Eel River Brewing Co.

Troyone

California

3.8/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5 | $$

Located in a suburban area, this is an interesting Brewpub. Lots of local regulars frequent this location. There is advertisements for live music on certain nights, an outdoor patio, and the brewing room can be seen from the bar.

Most of the tap nozzles were brass at least one was stainless steel. The wood tables, chairs, and bar were nice. The kitchen was not in the open and the restroom was clean.

Service was friendly, prompt, and apparently some remember the names of the regulars.

Good selection of their own beers and no cask. Most of their beers were organic and all were possible notables. The Ravens Eye Stout was a definite notable.

The food was not bad but not cooked on a real grill. They do have organic and hormone free options.

reasonable

06-11-2005 09:09:09 | More by Troyone

RootedFool

California

4.63/5  rDev +12.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

This place is easy to miss, tucked behind a couple of hotels and a Denny's, with an inconspicuous facade (basically a barn-like structure). Nevertheless, the dozen or more times I've been here the place has been bustling, and deservedly so: the ambience, the food, the beer, and the service are excellent.

The food may seem a little over-priced, but the portions are more than generous and the service never leaves you hanging. Usually six beers are available on tap: their usuals, such as the organic IPA (delicious!) and the California Blonde (also delicious), with usually one to two seasonals on tap. I was lucky to catch their barleywine one night -- amazing stuff.

Inside the brew pub you'll find a large narrow room with a large bar on the left. Various posters, objects, and flags related to local history adorn the walls and hang from the very tall ceiling beams. The atmosphere is cozy and open, simulataneously. There's a lovely beer garden outside, always tended to -- i.e., it's not littered with garbage and someone obviously pays attention to the landscaping -- and there are big heating lamps for cold Humboldt county nights.

Eel River is a place beer lovers who pass through the area must visit.

01-11-2005 00:40:12 | More by RootedFool

beerguy101

California

4.38/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4

After spending most of the day driving down the Oregon and California coast. I stopped at Fortuna for the night. After checking into a motel, I asked the desk person if there was anywhere to eat except the Denny’s. She said “well there is this brewpub right over there!” Brewpub?? Damn how did I miss that? Located in a big rustic barn like building, it captures the mood of the North Coast well. The waitstaff was great; my waitress didn’t charge me for the samplers I tried. There were at least 8 beers on tap. The menu was varied with lots of selections: burgers, salads, pasta and the like. The food is plentiful and excellent. I was too tired to spend more time there than a few beers and dinner. But it was totally packed by 7 PM on a Thursday night. It is most definitely worth a stop if your in the area.

10-14-2003 05:35:01 | More by beerguy101

Mark

California

4/5  rDev -3.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5

A nice pub in a big rustic barnlike building. Friendly servers, great food, and good craft beer. When we were there the lunchtime crowd was NOT drinking beer. Way up in the boonies from the Bay Area, but worth a visit if your up in that direction. Fortuna seemed a friendly but unspectacular town.

06-20-2002 20:43:55 | More by Mark