Grain Barrel Stout Ale
Elk Grove Brewing Co Inc.

If you're someone who enjoys the readily available Rouge Shakespeare Stout then you'll enjoy this beer. Nice dark color with little to no head or lace. Nice coffee with nicely balanced malt. There's also hints of chocolate. I personally thought this stout was very drinkable, especially after realizing I had 4 among friends over a long dinner.

One thing that disappoints me about the Elk Grove Brewery is overall restaurant and location. I think it could be so much better in terms of the quality of its food and menu. Sure, it's a decent menu with your cookie-cutter brewpub food. But as a local chef I dream that those behind the beer would focus more on beer pairings with better quality food and more sophisticated pub food. I know that may sound like a contradiction but it's not, nor is it meant to scare away customers on any budget. Instead, do simple, quality, yet inexpensive food to the point where it knocks your freakin' socks off. like a good fried house pickles with classic crudite and homemade maytag bleu cheese dressing, not the garbage dill chips they serve. And a nice Monte Cristo with homemade black berry preserves done with a house carbonated beer batter. I could go on and on... I do give them credit on the artichoke bread. It's almost as good as their beer.

It's just frustrating as a chef because I wish I could steal their brewer, Bill Wood, for my own restaurant concept. Oh well. I guess i'll suck it up and keep going in for the beer.

This is a tasty stout.
A: nice dark coffee appearance with thin light brown head
S: smells of roasted coffee, chocolates, and sweet grains. yummy.
T: packed with malts. the taste is complex, but not overbearing.
M: low carbonation, goes down easy.
D: good mellow stout.