Hard Knocks Brewing
1024 E Main St
Cottage Grove, Oregon, 97424
United States
// CLOSED //
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by John_M from Washington
3.53/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.5
3.53/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 3 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.25 | food: 3.5
Had an impressive tripel from this brewery at the recent Sasquatch event, and so decided to drive down from Eugene the other day to check it out. While they're doing some nice things here, I'm not sure I need to make the drive down again any time soon.
Located on E. Main St. in what passses for downtown Cottage Grove, it's no more than a 5 minute drive to the brewpub from I-5. From the outside, the place doesn't really look like much (maybe a different color paint than mud brown would help), but it's a bit nicer (and larger looking) inside. Still, the inside area is pretty rustic and informal, and the place looks like it was a one time warehouse or barn. They have some sort of aluminum foil insulation on the ceiling, but even so, the brewpub was a pretty toasty place to hang on a warm Sunday afternoon in June (there were no fans or AC on the day I stopped by). Otherwise, there's a nice size bar area in front of you as you come in the door, and then some tables and chairs to the right. They also have a couple of flat screen TV's back over the bar, turned to various sports events. The place is very laid back..
In terms of beers, on this day they had 9 beers listed on the board, but with the DIPA currently out. I tried the hefeweizen, extra pale ale, the IPA and dubbel. Other than the hefe (which I found to be light and watery), all the beers were solid. I'd had the dubbel previously at the bier stein, and thought the version I had at the brewpub to be a bit better and more flavorful. The tripel was terrific, and both the pale ale and the IPA were solid (except there are plenty of really good IPA's in the NW, and I'm not sure this stands out). Interestingly, it seems like the brewer has a knack for Belgian style ales.
As for food, think burgers, fries, sandwiches, wings and pizza. At the recommendation of the bartender, I went with the pizza fries special, which consisted of french fries smothered in marinara, and then smothered with cheese. Talk about a cardiac nightmare. Anyway, the fries seemed to be pretty good, and the plate was sizeable, with plenty of cheese and fries.
Service was OK. The young woman tending bar was very friendly and personable, but I thought was a bit overwhelmed. She was expected to wait tables and serve the bar area, and while there were only 12 or 15 patrons while I was there, it was just a bit much for her. So food orders seemed to be a bit slow coming out from the kitchen
Shrug. This was an OK place I thought, but hardly what I would call a destination (except maybe in Cottage Grove). I enjoyed my visit, but am pretty sure I won't need to drive down here from Eugene any time soon.
Jun 08, 2015Located on E. Main St. in what passses for downtown Cottage Grove, it's no more than a 5 minute drive to the brewpub from I-5. From the outside, the place doesn't really look like much (maybe a different color paint than mud brown would help), but it's a bit nicer (and larger looking) inside. Still, the inside area is pretty rustic and informal, and the place looks like it was a one time warehouse or barn. They have some sort of aluminum foil insulation on the ceiling, but even so, the brewpub was a pretty toasty place to hang on a warm Sunday afternoon in June (there were no fans or AC on the day I stopped by). Otherwise, there's a nice size bar area in front of you as you come in the door, and then some tables and chairs to the right. They also have a couple of flat screen TV's back over the bar, turned to various sports events. The place is very laid back..
In terms of beers, on this day they had 9 beers listed on the board, but with the DIPA currently out. I tried the hefeweizen, extra pale ale, the IPA and dubbel. Other than the hefe (which I found to be light and watery), all the beers were solid. I'd had the dubbel previously at the bier stein, and thought the version I had at the brewpub to be a bit better and more flavorful. The tripel was terrific, and both the pale ale and the IPA were solid (except there are plenty of really good IPA's in the NW, and I'm not sure this stands out). Interestingly, it seems like the brewer has a knack for Belgian style ales.
As for food, think burgers, fries, sandwiches, wings and pizza. At the recommendation of the bartender, I went with the pizza fries special, which consisted of french fries smothered in marinara, and then smothered with cheese. Talk about a cardiac nightmare. Anyway, the fries seemed to be pretty good, and the plate was sizeable, with plenty of cheese and fries.
Service was OK. The young woman tending bar was very friendly and personable, but I thought was a bit overwhelmed. She was expected to wait tables and serve the bar area, and while there were only 12 or 15 patrons while I was there, it was just a bit much for her. So food orders seemed to be a bit slow coming out from the kitchen
Shrug. This was an OK place I thought, but hardly what I would call a destination (except maybe in Cottage Grove). I enjoyed my visit, but am pretty sure I won't need to drive down here from Eugene any time soon.
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