Getting a beer doesn’t limit you to grabbing a cheap six-pack at the corner store. Why not check out a bar or pub with some friends?  There are plenty of great spots to quench your thirst on Olympia’s westside, many so close to The Evergreen State College that even Speedy the geoduck could get there in short order.

Evergreen State College

These aren’t just spots to grab a lager or an IPA. Many places hold activities that will take your mind off of school stress and allow you to meet people from across the community.

TOSS Taps

400 Cooper Point Road SW, Unit 8, Olympia
360.584.9437

Longtime residents will remember the NASCAR-themed Growler Garage bar, which closed a few years ago. New owners have given it new life as TOSS Taps, which opened in August of 2021. The acronym stands for Taste Of the South Sound, highlighting the pub’s offerings – 40 taps with beers, ciders and root beer made in the area and across Washington. TOSS Taps rotates its offerings and you can find the current list of IPAs, stouts, lagers, seltzers and others on Untappd.

Evergreen State College
TOSS Taps offers a great selection of drinks from across the area; 40 rotating taps of beer, ciders and more. TOSS Taps also has a room filled with arcade-inspired fun; it’s filled with pinball machines and video games like Pac-Man. Photo courtesy: TOSS Taps

TOSS Taps added to its experience in June of 2022 when it opened a game room, which includes arcade games, pinball, darts, table games and more. Trivia challenges are offered every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. An extra bit of fun: people can bring their dogs in.

The bar hopes to offer meals down the road. In the meantime, patrons are encouraged to bring their own food.

Skep & Skein Tavern

2106 Harrison Avenue NW, Ste. B14, Olympia
360.292.4400

Skep & Skein Tavern opened in 2010 and offers something unique: its own mead. Their pub name highlights this: a “skep” is a basket used to house honeybees, honey being a key ingredient in mead. The tavern’s mead has proven so popular that it created a production company, Axis Meads, and the drink can now be found across the state. Bottles are also for sale at the tavern.

Evergreen State College
If you’re looking for something new to dry, head to Skep & Skein Tavern for its own mead. The drink has proven so popular that it formed its own company, Axis Mead, to meet demand. Photo courtesy: Skep & Skein Tavern

The other half of the name, skein, is a length of yarn or string, a nod to one of the co-founder’s love for knitting. Her creations are displayed in a variety of places in the tavern. Skep & Skein also hosts a stitching night every Wednesday, an excellent study break whose popularity has boomed in the last few years.

Skep & Skein has 16 rotating taps with beers, ciders and of course, mead. Skep & Skein doesn’t offer food, but customers are welcome to bring their own or order from nearby restaurants.

2 Mile House Pub and Eatery

4221 Harrison Avenue NW, Olympia
360.753.9964

2 Mile House Pub and Eatery has a full bar as well as plenty of great appetizers and meals, including pot stickers, waffle fries, burgers and tacos that are customer favorites. You can also order the food on Grubhub on those nights when you’re too busy to get off campus.

Evergreen State College
2 Mile House Pub and Eatery has a large menu that includes burgers, tacos and salads. Customers can enjoy occasional comedy nights and painting parties when they want to relax. Photo credit: Craig Scott

There are plenty of fun happenings at the 2 Mile House, including trivia nights and comedy shows as well as monthly painting parties from graphic designer Sandra Wallace, where folks have made canvas paintings of everything from pets to images from the Star Wars hit, “The Mandalorian.”  2 Mile House announces its events on the 2 Mile House Pub and Eatery Facebook page.

Headless Mumby Brewing Company

232 Division Street NW, Olympia
360.742.3880

Headless Mumby Brewing Company prides itself in offering only lagers, something done at just a few breweries in the country. These lagers range in style, everything from German recipes to ones inspired by the Pacific Northwest. This is an ideal spot for students with kids — the taproom is open to families and some toys are provided for the little ones.

Evergreen State College
Because Headless Mumby Brewing Company’s taproom doesn’t feature TVs or loud music, it is an ideal place for studying or a night out with friends or family. Photo courtesy: Headless Mumby Brewing Company

Headless Mumby has themed activities almost every day of the week, such as BIGNO or trivia nights. One you won’t find elsewhere happens on Friday afternoons, where unique items are placed in a cask, which is left alone to mix. Customers won’t know what the beer will taste like until the cask is tapped a few weeks later.

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