Shady Oak Barrel House

 

This is a pretty good place, promising but not yet living up to what I would hope.

It's in a simple but older light industrial building in an almost-forgotten corner of downtown Santa Rosa, in what was previously a flooring business. It has a simple, open light-industrial space inside but the high ceilings and big windows (some covered up; others, thankfully, not) plus the funky furnishing mixture add some nice touches. There is a pleasant patio area in back along the greenway. It overall has an informal, relaxed vibe, pleasant and quiet except when people get rowdy and loud playing games or bring barking dogs or let their kids run amok in the back patio, none of which happens often but, when it does, it's a bit of a turn-off for me.

Beer is mixed in quality. Most seem so far rather similar and one-dimensional, with the sour list being almost uniformly just sour and tart with little else going on. One IPA (see my review) is outstanding, complex, and unique.

Range is limited - the aforementioned similar sours and a range of mostly similar hoppy pale ales and IPAs.

I have found service to be good but it is limited to pouring beer at the bar, where it seems one must order.

They bring food trucks in back occasionally.

I think this place has potential but it's not yet reached it.