Two drinks: Brew House

Bartender Shawna Canady pulls a frosty mug at the taps at The Brew House. (Credit: Cara Owsley | Metromix)

I’ve driven by the Brew House forever. And if you’ve ever been on East McMillan, you probably have passed it with curiosity as well. Sitting at the gateway to Eden Park, it always struck me as a locals-only kind of place that I had no business visiting. But its motto – Good Food, Good Drinks – plastered on the side of the building was so simple and inviting, I knew I had to check it out.

The vibe: The Brew House embraces its neighborhood dive bar aesthetic with wood paneling on the walls, overstuffed leather padding on the bar, and local school pennants scattered throughout the place (including Xavier, UC, and um, Purcell Marian and St. Ursula Academy; I’m assuming to pay tribute to alums, although both schools are within walking distance). The place is extremely well-lit inside, which makes finding friends easy. And everyone there on the Wednesday night we visited seemed to be friends, or at least drinking acquaintances who all communed at the church of Brew House. Even though my wife and I probably stuck out as non-regulars, we were treated with kindness.

The drinks: True to its name, there were about seven draft beer options including Guinness, Stella Artois, Hudepohl Amber and Budweisers. Served in frosted glass mugs, the drafts were inexpensive ($2-$4.75). They also have several bottle options, like Sierra Nevada and Heineken, and a couple of can varieties too, like Pabst and Burger. Erica tested out one of the draft Bud options ($2.50 a glass, $8 a pitcher) and I settled into one of their 31(!) drink specials: the Bat Bite ($4) a potent and easy-drinking rum, cranberry and lime wedge combo. All of their drink specials are $4 and come with a generous pour of liquor served in a four-ounce glass.

The food: The Brew House has a pretty extensive menu full of bar food staples: chicken wings, hoagies, hamburgers, lots of fish options and comfort Sunday dinner-type items (like liver and onions and open-faced hot roast beef). We split a basket of onion rings ($3.50) and a cheeseburger ($4.50), both of which were quite tasty despite their inexpensive price. Actually, no food item on the menu is more than $8.50, so this is a great spot to eat and drink on a budget.

The verdict: The Brew House has been around for 34 years and it’s proud of being a fixture in the Walnut Hills/Eden Park neighborhood. Don’t be intimidated by the fact its usually full of regulars; they keep coming back for a good reason. And who knows, once you stop in for a drink and a visit, you just might become a regular too.