Gilgamesh Brewing

While in town we decided to swing by Gilgamesh to try their beers. It was a little challenging to find, tucked away in the back right-hand side of the parking lot with no clear signs on the actual building (or none that we saw).

Nice open interior, sort of industrial meets rustic with a large fireplace on one wall.

We found a spot by the bar and checked out the beer and food menus. Not much on the food menu for vegetarians but luckily we'd eaten a big lunch so just ordered a side of fries. The beer menu was a different story, and we were here for the brews anyway so my rating is purely based on the beer and service.

Here's what we tried:
Mamba:
My new favorite beer. 0 IBU and brewed with black tea. I felt like this beer was made just for me. So good, a liter of it found it's way back home with me. Hubby being a hophead was less impressed. He can stick to his IPAs. This is MY kind of beer. :)

Cranberry Saison:
A little sour and very fruity. Couldn't drink a lot but would make a nice beer on a hot summer's day.

CB Bock:
Hubby enjoyed it. I thought it was just OK.

Filbert Lager:
Really good.

Hopscotch Ale:
Good

DJ Jazzy Heff:
Ok but a bit tasteless

Ridgeway IPA:
100 IBU and made hubby very happy.

Vader Coffee CDA:
Didn't try this as hubby recommended I didn't. He said it was full of coffee flavor up front and then finished with a hoppy aftertaste. He loved it.

Service was really good. If you like trying a good range of different beers check out this place. Not your run of the mill stuff. Personally, I highly recommend the Mamba (unless you are a hophead). It was REALLY good!

I had previously reviewed Gilgamesh when they only had their brewery out in Turner.  Now they have opened their full restaurant and bar in Downtown Salem known as:  The Lounge Gilgamesh.

Upon entering The Lounge Gilgamesh, you will be greeted by some of their friendly staff.  The decor could be described as Jazz coffee lounge meets sports bar.  It is very mixed with some seating areas with couches, some tables, a standing area and the bar itself.  They also have a raised 'stage' that has tables during the day, but serves as an area for live music on the weekend evenings. This area is in the front of the place with streetside windows.  Additionally, during nice days there is seating outside on the sidewalk.

Now, the menu isn't extensive, however it is all delicious!  They seem to have a changing menu as each time we have been in there are some things added and some things removed.  On our latest visit, I tried their BBQ Tempeh and my partner enjoyed their Beet & Pair salad.  Each was done very well and very tasty.  We also ordered a Charcuterie Plate to enjoy.

My partner is partial to their Black Mamba beer while I wait all season for their Mint Kolsch!  These are the beers we drank with joy with our meals.

A word about Gilgamesh Beer.  These beers are made in traditional old world methods with ingredients that are very interesting and bold (Tea, Mint, Coffee) which gives them a very unique taste and a very nice palate!  They do offer a tasting flight, and I would suggest you give it a try if you are not familiar with their beverages.

Currently they are only open Wednesday through Saturday.  I hope they make it well enough to be open 6 or seven days a week!

We came up from Eugene to check out Gilgamesh after tasting it at a Microbrew Festival.  It was definitely an experience to get there.  They moved the tap room down the street and called it "The Lounge".  Not knowing the area at all it took us about 15 minutes of walking up and down Liberty Street to find it, considering google gives the wrong directions!  I checked the website for contact info to call and see if someone could help us get there, however, the website isn't very helpful.  However, upon a frustrated arrival, we were pleasantly surprised.  The Lounge is small, and very kitschy!  We stood at the bar because the tables were all taken.  It was a lot of fun because at the bar we were able to talk with one of the owners and learn more about the different beers they offer.  We got to taste the different beers they had on tap and got a glass of the Mega Mamba, a stronger version of their ever popular Mamba.  It was probably one of the best beers I have ever had!!  They offer 1/2 gallon growlers and liter bottles if you would like to take some home and we definitely left with a growler of Mamba and one of Hopscotch (they were just about out of the Mega Mamba so we couldn't get a growler of that).  We also left with a bottle of Abandon which is a beer that is aged in wine barrels, for those who appreciate wine and beer!  It is delicious!! All of their beers are very different and unique... and Tasty!!!  This is definitely a hidden gem!!  If you are from Salem, definitely check it out, if not, it is completely worth the trip!!  They also let us know of a few places in Eugene that distribute it so we will definitely be looking for it.  

I give the beer 5 stars, 6 if I could, but we had such difficulty finding anything out about this place I had to take back one star.