West Side Brewing
3044 Harrison Ave, Westwood
400 Wyoming Ave, Wyoming (Gilligan’s on the Green)
West Side Brewing opened in summer 2017, giving the beer desert on the west side a second location to go along with Brink in College Hill. The brewery itself is large and open, with a walk-up bar to order. Their beers don’t have fancy names – they’re simply called “Session IPA” or “Hefeweizen.” But I just call them all delicious. As an added bonus, they have some limited food options, and host a dog-friendly night every Wednesday.
West Side’s aim is to brew traditional beers exceptionally well, and they’ve done that and more, becoming a key driving force behind the rejuvenation of their Westwood neighborhood.
Gilligan’s on the Green
In 2023, West Side partnered with EP Investment Group to open Gilligan’s on the Green in the Wyoming neighborhood. The two-story building is more than 9,000 square feet, and most recently housed Station BBQ. The new location features Irish and American cuisine, as well as exclusive beers brewed by West Side with an Irish focus, including dry stout, extra stout, and Irish lager. The location also feature beers from the West Side brand, as well as a full bar.
The building anchors the main strip of the Wyoming neighborhood, which also features Gabby’s Cafe (and Bocce Brewing Company), Wyoming Pastry Shop, Wyoming Meat Market, and Cowboy Cones ice cream. The area surrounding the restaurant is a greenspace known as Village Green.
Must-try beer: Double IPA – What’s better than an IPA, you ask? A double IPA! And West Side’s Double IPA is one of the best in the city. Every place is looking for that beer to hang their hat on, and they may have just found it with this one. It’s got everything you want in a 9.78% dank snifter – that subtle hoppiness reminiscent of a double, as well as some nice fruit notes to balance it out.
Other great beers: Common Ale, Hefeweizen, ESB