On the way back to our campsite after dinner and drinks at Lost Coast, we decided to visit one more brewery while we were out. Since the rest of our weekend was going to be full of hiking through the redwoods, we wanted to enjoy our time in civilization while we could! Not far off the 101 we found Six Rivers Brewery, an interesting joint with nice views of the Pacific and an exterior décor that would be at home in south Florida. So sit back, enjoy the ocean view, and read through our review of another one of northern California’s local beer joints.
- Beer – They self-describe their beers as staying true to the English style of brewing, which really just means they brew things like brown ales, pale ales, porters, stouts, and IPAs, as all of these can be traced back to England or have a British influence on their development. While I enjoy a good porter, stout, and yes even an IPA, I do like to see some creativity and variation on the tap list as well. They certainly did score points for innovation with a chili pepper ale, a strawberry wheat, and a raspberry lambic yet these offerings still did not branch far off the ale tree. I did not see any Belgian influenced beers or lager style offerings, to show they are not afraid to play with other styles. Overall the beers were quite tasty and well put together with great flavor profiles and finish. My favorite was definitely the Macadamia Nut porter, more of a dessert beer as it was on the sweet side however the way they blended the various flavors together showed real skill and was delicious. I also quite enjoyed the Sasquatch Double IPA but it’s a good thing I didn’t have more than a taster of that one as it checked in at 9.9% ABV. All in all, I think their beers were very solid and I could see myself buying a six-pack or growler from time to time. Score: 4/5
- Brewery – This seems to be a theme lately, but the brewery felt more like a brewpub or restaurant than it did a tap room. As you walk in, the main seating area was off to the right and had ample room for not only a bunch of tables but a huge bar that dominated the area. Windows into the brew floor lent credibility to the brewery in their name. To the left was a smaller room that looked like it could accommodate private parties or events. The interior décor reminded me of a cross between your local neighborhood bar and Buffalo Wild Wings, yet it worked well enough. In all honesty, not much else stood out while here. The bar was nice to sit at and I saw an outdoor area that I would have preferred to sit in had it not been raining non-stop. The food being served smelled delicious and I almost gave in to temptation and ordered something, but I was still really full from dinner. They do appear to have events from time to time, whether it is trivia night, karaoke, or some other food or beer related event. The prices, as mentioned in my last post, were a little higher than I’m used to but probably appropriate for California. All in all, while the bar was nice, I was a bit underwhelmed by the place in general. Maybe that would have been different if I had seen the views of the Pacific out the window in the daytime but probably not. Score: 2.5/5
- Ambiance – The feeling I had at this place was more restaurant than brewery, i.e. order, drink and eat, and then leave. At least, that was my first impression. As I sat there drinking my beers, I noted that there seemed to be a fair number of regulars around me, drinking out of some sort of members only mugs. So, it seems there is something about this place that keeps bringing people back, but I couldn’t visualize it myself. It was too loud and too busy for my tastes, so I guess first impression do mean something after all. Score: 2/5
- Location – Just off the 101 a few miles north of Eureka, California, they picked a scenic spot for a brewery. Nice views of the Pacific and plenty of parking somewhat make up for a lack of other things to do close by. But hey, at least there are some cows across the road you can say hi to! Score: 2.5/5
- Customer Service – Once seated at the bar we had to wait quite a while to be acknowledged, let alone have our drinks poured. This was despite at least two bartenders at all times and only a handful of people at the bar itself. Our server was nice and answered our questions about the beers and checked in on us from time to time, making up somewhat for our initial wait. My impression watching the other servers was similar, mostly just folks going through the motions without adding to the experience. Score: 3/5
Total Score: 14/25
Final Thoughts: While I did enjoy their beers, not much else stood out here. I would certainly recommend trying the Macadamia Nut Porter if you see it on tap somewhere but beyond that I don’t see myself coming back if I’m in the area again.
Brews Alert 