Wednesday 4th of April 2012 09:34:26 PM

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The Brewhouse occupies a sprawling low-rise space with an extensive umbrella-ed outdoor area on the sidewalk. It’s fairly close to the beach, but has a neighborhood, local, comfortable, true pub atmosphere.

There are two main rooms, all with full windows looking out on the quiet street. The first room is full of wooden tables with padded wooden seats. The second room has a long multi-angled, copper-topped, wooden bar with tall padded chairs as well as more tables. The ceilings are fairly high and there are multiple skylights. A few TVs (sound off) and paintings and photos decorate the walls.

Behind a small stage, the copper-clad mash tun and brew kettle and a number of fermentation vessels are visible behind windows. More of the brewery can be seen from windows looking out onto the sidewalk.

The beer selection is very impressive: 15 house-made beers (one off on our visit). There were three Abbey-styles, a Wit, a Saison, 2 wheat beers, a Pilsner, 2 Pales, a Porter, an IPA, an Imperial IPA, and a Habanero wheat. The West Beach IPA was superb and the Habanero wheat was truly amazing - served only in a very small glass, it’s blazingly hot but with the real citrusy habanero flavor and quite good.

Thursday 18th of February 2010 03:18:54 PM

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After I told the bartender that I was a "beer critic" (hey, who isn't??) the taps ran freely!! The owner (one of...slightly inebriated, but hey - part of the job?)insisted that my samples be "on the house" and the drunk guy next to me insisted that I try the polenta with tiger prawns and filet mignon/portebello sauce....mmmmm, mmmm, mmmm.
11 beers on tap - I tried 9 ;*) My ratings: Apricot wheat, kinda perfumey - I gave it a =6 (outta 10). Buster brown ale 5.6% alcohol, my score=8. West Beach IPA =8 - a little long on the tongue (slightly slimey but the nice hoppy flavors made up for it). Saint Barb's trippel =8.5 (9% alcohol, citrus-y flavors....I got a growler of this and unfortunately took it to my German girlfriend's house and they drank the whole thing..."Best beer we've ever tasted in America!!")
My favorite?...I literally dreamed (dreampt? sp? never get that one right) about it....the Habanero pilsner...I had 2 "hot shots" served in a mini snifter. Just the right amount of burn, not painful, but enough to know that you are alive. I think I better go back again tonight just to be sure it was really as good as I remember.
Great bartender, nice atmosphere, cool local paintings, good food, cheap good beer, creepy part of town for single girl walking to and from street parking alone...no wonder everyone has pitt bulls here.

Saturday 7th of July 2007 04:51:11 PM

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All the beers here are typically good if somewhat inconsistent. I don't know if that is due to an inconsistency in ingredients or because the brewmaster was a longtime homebrewer and can't resist tweaking his recipes. The Rebel Red is probably the most consistent of the beers that I drink there. There is a Saint Barb's Ale which is offered in 3 different alcohol levels. The Tripel is usually a bit more than I like and I typically like strong ales.
The food is excellent. Service varies.
Lots of local art adorning the walls.