Cardo's Pizza & Tavern in Pickerington unveils outdoor self-pour beverage wall

Cardo's Pizza & Tavern in Pickerington recently launched a self-pour beverage wall that enables patrons serve themselves from 24 taps. 

Following a month in which it's been used primarily on a trial basis, Cardo's Pizza & Tavern, 7897 Refugee Road, is ready to showcase the new feature on its 110-seat patio. 

Through the fall, patrons can serve themselves on the wall that features 20 beers, two varieties of wine and two custom cocktails. 

"We launched it the middle of May, but we've only had about a half dozen days where we've been able to utilize the patio so far," said Keith Bordner, owner of Cardo's Pizza & Tavern. "It'll be open during patio season.

"In the future, it'll open as early as we can get it open in May and probably go until mid-November." 

The self-pour wall is from PourMyBeverage, based in Wheeling, Illinois. According to the company's website, it was founded in 2015 and has more than 12,000 taps in service at more than 500 locations in 30 countries.

Patrons purchase pre-charged cards at Cardo's to serve themselves from the self-pour wall.

"You can get two ounces of beer if you just want to try something," Bordner said. "It's pay-by-the-ounce.

"You're your own bartender, so to speak. You can try whatever you want on the wall. Some people even mix beers." 

Bordner said he's aware of only two other businesses in the Columbus area using a self-pour wall.

This fall, Bordner expects the patio area and the self-pour wall to be popular when he streams local high school football games on Friday nights and Ohio State University games on Saturdays and holds gatherings for Cleveland Browns games on Sundays.  

"We're going to put two (new) TVs out there," he said. "When football season comes, there will be three.

"The patio seats about 110. The inside dining room sits about 165. So, we can really go." 

Among those who've already discovered the feature, the reviews have been positive. 

"I love it because I can switch up what I'm drinking and try something new," said Linda Jones of Pickerington, who visited Cardo's patio June 27. "I really like the craft beers, but I don't always know if I'm going to like a particular flavor.

"The thing about this, you can just put a little ounce in your cup and try it out. It's fun, too. It's like, 'Whoo! What are we having?'" 

Kaitlin Crist, also of Pickerington, agreed the pay-by-the-ounce is a nice feature, not only for sampling but for keeping drinks cool. 

"So, you can try things you might normally not try," Crist said. "You might find a new favorite.

"Also, if you're drinking something and you've been chatting and your beer gets warm, you can just go and top it off and it's ice cold again. It's lovely." 

Crist said she's enjoyed the selection offered by the self-pour wall, and said it's been entertaining to be her own bartender.  

"It's fun," she said. "People want to get up and try it."

Bordner said he saw the self-pour concept used at trade fairs. He became more interested after patio dining and drinking became something sought out by customers as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Our patio has always been a struggle to keep open because we’d have to close the patio during inclement weather and not always have the staff to have it open otherwise,” Bordner said. “Yet, customers kept asking us if the patio was open.

"Adding PourMyBeer to the patio, in conjunction with Toast Order & Pay technology, allows us the freedom to open the patio every day and at any time, which is something we appreciate and our customers enjoy as well.”    

nellis@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekNate