This place continues to impress. Sitting among the cottonwoods on their patio yesterday on a bright and sunny day in Taos doesn't hurt the mood for the review either. Four of us ordered green chile cheeseburgers for a break from New Mexican food. The potato bun was perfect, even though it was not toasted. The manager said his wife gets the beef from Colorado, It was perfectly cooked. The green chile beer was good but not as good as the manager likes to chalk it up to be. Great service. Always a stop while in Taos.
Review Source:As we walked in, I heard some loud comments coming from the open kitchen along the lines of "here comes the tourist train". Not sure if this was directed at us specifically, as I don't think we look particularly touristy and were just minding our own business getting a table, or some general declaration of anti-tourist feeling from the kitchen staff. Either way, it goes beyond unprofessional and into the realm of the extremely rude. I felt very uncomfortably unwelcome for the rest of our visit. Which is unfortunate, because our server was very polite and the food was good, and the beer was excellent. But apparently the kitchen staff doesn't know how to behave in a professional environment. So, this place may be good for locals, but apparently if you're from out of town, you're not wanted there. Best spend your dirty tourist dollars elsewhere.
Review Source:Looking for a place to eat after a long day of boarding, frankly I had to pee and this was the closest place. My mistake. Being weak sauce, i don't drink when in elevation. Makes me sick. I was hoping the place had great food to go with their house brews. Nope. Perhaps they have great beer to make you so drunk you won't notice how subpar their food is.
They have an open kitchen which I suppose could be nice if I weren't watching the staff stuff their faces. They're snacking while cooking, which seems odd. I'm not talking about taste checking to make sure the food is good. I'm talking about eating a bowl of chowder and snacking on cookies while handling the check. Like I said, not necessarily awful but maybe unsanitary?
On a good note, pretty cool ambience. Very chill and warm. They happened to have live music that night. I don't know it that's an everyday occurrence or a weekend thing. I didn't stay for the show so I have no idea if it was good or bad.
We love this place and come every year on our trip to Taos. The green chile beer can be hit or miss - sometimes it's the best thing I've ever tasted, sometimes there's not nearly enough chile. However their green chile stew is delicious and the live music is fun. The staff is always friendly. I really adore this little place.
Review Source:This place was highly recommended to us, unfortunately it wasn't what we had in mind. Pros we enjoyed the beer and actually shared a sample of all of their beers. Con we arrived before 6 for an early dinner (skiing all day-starving) and their daily special wasn't ready so we had to order off their menu. Options aren't very "hearty", but okay. Ordered Mediterranean platter and friend had club sandwich. By the tome we left the roast was ready and IT looked amazing. Service was okay... One waitress, had seat ourselves, and had to get up to ask for utensils after our food arrived...
Review Source:Some places just feel like home. Eske's falls into that category. Hit up this place with my husband on our honeymoon. We spent hours knocking back beers, chatting with the wait staff and watching a Michael Myers/Halloween marathon. Eventually, they left us the remote.
It's that kind of place.
Food was delicious. If you get the chance, try the beer sampler and make sure you get the green chile beer. We ended up buying two large bottles and flying them home to Jersey. We can't wait to visit again!
Great outdoor beer garden area.
Really wanted to try the apricot beer but the tap was giving trouble so had the green chile beer instead and it had a great level of heat. Best green chile beer we've had and we try it anywhere the makes it.
We didn't have an opportunity to try the food but excellent smells coming from the kitchen and we'll definitely eat here on next visit to Taos.
Only thing we didn't care for was they don't allow you to bring in food to outdoor area but breweries in Albuquerque do so we were surprised/disappointed.
This is an old favorite from my husband's college days when he went to school in Santa Fe. I love that you can have a sampler of what's on tap - that way I don't have to make a decision! Hanging out on the porch/outside area is nice - it's shaded by the trees and is off of the main square enough that you can barely hear the constant flow of traffic going up the main drag. I'm not a huge fan of the green chile beer though. It's good for a glass but I wouldn't want a whole growler of it (which you can buy and refill!) The staff is attentive and sufficiently "New Mexican" hippie. Food is tasty bar food and the specials are usually the best choice on the menu.
Eske's is the place we always go when we go up to Red River and I have never been disappointed. Â Beer's good, food's good. You should try it.
Everyone said we had to go and have the green chile stew, so we went with high expectations. Â Very small, casual space friendly staff. The green chile stew was So spicy and hot that we couldn't eat much. The waitress told us that the cook had experimented that day and it was especially HOT. Â A local friend joined us, he eats there all the time and he couldn't eat it either. Seemed like a nice place, guess you should ask if the cook is experimenting before you order. There are so many great places to eat in Taos - we probably won't go back to Eske's.
Review Source:We stumbled across this place whilst staying in a nearby B&B. Â It is tucked away to the East of the plaza, but for their Green Chile beer along this place is worth seeking out. Â I have tried the Outlaw Chile beer that Rio Grande brews and that is decent, but Eske's is stronger, hotter and has a better "roasted" finish.
They serve food, and were cooking whilst we were there (but as we were headed to Pizza Outback) we didn't eat here, it did smell good though.
They have a great outdoor patio/seating area and serve pitchers. Â Next time we are in Taos I will be heading back here for some Green Chile beer for sure.
"Nice, nice, not thrilling, but nice."
Off the beaten path and NOT a chain. Friendly staff, al fresco dining (as well as indoors), and a decent menu. Indoors looked cozy.
KUDOS: My bride thoroughly enjoyed the seafood taco, and my son enjoyed his burger. My sandwich was ok.
DARTS: I deducted a star for the thinnest, lamest, grilled cheese sandwich I've ever seen (my other son).
NOTE: It's tucked away behind a parking lot - kinda difficult to find (for me, anyway).
Eske's is one of Taos' incredible gems. Â True, it's small, but cozy. Â I had the carnitas sandwich special since I had the green chile burrito last time I was in town (have since relocated); it was great! Â Also, the Hatch green chile is a local staple, so of course they have a great green chile beer, but I tried the IPA, pale ale, and had a taste of a very strong, but delicious, imperial stout. Â Everything here is great, including the service!
Review Source:The brew pub is a small place. Â Basically two small rooms in a tiny adobe building with a few picnic tables and pub tables.
We didn't really eat, just snacked on a jalapeno cheese pretzel and chips and salsa (the pretzel tasted homemade and the chips and salsa where straight from the grocery store). Â
I tried the stout, which was nice and rich and the green chile beer - which was exactly what it sounds like (roasted Anaheim chiles steeped in beer). Â The latter was a bit much in my opinion. Â If I wanted green chile I would order a bowl, but hey it was unique! Â
The service was fine and the chef seemed nice enough. Â He tried to please the very picky couple next to us when they did not find sandwiches on the menu by offering to make them anything they wanted as long as he had the ingredients! Â
It's a friendly enough joint! Â It was was a decent stop in Taos.
After a day of trekking around Taos we wanted a beer or three and happened upon Eske's. The place seemed a little small, almost cramped, but it had a good feel to it and was definitely an enjoyable place. The couple at the next table seemed to be on a first date and talking about everything under the sun (very loudly, I might add), but some of the things they were talking about were laugh-worthy, so it wasn't completely terrible :)
I tried the amber and the pale ale and they both had really good flavors. I didn't have the courage to try the chile beer, but my wife did and she said it was good, albeit spicy.
We had the chips and salsa and the giant cheese pretzel. The basket of chips came out with what seemed like a whole bag of chips, way too much to eat! They could have used a little bit of salt, but were still good. The jalapeno cheese pretzel definitely had a good flavor and was cooked just right.
Service was excellent, although the place was steaming inside (even though it wasn't too warm outside). They could have used some airflow!
First time here last week, they are doing a few things really well here:
- kid's menu includes PB&J! They know their market, we want to come to breweries but need to cater to the kiddo, they have allowed us to do both
- great service, great attitude
- Chili beer was authentic and spicy, very good
- the bottled cherry ale was also very good although better for a session beer due to lightness with the cherries
- veg. quinoa dish was healthy and delicious
- husband had a bock, it was heady and rich and smooth and malty and way too high in alcohol for me t (we took a growler back with us!)
Ambiance is casual in this converted house, even a little cramped. It's OK though 'cause employees and visitors were all happy to be there :) We will go back.
Had mid day snacks and beer. Chips were round like Doritos but fresh and tasty. The salsa and guacamole were very good. I had the sampler of their green chili beer and then ordered a pint. It really did have a green chili taste. Quite good. Wife had a light ale which was also good. Service was attentive without hovering. Â Eske's is a bit hard to find. Look for the bike shop Gearing Up. It's right behind it.
Review Source:5 stars hands down. Let me explain: Green Chili burrito with ground turkey, Amarillo Brillo IPA, beer garden style patio, and an owner and staff with a great vibe. I am by no means a expert on green chili, but i know the difference between good, ok, and bad...this green chili was the best i have ever had!!! hands down. Â This will be my first stop next time i make it up to taos. I CANT WAIT!
Review Source:Went there on St. Patrick's Day expecting more than I experienced. I arrived at 9:30 pm to find it nearly empty. Ordered the green chili stew with turkey. It could have used about a minute in the microwave. It tasted about average. I had the Green Chile beer which was a treat. At 10:30 pm the band stopped playing and a short while later the doors were closing. Â Very atypical of a pub.
Review Source:I loved this place! Â Yes the green chili stew with turkey is the way to go.The pub is small and kind of weird ,in a likable way.The green chili gives off a delightful burn.I didn't bother with green chili beer , which I think is a gimmick.The other beers are pretty solid.I enjoy an idiosyncratic joint like this much more than a cookie cutter place.Up against the olive garden!
Review Source:Good location, nice folks, nice places to sit -- but the beer fell short. I come from the land of flavorful, plentiful beer, so maybe it's not fair, but these brews didn't touch any of my standard go-to beers.
The brown held its own, which browns tend to do, and the chile beer had enough flavor, but you're not going to sit there and sip a novelty beer all night, so after that, you're basically out of luck.
But! Bring your dog! Sit outside! Enjoy your company, if you're not a beer snob. They do have some guest taps -- and they're well chosen. So if you don't find it weird to hang out at a brewery and specifically ask them to serve you someone else's beer, you might have yourself a swell night.
This was not at all what we were expecting - I mean, who ever heard of a health food brew pub? Â I guess only in Taos. Â It is set back from the main highway in a small adobe with a dirt parking lot. Â Don't try the parking lot if you value your alignment!
Most of the seating is outside, but since it was unseasonably cold, we sat inside. Â There are three or four high tops in the bar area, and six or eight picnic tables in the back room. Â Decor is funky/cosy.
We started out with beers. Â I got the Why Rye and my husband got the Black Cat ale. Â Both were served at room temperature. Â Come on - they don't even do that in England anymore! Â (Well sometimes, with a very special ale that has been brewed on premises for hundreds of years, but they always warn you that it will be room temp.)
Needing help to get the warm beer down, we decided to eat. Â Pretty limited menu - only about 8 main courses, with two daily specials. Â I tried the burrito with turkey ground chili (pork was not an option). Â It was good, but I don't think I have ever eaten so many beans in one sitting before!
My husband had the bratwurst sandwich, which was excellent. Â Fresh crisp bun, piping hot brats, saurkraut and mustard. Â It was served with mashed potatoes, though, which seemed a little odd.
I am not sure we will go back. Â With so many choices in Taos, I think we will try something different next time.
The staff was very friendly and attentive and provided excellent service throughout the night. Â 3 stars because Eske's is primarily a brew pub, and the beer was mediocre, at best. Â My wife and I sampled each brew and chose not to pursue a pint in any style, because honestly, the beer was not good. Â The IPA was sweet and heavy, while the stout was bitter and thin. Â The chili beer was actually okay, but you're in Taos, so anything with 'chili' better kick ass.
With that being said, our food was really good, especially the vegetarian green chili, which was hearty and had a great kick
Five stars for the green chile stew and the green chile cheese burger! Â The green chile stew with turkey was THE BEST ever! Â The burger was also one of the best I've ever had. Â It was quite apparent that it was fresh and hand patted. Â It had a nice grilled crust while still juicy and tender on the inside--the perfect grilled burger, IMO! Â Stout was good, IPA was average; both very drinkable. Â Service was very kind, efficient, and attentive. Â Atmosphere was great, (temperature was a little warm inside) there are TVs to watch the game and a couple small bars and few tables. Â They also have a decent sized patio as well. Â Great job!
Review Source:I am a card-carrying Liquid Bread member... and I live in Dallas. Â This seems to be the first stop I make when I go back to Taos.
I love the staff. Â I've never had bad service there and everyone is so nice.
The food is pretty good for being a bar. Â Each day they have a different special. Â I think the last special I had was a Mediterranean tapas style dish with hummus, falafel and dolmas; it was delicious! Â I would also recommend the black bean burger with everything.
Eske's is a microbrewery and the beers are all pretty decent. Â I DID NOT LIKE the green chile beer, but I knew what I was getting into when I tried it :) Â The porter is really good and I usually stick with that.
After a full day river-rafting trip, we were all too pooped to cook. So we headed over to Eske's for dinner. The restaurant is tiny with a huge outdoor area filled with tables. Since we didn't want to expend much energy walking into the restaurant or lower deck and it was a mild evening, we sat outside.
We were greeted immediately and given our menus. The waiter pointed out the beer, wine & food specials. We were informed it was sushi night at Eske's (like I would ever eat sushi in a land locked state). Wanda's Green Chili Stew caught my eye. This vegetarian stew's ingredients include squash, onions, garlic, mushrooms, potatoes and green chilis. You can also order the stew with ground turkey meat, which I did. Yowza! The stew was hearty and delish. The veggies were in nice sized chunks and not mushy. The green chilis gave this dish quite a kick. My fiance swears a stew can not fill you up. This one did and pleasantly so. After a day spent on the water, this was the perfect meal to fill my belly.
Honorable mention goes to the salad offered off the menu. Fresh spring greens topped with veggies, tuna and salmon served with a citrus dressing which my niece ordered. This salad was simply divine! The dressing was the perfect compliment to the fish and veggies, blended together well. Not as rib sticking as the stew but very satisfying.
If you drop by Eske's, forgo the usual hamburger and order you a bowl (or salad). These two menu gems have a lot to offer.
I see several poor reviews for this place,  and all I can think is, they must be Yankees,  maybe they came  to Taos from New York or New Jersey,  and they haven't yet realized they're on vacation.
The beer is brewed here, Â it's fresh, Â but it's variable; Â it's not always great, Â but it *IS* always drinkable, Â and I'd recommend their Millenium IPA to anyone. Â The food is pub food because, Â for starters, Â this is a pub! Â What they do best is Wanda's Green Chile Stew, Â especially if you opt for the added ground turkey - this is the best green chile stew I've had anywhere.
  The service is good,  and the waitresses seem to enjoy working here;  the feel is that everyone is a regular,  and they'd like you to be one too.
  What Eske's has going for it is the ambience:  this is Taos,  and in the summertime you cannot beat sitting outside under the trees,  breathing the fresh mountain air, listening to the band if it's a  weekend,  and telling yourself how lucky you are to be here
I agree with Tina... Â You may be tempted to stop at this Brewery while in Taos because of its nice outdoor patio and scenery, Â but the food is gross and so's the beer. Â We decided to get the sampler and we couldn't even find one beer that we liked. Â The jalapeno beer is nasty! Â It seemed like a good idea to try, but man was that disgusting! Â And it took forever to get our food as well as the bill at the end. Â I had to finally get up and walk inside and glare at the waitress in order for her to remember to give me my change back. Â
Do not be tempted by the scene, once they've lured you into their grips of bad food and lazy wait staff, you will never get to leave...
Two hours. Â Count 'em. Â Two hours before we got seated for dinner. Â We stood/sat near the TV/stairway while our name sat on a list. Â After 50 minutes, I noticed that all the other people waiting were gone, yet there we still were. Â When another group of four snagged the next available 4-topper in the place, we finally asked, "When can we expect to be seated?" Â Our name had been crossed off, and were in no-man's land.
The owner, Eske, was great and apologetic. Â They brought us some complimentary chips and salsa, and they gave us a pint glass when I asked to purchase one.
The beer, well, it was freaking great.  They had a Taos Green Chile  beer that was a spicy jalapeno flavored pils or other light beer.  It was excellent!  I also had a Millenium IPA that was mildly hoppy and a good IPA for those that prefer the milder style.  Stacy had a great Oat Cole Porter and even better Scottish Ale.
For food, the nachos were pretty darned good, but the salsa--fresh and filled with tomatoes and cilantro--was excellent. Â The sushi is okay, but for the price, it's a worthy choice with a good 10-12 pieces per roll (far more than you get in Austin, TX). Â My oldest daughter ordered the vegetarian "Fatty" which consisted of cheese, beans, mashed potatoes, onion, and a green verde sauce. Â She loved it. Â
This place is worth the trip if only for that great Green Chile beer. Â We just may find ourselves there again tomorrow.