The name grabbed me first: Yak and Yeti conjured images of Tibet and the Himalayas and I’m a sucker for alliteration. The “Brewbpub” part clinched the deal.

Located in a “haunted” Victorian mansion, Yak and Yeti retains the feel of an old house, but is lacking a bit in atmosphere. The decor is jumbled and seating is scattered between the dark downstairs bar and the choppy upstairs, but the staff is incredibly friendly and the food is fantastic.

The menu is heavy on Indian standards; we tried the lamb Vindaloo and chicken Makhani, which were both flavorful and true to the spice level that we requested. Vegetarians and vegans will be pleased with an extensive selection of entrees and, of course, standard Indian favorites like naan, samosas and pakora are available as well. There is a Tibetan section on the menu that includes momo, a traditional Tibetan dumpling that I tried while in Lhasa. Unfortunately, yak meat (a staple in Tibet) is not on the menu.

And the beer? Worth the detour from I-70. I tried the sampler, which was extensive—about at least 15 beers in all—and there were several standouts that I really enjoyed.

Sample:

• Namaste Pilsner
• Himalayan IPA
• Ginger Witbier
• Chai Stout
• GF Apple Ale

Skip:

• Blueberry Wheat
• Yeti Saison

In my mind, the best beers were the ones that are on the permanent list. While it’s obvious that the brewer likes to try out new things (the Wheat Wednesday series features a different flavor of wheat beer each week), I found that most of the “seasonal offerings” were not among my favorites as the flavors were less developed—several were almost watery. However, the Himalayan IPA was good enough to make Yak and Yeti’s a new favorite haunt of mine.

When You Go:

As of this posting, Yak & Yeti had a deal on Scoutmob for 50% off the bill. Just one more reason to visit!