Gotahold Brewing | Eureka Springs, AR
Beer Trip: Gotahold Brewing in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Eureka Springs has a certain feel that’s difficult to describe - it’s the type of place that you either fall in love with or run away from. In the case of the founders of this awesome stop, the town really “got a hold” on them, and thus Gotahold Brewing was born!
The Brewery
From the parking lot Gotahold doesn’t look like much, but once you enter the front door it’s like an onion that keeps revealing layer after layer! The indoor space seems small until you realize that it’s separated into 3 or 4 different rooms with seating in each one. These spaces are probably quite enjoyable during winter, but if you visit in pleasant temps you absolutely must sit in the outdoor area behind the building - you’re literally in the middle of the woods with ample seating everywhere!
They have several cornhole and washer games set up, as well as a mile-long walking trail on the property. With all of this open area, of course dogs are welcome - so we brought Barley along for the experience. We actually enjoyed our time here so much so that we came back twice over the long weekend, with our second visit offering a live band on their mini stage - they offer countless events throughout the year.
The Beer
Gotahold offers 10 different beers on tap with several varying brewing styles. When we visited they offered 2 IPAs, 2 stouts, 2 sours, a Helles, a farmhouse ale, a marzen, and a Belgian tripel. One thing worth noting was that over half of the menu was 6% ABV or higher (including 2 over 10%). With Morgan still being the DD at 7 months pregnant this wasn’t an issue for us, but it is worth considering if you drive here from town.
As far as beer quality goes, you would be hard pressed to find another brewery that does it better. Of the hundreds of breweries we have been to, Gotahold is easily within the top 5 for best overall beer taste. The Downhill Ride was probably the top beer of the trip - this is a double IPA that a lot of people (us included) consider to have a butter-like taste that ties nicely with a slight bitterness.
One of the sours on tap was the Stone in Love. Although we aren’t usually fans of aged beer, this sour was an exception with great peach and apricot fruitiness while giving off just subtle hints from the aging process. The last beer worth noting was their Oktoberfest, which had a great malty flavor along with a touch of honey.
Food, Merch, & More
Gotahold doesn’t offer its own food, but constantly partners with food trucks to cover you in that aspect. In addition to serving beer, they also make their own kombucha and share a building with a full coffee shop!
As far as merchandise goes, they have several shirts, hats, signature cups, and even dog treats made from their spent grains during the brewing process. Wendy, one of the co-owners, was even so kind to give one to Barley (and remember her name throughout the afternoon)! We also made sure to stock up on their to-go beers, of which they had nearly every option available.