey. 

Eddie: In college I was introduced to an awesome Belgian Ale called Brother Thelonious and that was my first taste of non Bud-Light/Miller Lite beers. Then my friend started working in breweries and eventually opened his own so my beer journey just started expanding from there.

Jen: The first beer that I enjoyed was Lindeman's Framboise Lambic ale. Before that I mostly drank ciders. My true craft beer journey actually began at Final Draft Taphouse. That's where I discovered my love for sour beers and was able to really broaden my horizons.

How did you discover Final Draft Taphouse? 

We live nearby so we would drive by it pretty regularly and after the pandemic restrictions were lifted we just decided to give it a shot.

What happened/what did you experience that made it feel like home for you?

We’ve met outstanding friends! Until Final Draft Taphouse, everyone we knew in the area lived in Portland but now we have awesome friends right here at home. Final Draft Taphouse is just such a comfortable place. It's very easy to make new friends!

Chris & Mercedes

Where are you from?

I'm from Oklahoma, and Mercedes is from the area! 

What is your craft beer story?

I got into craft beer super early! Had an uncle and roommate that got me started! Both pushed Fat Tire on me and I never turned back.  Mercedes got her introduction through me! We love adventures, and we feel like the culture is very adventurous and encourages us to try new things!l

How did you discover Final Draft Taphouse?

We like adventures, and we saw the tap list so we came to check things out! The service was fantastic, the beers were incredible, and you all made us feel like we'd known each other for a long time. It's very comfortable, warm, and welcoming! We love sitting at the bar and meeting new folks all the time and catching up with the staff and regulars that we know. We appreciate the community y'all have built! 

Penny & Roger

Where did you move from? How long have you been in the Pacific Northwest?

From Maine, we moved to here six years ago.

Tell us about your craft beer journey…

I have always loved beer, Roger has always supported and encouraged my love and wanting to try new beer. Our journey began when craft beer was becoming more popular in the late 90's. Any Sam Adam's beer was where I  learned that beer had great flavor, compared to any commercial beer that came in a blue can that was popular on the East Coast.  When we moved to Vancouver, we discovered many opportunities to try new beer. 

How did you discover Final Draft Taphouse and the Couve Brew Bevy?

We lived right behind Final Draft Taphouse and frequented the establishment quite often. We really enjoyed the ability to try different local beers from the area. Mike and Kimberly were like long lost friends right from the beginning. FD became our place! I learned of the Couve Brew Bevy and thought it would be a great place to meet women that enjoy beer like me. Roger traveled a lot at the time and Bevy was my night out. I fell in love with Bevy and all the women I have met and will meet in the future.

What did you experience that helped you find your people? 

Final Draft Taphouse has been the place where we have met so many people. I love walking into Final Draft and recognizing so many people we have met since we moved here. Always someone to chat with or meet for the first time. We really enjoy the community feel of Final Draft Taphouse. We’re looking forward to many more years of Right-On Cheers and future forever friends. 

Ramona Lupo

How did you discover Final Draft Taphouse and the Couve Brew Bevy?

I had been hearing about a new place going in at the 205 Commerce Center. Since that’s where my store had been in previous years, I was curious to see what/where in the center it was going. The first time I drove by, it was still in it’s build out stages, but it was literally next door to my old spot, so right then, I knew it was going to be my new hang out place. So I just kept waiting for the day it opened. I was there within the first few days and have never left! Likewise, as soon as Kimberly started the Couve Brew Bevy…well the rest is history, and I’ve never left the Bevy either.

Tell us a little about your craft beer journey.

I started becoming more and more interested in craft beer during the “micro brewery” era. At that time I was mostly drinking traditional porters/stouts (still one of my top of list styles). As the craft beer world continued to mature, so did I, and I began branching out and trying other styles. I began drinking a lot more west coast IPA (the hoppier/danker the better), a hazy now and then and gradually enjoying pils and lagers. When I retired from the 9-5 world of working in 2018, I decided to do some fill in/part time beertending as I had become good friends with Final Draft Taphouse and had become very involved with the Couve Brew Bevy. I worked behind the bar helping out whenever needed.

It also inspired me to become a certified Beertender (Cicerone).

What have you experienced at Final Draft Taphouse that makes you feel connected to us?

The moment I walked in the door the first time in 2017, I felt the vibe of inclusion, of friends, of passion, of warmth, of community, of sharing, of stories, of relationships and of the LOVE of people and the love of craft beer like no where else in town I’d ever been. I’ve likened Final Draft Taphouse as Vancouver’s version of “Cheers” (as cliche as that sounds). I’m a solo female and finding a place to comfortably hang out, solo, at the bar can be weird (for lack of a better way to put it). I have never felt that at FDT. No matter when I go, or who I end up sitting next to, I’m sitting with an “old” friend or making a “new” friend. Kimberly and Mike create an atmosphere that is unusually inviting and warm and the camaraderie is contagious. Over the years I have developed the habit of letting the beertender choose my beer for me. It has given me the opportunity to try beers that I might not otherwise choose…I’m rarely disappointed in their choice. As most of my friends know, I am not a big drinker and typically I might spend 3 hours at the taphouse and consume only 1 pint, or maybe 2 smaller pours. That makes me NOT a big spender, but no one (staff or friends) have ever judged me for that, it might help that I’m a good tipper ;o). My $10 tab is as important to them as someone else’s $50 tab.

You've been in the SWWA/Vancouver area for a long time.

What do you think makes Final Draft different/special?

FDT is a local small business. I owned a local small business for 31 years. I KNOW local small business and I relate in ways that others might not  because of that. I have a unique perspective of being an entrepreneur. My respect for Kimberly and Mike and how hard they have worked to make FDT our favorite Couve taphouse is immense. The passion they have for building the unique community they have the luxury of serving is profound. The level FDT takes this passion is profound…trust me, I recognize entrepreneurial passion when I witness it. And then…there’s that TAPLIST! Look around, visit all the other spots in town, simply said, you will not find a Taplist comparable to Final Draft Taphouse.

The quality and diversity of the taps is unmatched and has become their legacy.

What do you want others to know about Final Draft and what they can/could experience at Final Draft?

If you haven’t been, get your beer but over there. If you’ve been a FDT friend for a short time or a long time, you already know of what I speak. If you visit, you’ll become a regular. The vibe is irresistible, the beer is irresistible, the friends are irresistible, the stories become intertwined, the relationships become life long. The moments we all share inside those “4 walls” become a part of who we are.

Love y’all, Grazie Mille con affetto! Ramona 

Ramona & Kimberly

Mike, Kimberly & Ramona

Serena & Paul + Eric & Carrie

We were initially attracted to Final Draft Taphouse for its impressive tap list and vibrant atmosphere. What we didn't expect was the sense of community and the incredible people we'd meet. With a shared passion for craft beer, we knew we’d always encounter familiar faces. And even if we didn't, the friendly and knowledgeable beer tenders were always ready to chat about beer and life. We quickly discovered that, no matter your background, everyone is welcomed and accepted there.

In 2018, the four of us were among the last few lingering after a Final Draft event. Having seen each other there before, we introduced ourselves and instantly bonded over a double barrel stout. Discovering our shared interests, we bravely exchanged numbers. Since then, we've traveled far and wide for our love of craft beer and adventure, most recently to Sayulita, Mexico for a much-needed friends vacation. We've made lifelong friends!

L to R: Eric, Paul, Serena, Carrie

Kari & Phil

Connection: the act of connecting : the state of being connected Connection can look very different, depending on the person(s) and or place(s). It can be on a very high, generic level, such as a business/customer relationship, or it can be very deep, such as family or romantic relationships. But what about the “in-between” relationships? Those are the relationships you create and nurture, not out of “required” interaction, but of DESIRED interaction. The desire to connect with both like-minded and divergent opinionated people who cross your path. Those people that make you laugh and think. Those people that look forward to crossing paths with each other, because you truly walk away feeling better, enlightened, or just happier. Final Draft has facilitated so many of these connections for us, through both the Bevy and Draft Society, as well as just everyday moments created with strangers over a pint. Not to mention the connections we’ve built with Kim and Mike, the staff and regulars, which have brought us tremendous joy and support. Beer is not only thirst-quenching, but can also be soul-quenching, when enjoyed with those who make your world a better place. Final Draft is one of those better places and we are so grateful for all of the connections that have been, and will be, created there.

Our first date was on 12/24/18 at Final Draft Taphouse and Phil surprised me with a beautiful proposal on October 11, 2019 at Final Draft, with Mike in on it. He wanted to do it at Final Draft because it’s the place that brought us together. Phil and I connected through mutual friends at Final Draft Taphouse and it became “our place”. We also had our engagement photos taken at the Taphouse, by Missy Fant, who I connected with through the Couve Brew Bevy.

Nuwan

I moved here from Minnesota about two years ago. It's my first time in the PNW so I was eager to explore all the natural beauty and meet some cool people along the way. I also love to discover new places through food and drink so naturally beer was on my mind. I've done a bit of homebrewing with various styles of beer and mead. So knowing that the PNW is renowned for IPAs and the brewery culture, I had to try it all! In my hunt for a local watering hole with great beer, I stumbled across Final Draft Taphouse!

First time I came in, I had a wonderful conversation with Kimberly about great hikes and what it's like to move here from the Midwest. Each time I came in, I talked with someone new or was greeted by a familiar face. Final Draft felt like a welcoming environment with friendly folks and a fantastic tap list. It's proven that each and every time I've walked through those doors. From trying my first fresh hop beer to the interesting conversation with all the great people I've met, I got a wonderful dose of the beer culture here and to be a part of the Final Draft community! 

Update: Expanded Hours - 3 to 9 pm Tuesday through Saturday I Craft Beer, Vancouver Wa.

Good news Beer Friends! As of March 23, 2021, we are expanding our hours of operations

to 3 to 9 pm Tuesday through Saturday!

Phase 3 Re-Opening started this week in Washington. Capacity is now at 50 percent indoor seating!

It will be limited capacity, first come, first inside seating.

We will continue to have outdoor seating and craft beer and craft cider to go!

Indoor and outdoor tables are now maximum of ten people, and we ask that you limit your visit to 90 minutes!

Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday - 3 to 9 pm

We will continue with all safety and sanitation precautions and require masks when entering the taphouse and moving about the taphouse! No Mask. No Beer.

As always, we ask that everyone Be(er) Excellent to Each Other! Kindness, Grace and Respect as we continue to be safe and keep our distancing!

Order online here: http://www.finaldrafttaphouse.com/online-ordering

UPDATE: As of February 16, 2021: Indoor Seating is BACK I Craft Beer Vancouver Wa.

Per the Governor’s most recent orders and the updated metrics for our Southwest Region, we are allowed INDOOR SEATING again as of February 16, 2021! Yay!

It will be limited capacity, first come, first inside seating.

We will continue to have outdoor seating and craft beer and craft cider to go!

Indoor and outdoor tables are maximum six people, and we ask that you limit your visit to 90 minutes!

Hours of Operation: Tuesday through Saturday - 3 to 8 pm

FOOD MENU UPDATE:

We will begin to bring back a limited food menu and will have what is available updated here on our website. Food availability will be subject to change based on availability of product.

If you are ordering to-go craft beer/cider, please order online so that we can prepare your order in advance and limit time in the taphouse.

http://www.finaldrafttaphouse.com/online-ordering

Our number one concern is everyone's safety and health! We take all safety and sanitation precautions. Enforce No Mask. No Beer. And ask that you DO NOT enter if you are sick or have knowingly been in contact with anyone with COVID-19!

As always, we ask that everyone Be(er) Excellent to Each Other and offer all kindness, grace and respect! Thank you friends!

Photo was from Pre-November 2020 COVID-19 Shutdown

Update - As of July 30 I Final Draft Taphouse Vancouver Wa.

With new Govenor Safe Start Re-Opening Plan changes released July 24, we wanted to share and clarify what that means for Final Draft Taphouse.

We will remain open at limited capacity (50%), spaced tables and no bar seating, as we have been since Phase 2 Re-Opening. Here is a summary of our changes to our general operations we previously announced in early June.

Currently we are serving craft beer, cider, wine and NA Beverages. We have a small food menu available as well. We are offering dine-in/drink-in and to-go beer and cider.

Hours are: Tuesday through Saturday - 3 to 9 pm

Inside seating is limited to household members only. 5 people or less.

We’ve changed some tables to smaller sizes as to accommodate smaller groups of the same household. As always, we have a small amount of outdoor seating that we are allowed to have. These will be first come first serve and parties of 5 or less.

We are looking into more outdoor seating and will update here if we are able to add more.

REMINDERS: No Mask. No Beer.
Please continue to practice social distancing and all rules (required by law and house rules) as posted.

Online ordering remains available. If you want craft beer to-go, please order online in advance (unless you have a growler...we will fill these with precautions taken) in order to limit lines, time in the taphouse, etc.

Thank you all for your continued support during these ever-changing times. We remain committed to all safety and sanitation procedures and want only for all of us be safe and remain healthy! While all of the changes and circumstances we all face are difficult, we have to remember why we are doing all of this and this is to help curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect everyone! Grace, Love, Kindness, Respect Always.

We will get through this together!

Cheers! Mike & Kimberly, Owners, Final Draft Taphouse

Black Lives Matter I Final Draft Taphouse

We want everyone to know that we fully and deeply believe Black Lives Matter. We’ve always felt that way. The recent events have made us realize that while feeling and saying we are allies is not enough.

We have felt the gamete of emotions as many have and have realized that while emotions are a start, they are not what is important right now. What is important is understanding and acknowledging what our privilege allows us, what our fellow Americans of color are going through and what they have been going through for 400 years. 

What is also important to us is taking action. We have been taking action personally as owners and as a taphouse. We are listening, learning, putting our money into helping eradicate systems that keep people of color oppressed, and have been having conversations in our families, communities, and will be doing so in Vancouver and in craft beer. 

 We are a taphouse that believes in doing what is right. What we believe is right is…

Choosing courage over comfort, choosing what is right over what is fun, fast or easy…and choosing to practice our values over processing them. ~ Brene Brown

 There needs to be zero tolerance in this country for racism. The people are speaking and have spoken. We cannot continue with hatred and discrimination that is so imbedded in our systems and communities.

What we are experiencing right now…is our opportunity for the future. 

We must care when people are dealing with prejudice and systematic racism. This is a fight for humanity. So we can live in a world without hate and racism and where people are loved and do not have to worry about their safety when they are walking down the street or when they are going into a pub for a pint.

We also believe that community and connection with others is of the utmost importance in our business and in life. And we achieve this through storytelling….getting to know each other deeper through our stories and our experiences. There are many stories of People of Color that are not being heard, sought out, taught, and listened to. That will be our focus.

We wanted to share these voices of educators that we are looking to, to understand what we can do to fight racism in our communities as well as how to work at inclusivity, equity and justice. We have reached out to Dr. J and have become members of Craft Beer For All so we can develop strategies in our craft-beer business.

Craft Beer For All - Dr. J Nikol Jackson-Beckham - Instagram @jnikolbeckham http://www.craftbeerforall.com

Beer Diversity – Ren Navarro - Instagram @beer_diversity http://www.beer-diversity.com

We are starting give-back nights at the taphouse starting Thursday, June 11. Every Thursday through July 16, at the taphouse, we will be donating $1 per pint to organizations helping to eliminate race-based discrimination and are dedicated to Black liberation and to collective liberation. In addition, we will be donating $5 per Adventure Pack purchased online. Donations will go to our local chapter of the NAACP and Black Visions Collective (BLVC).

https://www.naacpvancouverwa.org - The Vancouver Branch works to continue its efforts to improve equality and justice in our community.  Wherever there is a need, they are there to advocate for equal treatment and justice for all people.   

www.blackvisionsmn.org - BLVC is committed to a long term vision in which All Black lives not only matter, but are able to thrive. 

 We know that we will never understand fully. We know that we will not get everything right. We are going to learn, start conversations, sit in the “uncomfortable,” stand in solidarity with our Black sisters and brothers, and do the work. We do not want this to be the final draft of history. We need change. We need it now!

~ Mike and Kimberly, Owners, Final Draft Taphouse

NEW TEMPORARY HOURS - OPEN TUESDAY through SATURDAY 3 to 8 pm!

NEW TEMPORARY HOURS!!

Starting April 1, we will be open Tuesday through Saturday 3 to 8 pm for your to-go craft beer needs! 

We've made this change so we can stay healthy, find the balance and still do what we love...be your craft beer guides, during this new chapter in our lives.

As always, we are so grateful for all of you, beer friends! For all of your love, support, kind words, generosity, bravery, passion, support of our local community, and support of each other! As we dream of days with a full taphouse filled with laughter, stories, high-fives, hugs, and time and space for joy or whatever our taphouse has become for you, we are committed to getting you quality, local craft beer in the safest way possible and encourage you to use our new online ordering system to place your orders for pick up or curbside delivery! 😍🍻

Order online here: http://www.finaldrafttaphouse.com/online-ordering

UPDATE 3/25 - NEW HOURS! OPEN ONLY FOR TO-GO BEER!

Per Washington State Law to curb the spread of COVID-19, we have modified our hours and operations…

NEW FINAL DRAFT TAPHOUSE HOURS: 

We remain open 3 to 8 pm daily for to-go beer (from draft and packaged) and to-go food (while supplies last) for the unforeseeable future. If anything changes, we will update here on our website AND Facebook! (We are no longer allowed to update hours on Google, per Google).

We ask that you visit our website (link below) or Untappd in advance to see what is available and be ready to order immediately once you are in the taphouse so that we can limit your time in the taphouse in order for all of us to be safe! We also strongly encourage you to call us in advance so that we can prepare your order for you to simply pick up. If you need curbside delivery, please request that on the phone and we will take payment over the phone to allow for curbside delivery. Taphouse #: 360-433-9966.

We are adhering to all social distancing measures and are taking ALL precautions! We will be reminding everyone to do that same while in the taphouse to keep us and YOU SAFE!

http://www.finaldrafttaphouse.com/beer-food

Also, we are happy to sell you gift cards for future purchases. This would help us greatly right now and we would be grateful if you choose to do that!

While this time is uncertain for us, your love and support and kind words mean the world to us! Not being able to hang with you all in the taphouse is our greatest sadness. BUT, we are working hard to ensure that we can re-open fully once we get through this so we once again can create RAD MEMORIES together!

Please support local craft beer and food whenever you can! Cheers Beer Friends! We love you! Mike & Kimberly

Dear Beer Friends! Here is our latest on our new reality!

Hey Beer Friends – what a week we have all had.

We want to let you all know that we have always valued the health and safety of our employees and our guests and will continue to do so. We are unsure of the days and weeks ahead but what we do know is that we and our team will be here for you. We are open regular hours - modified as of March 17 (OPEN 3 to 8 pm for TO-GO BEER ONLY!), and we have some great beers on tap (we could all use a cold one right about now!?!).

We know that during this time small businesses will be hit the hardest so here are some things that you can do, if you can, to help support any small brewery/taphouse/pub/restaurant in our community. Things that you can do at this time: support all of us by coming in …if you’re healthy and feel comfortable doing so, grab beer and cider to go, purchase a gift card for future use if you are not going out at this time, purchase merchandise and sport your craft beer/Vancouver pride!

Thank you for always showing up for us. We are grateful for all of your love and support and inquires and for always being RAD! Mike & Kimberly

Meditation Vancouver, Wa. - Mindful Meditation & Beer

Meditation has been around as long as humans have been present. Meditation is simply a relaxed state of mind with no thought, completely present in the current moment, focused on the breath.  Meditation is the practice of thinking deeply or focusing one's mind for a period of time. The goal of meditation is to go beyond the mind and experience our essential nature—which is described as peace, happiness, and bliss. But as anyone who has tried to meditate knows, the mind itself is the biggest obstacle standing between ourselves and this awareness

Why meditate? Practicing meditation is a great way to bring more focus to the scatter-minded, more relaxation, peace, calm, and clarity!

Meditation & Beer? Why not?! Being able to find presence and community amongst like-minded people who will find time out in their day to come together to meditate and let it all go, just to have beer afterwards is an all around "feel good" zen situation. We meditate and then come together around a pint of craft beer, that building community and hopefully build lasting connections with those around you!

Meditation Monks meditate. Trappist monks make and consume beer. Meditation and beer go together. So that is why we created Zen Zythophiles (Lovers of Beer!) - Mindful Meditation & Beer!

Our Mindful Meditation & Beer events are the 4th Sunday of each month and are led by Yogi Yuliya! Registration is required in advance.

For more information and to register, check out our Meditation & Beer page!

Join us to become Zen Zythophiles too!

Finishing up with Namaste at the end of our February 2020 Mindful Meditation & Beer Event!

Look at this Zen Zythophiles!

Craft Beer Vancouver, Wa.

There is a lot of craft beer to love in Vancouver, Wa. We pride ourselves on having a great craft beer selection from Vancouver, Wa., greater Washington and Oregon. We focus on having local, independent craft beer on our 30 taps. We have additional craft beer in our fridge, including bottles of craft beer and 16 oz cans of craft beer.

When you come to our taphouse, whether you know the craft beer we have or not, we will find you a craft beer that you enjoy. Our beertenders are beer guides and enjoy helping you find a beer that fits your palate or allows you to explore craft beer and find something new (to you) that you enjoy!

The variety of craft beer available now gives all of us the chance to explore and be adventurous. We offer craft-beer flights where you can try multiple styles without having to drink a pint of each. We want you to enjoy what you order and are always happy to share craft beer knowledge!

Craft beer is our passion! We love the craft-beer community and everything it stands for! We wouldn’t be doing this if we didn’t! Cheers to craft beer, the craft beer community and most of all, you, the craft beer drinker!