McMenamins Six Arms

McMenamins Six Arms 4Apr2018

McMenamins Six Arms is on Capitol Hill in a little ad hoc brewery district.

McMenamins front entrance on Pike

I walked within a block of Optimism Brewing, walked past Redhook Brewlab, and later walked a few blocks to the Elysian original location. The smell of brewing in the air brought home the proximity of these breweries.

McMenamins Six Arms is a small brewery among some small trendy businesses and fits right into the neighborhood. As you enter you can see the bar and main seating area, 

Bar and seating area to your left upon entry

and to your right is a stairway up to a second floor seating area. 

Seating area to your right and the stairway to upper level

No beer list is visible but a beer list (and a separate cider, wine, and spirits menu) and food menu are provided at each table. 

Beer menu at my table with a couple more selections on the ovreleaf

I studied the beer list and picked a couple of beers to wash down my lunch of chips and cheese dip. 

Bobcat Pale

Idahoan Double IPA

Beer is offered in tasters, 8 ounce glasses, pints, growlers, and some canned options.

Tasting Notes:

Bobcat Pale (5.2%, 41 IBU): Cloudy orange-gold. Malt with piney and slightly tropical fruit hop aromas. Flavor of piney and woody hops, malt richness, sweetness followed by drying bitterness. Malty bitter finish. Paired well with chili con queso dip scooped with taco chips.

Idahoan Double IPA (8.1%, 67 IBU): Hazy beige. Big tropical hop nose. Sweet and hop candy malt and restrained hop bitterness. Slightly minty. Bitter sweet finish. The aroma did not connect with the flavor. I wonder if a hazy DIPA is the best platform for a single hop (Idaho 7 in this case) beer.

Even though McMenimans Six Arms is located in a what’s-happening neighborhood, the inside is homely and quiet. It’s a great place to relax on a cool rainy day and enjoy some bad-for-you food and a beer or two. The greeting from at the door was laid back and friendly. The place was well occupied but not packed full on a Wednesday afternoon. Customers varied from individuals with their phones to young couples to small work groups. The décor is typical for a McMenamins with lots of wood and the usual 60s and 70s art on the walls. I could have stayed longer to dry out from my rain soaked walk up the hill from downtown, but I had another brewery to visit. After I finished my beers I walked to Elysian to sample whatever they had on offer.