Euryale Brewing Company — Restaurant in Riverside

What happened to this place?

I don't drink much these days, so going out for a beer is a treat for me. I was last at this location about a year ago. That time, there was a really nice lady working behind the bar. The one from NYC, I believe. Anyway - the beers were fantastic, the place was clean, and she had a great attitude. I even bought some beers in cans to take home with me after the few I had while I sat there.

Fast forward to this afternoon, it was a totally different experience.

On Thursdays, the opening time is 4pm. I was in the immediate area running errands and had time to burn. Right around 4:05pm, I decided to stop by but the doors were still locked and the open sign was turned off. "Oh well" I thought, so I stood there for a while googling another place nearby to kill time. After a few more minutes of standing in front of the door while still on my phone, I heard it unlock. I turn around and the open sign is on. Cool! (Opening the door to say hello to someone who has been trying to enter and spend money would have been a nice touch vs just unlocking it and walking away).

I grab the door and go inside. One of the tables had a water ring, like someone was sitting there with a cold drink recently (and didn't use a coaster). Made me wonder if someone was hanging out there the whole time while I stood there jiggling the door after opening time? Their windows are tinted dark, you can't see inside. Anyway, that part wasn't a big deal.

I go to the bar, and a white dude wearing a STIIIZY shirt asks me "for here or to go?" I told him I was gonna stay. That's where the bad vibes started. I got a blank stare and he said "it's gonna be a few minutes". I said "take your time, there's no rush". It was apparent that the place wasn't quite set up for guests which is fine - they just opened. While sitting there, I noticed multiple gnats flying all over the place, especially near the beer taps. That didn't seem sanitary. After he moved a couple things around, he came back and asked what drink I wanted. I said I wasn't sure, and started looking at the taps themselves to see the names on them. He said there's a menu to my right, and points at it while giving me a look like I'm a jackass for not reading it and having my order ready. He let his arm fall to his side after pointing, as if that was the most irritating thing he'd experienced all week. The body language was hella off. I almost asked him what his problem was. It was painfully obvious that he was annoyed I was there in the first place. Maybe he didn't like customers coming in that early? Hard to explain over a review like this, but the guy had an attitude problem.

Bring back the other girl. This guy acts like he works at the DMV. That's really the best way I can describe his vibe.

Now, the beers. I tried a hazy IPA and a Mexican beer. Believe it or not, both were literally flat. The taste of the beer themselves was great, like I remembered from last time. But hardly any fizz.

TL;DR - This place just ain't the same. Bugs flying around, shitty customer service, and flat beer. Not...

We heard the Cousins Maine Lobster truck was going to be here, so we decided to pop by. Of course, we needed some beer to go with the lobster rolls, so we went inside. It was easy to get to (215 freeway aside), and easy to park. It's in an industrial type area, so there was plenty of parking. It was quiet at the time, which I like, and the place was set up really cute for Halloween. I suspect even if it's busy, you'll still find parking easily. It's a cozy spot. I love the Greek gods theme. The service was very nice, the owner really knows his stuff and will share stories about each beer, how it was created, and how it is made. The beer was delicious - I had two flights, and the Mrs. had a pint or two of another beer. I actually had tried one of their sour beers at the Safe Haus in Moreno Valley before, and loved it, so it was nice to have again. We'll be coming back...

Four words: I LOVE THIS BEER! Right here in Riverside is where you will find this wonderful little brewery that serves up a fantastic collection of craft beers. My favorite is the Cyclopes Coconut Porter, a lovely blend of the right amount of sweet, nutty, creamy goodness. A keg of that Coconut Porter along with the Perseus Pale Ale were poured at my wedding and let me tell you they were a big hit with our guests. I also love the Hot Apple Pie Beer (I think that's the name), it's seasonal though so you have to get it while you can. The theme at Euryale is all about Greek Mythology, which is very cool, indeed, and the vibe is super warm and inviting. I adore Shane, the beer-tender, he is great! Don and Carrie, the owners, are awesome, you can tell that they really love what they do. I look forward to seeing them make it...