Bryan Dayton

18 Feb Bryan Dayton

Co-Owner/Beverage Director OAK at fourteenth, Acorn, Brider

Bryan Dayton’s passion for beverage is reflected in his growing list of well-rounded accomplishments. A bartender with over 15 years of experience, Dayton is the Beverage Director and Co-Owner of critically acclaimed restaurants OAK at fourteenth in Boulder, Colorado, and Acorn in Denver, Colorado. In December 2015, Dayton (and his partner, Executive Chef Steven Redzikowski) opened a third concept, Brider, a fast casual rotisserie restaurant in the LoHi neighborhood of Denver. Dayton oversees the day to day operations, in addition to managing front of house responsibilities for all three properties. He is a certified Sommelier and graduate of the Beverage Alcohol Resource Program (BAR) with honors.

Prior to operating his own restaurants, Dayton spent time in Colorado’s acclaimed Frasca Food and Wine, where he met his now business partner Steven Redzikowski, who was working in the kitchen under Chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson at the time. While at Frasca, Dayton also worked part-time as the Colorado brand ambassador for Domaine de Canton, all while managing his own cocktail catering service, Sweet & Sour Cocktails.

In 2008, Dayton started the Colorado chapter of the United States Bartender’s Guild (USBG). Each year, he can be spotted at cocktail competitions demonstrating his creativity or using his experience and education both as a nationally acclaimed judge and competitor.

Acorn’s cocktails have been featured in a number of national publications including Bon Appetit and Details. Dayton has also been featured in several prominent local and national publications, including Vanity Fair, Imbibe, GQ, Men’s Journal, 5280, Westword, The Wall Street Journal and The Denver Post.

Outside of the restaurants, Dayton is a former competitive ultrarunner (who won the 2006 and 2007 national 50K trail championships — the only person to win them back to back).