There’s nothing that makes me happier than good beer and quality pub grub - and I always seem to get those things at Beer Works. I use to frequent the one in Salem, Mass. before the Lowell spot opened up, but now I’m/we’re lucky enough to have one right in our backyard. Normally when I go to Beer Works I opt for the “safe” favorites: a burger, fried pickles, sweet potato fries - you know, the healthy stuff. But last week when I met a friend from my alma mater at the brew pub, I was in the mood for something a little more nutritious (despite the Fiery Fries with ranch dressing we split as an appetizer…and also besides the Pumpkinfest beer I slugged back). However, for dinner, I ordered the Malted Salmon: pan roasted, malt dusted fall-apart-with-a-fork salmon, served with cilantro mango fruit salsa, jasmine rice, and sauteed broccoli. Sounds deliciously healthy, doesn’t it? Now, I normally am a little skeptical of ordering fish at a non-seafood eatery, but this generous slab of sea life was obviously fresh, well seasoned, and perfectly crispy from the pan roasting. The salsa was also a great accompinament, although I could have done with the odd addition of red grapes. Either way, I’m not sure if I’ll stray from the burgers and fries next time I’m in L-Town, but this particular diversion was well worth saving my calories for more beer.