Emrys Beer & Mead Works

Whether you're craving a beer or a mead, Emrys has a fun selection — and who doesn't love a good smash burger. My personal favorite is the Patty Melt Smash.

Emrys is one of the newer additions to Liberty Lake's River District, and it does a nice job of being both a brewery-meadery and a real place to eat. The smash burgers are the draw — crispy-edged patties you can stack from a single up to a quad, dressed with things like onion-pickle marmalade and their house Moonsauce — and the patty melt on sourdough with grilled onions and a cheese skirt is exactly as good as it sounds. There's a rooftop patio, plus gluten-free, vegetarian, and non-alcoholic options.

It's more taproom than restaurant, so don't expect white-tablecloth service or a sprawling menu — the focus is beer, mead, and burgers, and it's better for it. If that's what you're after, it's a fun, laid-back stop.