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Jack Russell Brewing Co
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 2 am - 7 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 7 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
65 reviews for Jack Russell Brewing Co
Review Highlights
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65 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer W.
Rocklin, CA
My first trip to Apple Hill will definitely not be my last. Amazing wines, delish apple flavored goodies, and...A BREWERY!!!
So many fun beer choices - pumpkin, raspberry and, of course, apple - along with a good variety of other, more standard, beer choices. 1 oz. samples are $1.00 each so why not try a bunch? I love hoppy beers so I was a big fan of their 2 IPAs. Both scored a 70 on the IBU (International Bittering Units) scale...mmm hoppy! Grab a glass, a growler or even mix and match a 6 pack of bottles. -
Review from Kendra B.
Ambiance: great place to sit and relax after hitting up a few orchards or farm stands and braving traffic and crowds. Open clearing, plenty of tables, a kettle corn vendor, smoked meat sandwich vendor (pulled pork, tri-tip) , and a place to grab a beer.
Brewery: go here because you're on Apple Hill and you want something to counteract baked goods. Don't go here expecting great beer. -
Review from J M.
Fair Oaks, CA
Under the previous ownership I would have given Jack Russell 4-5 star review.
I'm not quite sure why, but under the new ownership, something is missing. The beers aren't as good, there are a lot of carney-like vendors selling their wares and food from people who you may see at the county fair. It also seems sloppy in appearance.
We go every year hoping to find that spark that was once there, but so far, we leave disappointed. This year was no different. It's too bad, really. Jack Russell used to be quite a gem up in the hills. -
Review from Erin S.
Santa Rosa, CA
On our brewery travels, Jack Russell has always been on the list. We decided to venture to Apple Hill and realized Jack Russell was close. I was so surprised to find that it was apart of the Apple Hill orchards. A brewery at Apple Hill? Yes!
The place has a huge grassy area with picnic tables for guests to eat, drink, and peruse local crafts. There is a bar inside and outside. Outside you can get tasters and pints of the beer. I assume inside as well. We didn't go in. I really appreciated that the offered tasters even when the place is packed. They also have an area where they offer wine, mead, and cider. Way to go Jack Russell for producing so many different styles!
Will be on my list for any future Apple Hill trip.Listed in: IPA Journeys
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Review from Smackers M.
Camino, CA
Gone south. All the beer tastes the same. Apple tastes like blueberry, etc. Smells right, but I aint there to sniff beer. Odd, pungent stout tasted like a band-aid and no, I have not tasted a band-aid, but it was off!
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Review from Catherine H.
Sacramento, CA
A brewery at Apple HIll you say? Why don't mind if I do!
I had never been to Jack Russell until this last trip to Apple Hill, and I do believe I have added it to my list of "must visits" every year.
A 4oz taster is $1 and a pint is $4. Sounds like a good deal to me!
Not a beer fan? Around the back they have a wine, hard cider, and mead bar. (also delicious)
As with just about every farm at Apple Hill there was also food, vendors, and people milling about everywhere - in case you forgot where you were.
But with several tastings down... and a pint in my future... I hardly noticed the people and began to plan my spending on carmel corn, apple cider, apple pie, carmel apples - shall I go on? -
Review from Julianne G.
West Seattle, Seattle, WA
I have to give Jack Russell credit on it's actual brewery. It's fun, my boyfriend and I came on a Saturday to a lot of local vendors. It's a nice place to hang out.
I love a good cider though and the cider here is just not good. Both the apple and the berry taste like a watered down Jamba Juice smoothie. We were too embarrassed to ask for a refund/exchange since the staff was so nice to us. But they've got to figure out a new cider recipe. Sorry guys! -
Review from Theresa M.
Fair Oaks, CA
Great variety of beers!! $1 each sample. They also have great vendors and BBQ, depending on the weather. If you don't prefer the hoppy beers, I recommend Scottish Ale or Brown Ale. They also have seasonal flavors like Blueberry or Pumpkin.
At the vendors- I LOVED the nut booth with wonderful spicy, sweet or salty packed nuts. TONIA IS SUCH AN AMAZING PERSON AND SHE HAS GREAT FLAVORS and free samples!! Please visit her when you come. You won't be disappointed. :) -
Review from Carl O.
Citrus Heights, CA
My mouth had been poisoned by the winery up the road so I found the beer here to be only so so. I had four different types but can't remember which they were. I tried two meads and two ciders. They were all very good.
Four stars why? Because on top of having a cool atmosphere and great bar staff this place has the best corn dogs I've had in years! Plus, they had a huge selection of different types of mustard from French's to Beaver. And lots of naughty jokes about beavers and dogs to go along with it. -
Review from Jo H.
There's always room for beer. We were actually wine tasting that day. Our bus ended up at Jack Russell for lunch. The grounds surrounding the tasting room/bar are lush and green sprinkled with picnic tables.
I tried three beers: Belgifornia IPA, Scottish Ale, and Harvest Apple Ale. No surprise, I enjoyed the Scottish Ale the most. I fall easily for dark beers with rich coffee notes. The Harvest Apple Ale had a crisp bite that was interesting. I heard many rave about the Belgifornia IPA. The contributions from the Belgian side of this blend were evident but I didn't find the taste to be overly remarkable.
I hope to come back and try some of the seasonal brews I read about on their website. -
Review from Tiffany D.
Los Angeles, CA
Apple beer? Hard cider? Wine, crafts, and picnic benches?! We HAD to stop by on our tour of Apple Hill. What's nice about Jack Russell is that it's different than the 100s of orchards around because it has beer, and a wine cellar, and games to hang around in their picnic area with.
It's a nice short stop, but not one I would make mandatory if you are pressed on time. Lots of space for families and kids to run around in though, and very friendly people.
Brewery tasting sizes are $1 for the mini 3oz cup, perfect size!! The wine tasters are more like shots. All were very interesting, but none hit me as amazing. Still added to an awesome experience. -
Review from Cindy S.
Yesterday was my 3rd time visiting this brewery. I stumbled upon it once with some friends then visited again during a wine tasting trip. Jack Russell Brewing Company is the perfect midday stop for lunch and drinks so we had to bring our friends on our way back from Georgetown.
This Brewery has a large open yard with picnic tables for lunch and plenty of space for the kids to run around and play. Yesterday there were 14 different beers available for tasting. Tastings are $1 for 4oz. I believe beers are $4 a pint or $7 with the souvenir glass. My favorite of the 14 was the raspberry ale. My friends and I concluded something went wrong with the Weizenbock and California Wheat because they tasted sour.
Jack Russell also has wine, mead and hard cider tasting at "wine cove" located toward the back left of the building. They were out of apple cider and the berry cider was okay. I wasn't really a fan of the meads.
On the weekends there are venders along the perimeter of the yard. The tri-tip and pull pork bbq sandwiches are fabulous! If you can't decide which one you want get half and half! For $9.00 you get a sandwich, blue cheese cole slaw and chilli beans. YUM!
Also check out the Harvest Nuts vender. He has a awesome variety of different flavored almonds and pistachios. We bought 3 bags ($12)- raspberry, orange and butter toffee almonds.
Sidenotes: bathrooms are clean and pets are not allowed.Comment from Erik S. of Jack Russell Brewing Co 9/29/2011
Thanks for the review Cindy! Just to clarify, beer tastings… More » -
Review from Natalie M.
El Dorado Hills, CA
Jack Russell is in Camino on the way to Tahoe and Apple Hill, already a beautiful spot to be at. Off a gravel road, you pull up to a huge green lawn with plenty of seating where dogs are welcome. :)
Service has been exceptional every time I've gone. The owner sat down with the group I was with, chatted with us, gave us free tasters and a tour of the brewery. He made the experience that much more enjoyable.
Ok, so the beers. Jack Russell is modeled after a English farm brewery so you should obviously expect to get some English style ales.
Farmhouse Ale is Jack Russell's version of a seasonal pale ale. It's fruity in aroma and flavor but also has earthy yeast tones and lots of spice. Very yummy and refreshing!
I also really liked their Brown Ale. It has a malty, chocolate favor. It's medium bodied with a low alcohol content, goes down like water. :)
The only beer I really wasn't into was their Irish Red Ale. It's sourness is overwhelming and the finish is long and chalky. Not a fan!
Overall, it's a great place to check out! It makes for a great afternoon outside with your dog and loved ones, drinking beer. Nothing better than that. -
Review from Nathan P.
Davis, CA
How could you not give this place 5 stars?!?!? The atmosphere on a Saturday afternoon was peaceful and fun. They provided a number of choices of BBQ foods and delicious treats. They had organic jams and kettle corn and a few tents offering arts and crafts and even someone blowing glass jewelry.
There is a wine cave on the grounds and they brew their own beer.
The beer was surprisingly awesome. From a hoppy IPA to a sweeter Pumpkin Ale, the beer was very tasty. They have apple, blueberry, raspberry, pumpkin and then 5 or other kinds of traditional beers.
My wife and I had a really great time and hung out for 2 or 3 hours. The only downside is the beer was soooo good that I had to force myself to quit drinking or I wasn't going to make it to the car. :) -
Review from Jennifer L.
San Francisco, CA
What an AMAZING spot for a picnic. We stopped in while driving through Apple Hill and grabbed a table with an umbrella to avoid the sweltering summer sun. The weather was absolutely perfect, the barbecue smelled amazing, and everyone was in good spirits. I cannot imagine a better spot to stop off and have lunch and grab a beer. That said, I wasn't wild about any of the brews, but that's just me.
Looks like some of the river rafting tours come up here for lunch too - watch out; they take up a lot of table space and they might come by to let you know they're just waiting for you to move so they can have your table, but you know, "no rush." * stare *
They also have a few cornhole set ups if you're in the mood to toss the ol' bean bag around. Don't miss out on the homemade preserves made with the berries grown on property.
No dogs, no outside booze. -
Review from Keely B.
Sacramento, CA
Fun way to break up the apple hill experience with an adult beverage. They have added on to the place and now their offerings go beyond beer to wine and mead. We stuck with the beer, but there were lots to try and there were some good ones and weird ones (fruit inspired beers). The best part is the chill vibe on the expansive lawn dotted with picnic tables.
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Review from Suzie T.
West Sacramento, CA
Fun little Brewery tucked away in the middle of Apple Hill. Had a great time with the hubby. I was a fan of the brown ale and the pumpkin ale was a delight! Can't wait to visit again with a few of my friends.
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Review from Richard I.
Sacramento, CA
If you haven't been to Jack Russell, this Saturday is the perfect time to stop by. They serve up a slew of beers that go down smooth.
This Saturday there is a concert at Jack Russell to compliment the Beer , Wine and Barbecue they will be serving up.
http://www.inspector71... will be playing starting at 6PM -
Review from Mark M.
Shingle Springs, CA
The new 'owners' are doing a great job with the events held at the brewery. They have created new rules which have drastically cut down on potential issues with the clientele. No more dogs running loose, although they're welcome on a leash. Fine with me.
The beer is excellent and this place is a great stop for grown-ups while touring the Apple Hill area. There is always an excellent selection of beers & ales. I used to home brew and consider myself a beer semi expert and this stuff is very good.
They often have gourmet food available as well. The bar is cool and the staff is usually friendly. You can buy six packs and I think kegs as well.
All in all a jewel of the Sierra. -
Review from Tracy A.
Oakland, CA
Grab a few tasters to determine which beer you want a whole pint of. We shared a whole slew of them at a dollar a pop. I finally decided upon the Red. It was a hard decision because there were many good ones.
Once our beer was chosen, we headed outside to our picnic table in the shade. Hazel was able to eat and run around on the grass.
An added bonus is that I found a ring in the parking lot! -
Review from Robin B.
Lincoln, CA
This was our first time at Jack Russell and we were not overly impressed. Various craft and food vendors were present and the kettle corn was tasty. Plenty of seating and flagger's present to help navigate parking. Having a wine expert with us, she wasn't (nor was I) impressed with the winery setup - it was dark almost medieval themed inside. We walked out without sampling. Now here's where the big disappointment came....while viewing the beer tasting room we looked into the brewery through their large glass window and noticed beverage and food containers present. A food prep table with a white cutting board was directly below this viewing window with stuff...paper, reading glasses, several opened soda beverage cans and two jars one being peanut butter. This didn't appear to every sanitary to us. Looking through their double doors into the brewery towards the right was a tray with what appeared to be wine crafes and again opened soda beverage cans. A real turnoff sanitary wise IMO. While walking back from the winery area where we sat there was a dead 5 gallon bush still in the black plastic container behind the brown lattice. These little unkept items gave us the impression attention to detail isn't a first priority.
Lastly, my dh and ds sampled four beers - $1 for each sample. Between the three of us sampling these four samples, we threw three of them away. Blueberry, apple and die or deal something (dh & ds bought them so I'm going by what they told me the names were) were all bitter with an aftertaste. The fourth beer was excellent! Unfortunately, we wont be coming back. -
Review from Olivia L.
Sacramento, CA
Yelp directions will tell you to take a slight left onto Apple Vista but don't listen. It's actually right past Apple Vista, still on Larsen.
Ok, logistics aside, this place is definitely A-OK.
It's a bit hokey, with lots of outdoor tables and actually reminded me of lunch recess in elementary school.
They have a wide selection of beers, from Blueberry Ale, Vanilla Stout, Raspberry Wheat, Pumpkin Ale or Stout, IPA and many others.
I thought it would be funny (and it was) to ask the girl behind the counter pouring the beer if they had Rockstar (you know, the energy drink). She just looked at me in disdain. "No? (in best valley girl accent) Can I just get a Cosmo then?"
I'm pretty sure if I had not quickly chimed in and said I was kidding, she would have betch slapped me. Luckily, a jovial guy working there laughed and said that people come in all of the time asking for such nonsense.
Outside, we bought a tri tip sandwich from "the best tri-tip in the world" vendor or something to that effect. I can assure you it was not the best in the world and the take away from that is why throw such a statement out there when folks are going to make up their own mind in about 30 seconds anyway? Oh well, not a big deal.
I would go back, try a different beer and check out the wood fired pizza guys on the other side of the lawn. -
Review from Anna B.
Sacramento, CA
Word is they don't have dogs anymore because even well-behaved dogs were biting children. A regular told me several dogs were provoked by the wild children.
The regulars by the way either look like serial killers, molesters or belong on King of the Hill.1 Previous Review:
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10/9/2010
It's like drinking beer in the middle of an elementary school playground.
Comment from Erik S. of Jack Russell Brewing Co 4/11/2011
Anna, while we appreciate comments about our establishment,… More » -
10/9/2010
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Review from Scott H.
Reno, NV
First off I would like to say that I'm glad they don't allow dogs here. We have a little dog who could travel, and we leave him at home, when I'm out tasting beer, wine or doing whatever, I don't want some schmucks dog coming up and slobbering on me, or sniffing my crotch.
OK, so we came up here in October with the whole family while it was pouring rain. They have a cool little tasting room and a large grassy area that had food and craft vendors. This place has great beer, everything I tasted was well crafted ( I'm a homebrewer) and they also get pretty creative and mix them to create unique flavors. I wish this place was closer to home, I would be here every week. We got some pizza from one of the vendors, don't remember the name , but it was pretty darn good for a gag wagon.
Would love to go here again in nice weather! -
Review from GA M.
Portland, OR
Had no opportunity to try anything...no dogs allowed? Was shocked that a place named Jack Russell and uses picture of Jack Russell on their sign would be anti dogs when so many other farms are dog friendly. My dog and I loved other Apple Hill farms!
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Review from Chris H.
Roseville, CA
It always amuses me in the golden state, where gorgeous weather is a plenty - beer gardens are NOT! In the UK, we love our beer gardens and get to go in them twice a year! What more can someone ask for, than somewhere to let your unruly kids run riot while you sup beer down.
I first came here for Guy Fawkes night - a rather morbid British tradition where we roast a dummy on top of a fire. Mr Fawkes tried to burn the Houses of Parliament. He'd probably be a hero these days but this is a great excuse to get drunk, boisterous and shout "burn him" whilst onlooking Americans look confused, shocked and grateful they threw our tea in the harbor. Nowadays, I come here for solace, sanity and a way to get over a frightening trip to the Apple Hill pumpkin patches.
The beer is really not that great but there's going to be one you can manage and there's always 'The Forester Pub and grill' to retreat to for a pint of Alaskan Amber Ale. So a four is a stretch but what can one do with all the other pro-British opportunities this place has :)
Oh and there's Baggo! -
Review from Christopher C.
Antelope, CA
This is a unique spot in the heart of Apple Hill. This place is a nice spot to stop for a pint, the stout and pumpkin ale were among my favorites. The prices are reasonable at $4 for a pint with no tax!
I really thought that this place would be more of a restaurant/brewery type place, however being that apple season is very short, having a full time restaurant is probably not a good long term business decision.
I and a few friends went up on a Friday, and there was some live music playing in their "playground" or front yard which consists of a few picnic tables, and is lined with some independent food vendors and not to mention 2 green port-a-toilets, classy. The disgusting thing is that, the BBQ vendor was smoking a cigarette while turning meat over with a pair of tongs! That was more than enough for me not to even think about trying any of the food.
The beer is good. Is it better than other beers I have had? No. Is it the best place to get a pint in Apple Hill? Yes. The T-shirts and sweatshirts are pretty neat.
I think the owners could do a better job with their grounds and facilities. Namely, get the "yard" in check, put some trees, bushes etc, maybe a nice rock fountain and some tables and chairs couldn't hurt either. You need to give a customer a reason to stop and have a drink and stay for longer than 1 pint.
P.S. If anyone knows the folks that man the BBQ area, FYI, take your cigarette breaks away from food that people are going to eat, it's disgusting.
I gave it 3 stars because you can't give 2.5, plus I have to give the benefit of the doubt. -
Review from Emily T.
Sacramento, CA
On our way home from camping this weekend, we decided to stop at an old fav of mine; Jack Russell Brewery in Camino. I haven't been hear in years & not too much changed, I'm happy to say. The actual brewery is a bit different, just a few cosmetic updates, nothing major. The picnic area is just a huge as it always was, but now they have benches & chairs for those who don't want to throw down a blanket.
The beer is great! I had an Apple something or another (a seasonal brew, I suppose, but also this place is in apple country), my bf had a beer from the Wheat Beer Company and it was called Weizen Bock (which he liked) & one of our friends had the Raspberry Imperial Stout (which he loved)! My beer was refreshing & had a great flavor!
They also now have food that you can buy if you didn't bring your own. Things like hot dogs, tri tip sandies (they are just ok) & veggie burgers; all for a reasonable price.
The best part that I didn't remember from my last visit is the raspberries that you can pick yourself for a small fee. My friend & I did that while the men drank their beers & those were some of the best berries I've had in a LONG time! -
Review from Stephanie N.
Davis, CA
This was one of our many stops on a day trip to Apple Hill. There was a BBQ going on, live music, and a few vendors selling things at the edge of the lawn. We really went to try the beer, but it was nice to enjoy it outside in the sun and watch all the people. I'm not sure what it's like on a normal day, but it was a great atmosphere that Sunday.
The service was great; there was a long line to get to the bar but the bartenders were patient, friendly and helpful. They let us sample a few and chatted us up as we tried the brews. Good beer too - this makes for a fun trip up from Sac for beer lovers! -
Review from ericka L.
Pasadena, CA
After a day of wine tasting, we ended up here, because nothing goes better with wine than beer.
It was drizzly and cold, and we ran inside the tasting room, which pretty much looked just like a regular bar, only smaller. We tried a few different beers, all of which were pretty good.
I liked the Captain Boomers IPA, which was hoppy and bitter, and really liked the Harvest Apple Ale, a combination of malted barley and a blend of juice from Apple Hill apples. Yum! It was fresh and light, well-balanced between sweet and tart. Unfortunately, it wasn't for sale by the bottle so I couldn't bring any home.
It's very low-key and relaxed. I definitely recommend a visit, but they lose one star because I had to go outside in the rain to get to their bathroom. -
Review from M D.
West Linn, OR
We found this tasting room while we were looking for wineries outside Sacramento, California. I recommend you try several tasters to decide which beer you like the best. We (four adults) shared samples of about 12 different beers and liked them all. The barmaid suggested a few we could blend which we did with great success. The dirty-blond was a favorite. Then take your brew out to one of the many picnic tables and enjoy the surroundings.
Great place to visit on a warm California day. Odd no dogs allowed, not even a Jack Russell! -
Review from Debbie C.
Sacramento, CA
We went there for the first time and the bar tender a female had no personality and acted like she didn't want to be there, so we won't be back!
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Review from Erin M.
Rocklin, CA
I love Jack's Farmhouse style ale. However, I wished they actually brewed some the last damn time I went to visit. I went up on the opening weekend of the Apple Hill season, and they had very few beers to choose from. The staff said that lack of demand was the issue. Here's a tip, when your busiest season begins, you should have all your beers on tap. Makes for an upset beer drinker.
Other than that experience, I have always liked the atmosphere at Jack Russell's. The bar is cozy but nice in the winter time as they have the wood stove going. I like nothing better than driving up on a drizzly Saturday and having a few either in the pub or outside. The views of the area cannot be beat at Jack's. -
Review from Michael W.
Sacramento, CA
Great seasonal beers from tap or in cases of 6.
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Review from Jeff G.
Pacifica, CA
Really large beer selection - and it's all good!! I particularly liked the Strong Blonde, but only in 5oz servings since it's strong. David, the brewmaster, is very talented. Lauren the server is cute, too.
Large grassy area is dog friendly and so are all the guests. -
Review from Kendall M.
Sacramento, CA
good lunch spot in apple hill. did not go for beer tasting.
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Review from Cali G.
San Jose, CA
Love this place...but honestly they had me with the Jack Russell. :)
They have a wide selection of beers... Vanilla Stout, Blueberry Ale, Ciders Raspberry Wheat, Pumpkin Ale , IPA, etc...
On nice days they have vendors outside selling tri-tip, corn, and other yummy goodies. We loved this place and will be back. -
Review from Scotty D.
one of my favorite stops in all of apple hill and oh yeah they have beer here. this is a great brewery i first heard about when we carried the beer at the hopyard alehouse. i love all of their beers but the oatmeal stout, ipa, and raspberry ale are great. if you can get a tour of the brewery jump on it because it means free beer tasters.
there are many picnic tables outside, a great bbq with some awesome tri tip and bratwurst and even wood fired pizza. and after the beer is kicking in you just gotta try the bean bag toss game they have on the lawn. this place is all kinds of fun for grown ups and i love it!Listed in: Because of these reviews I…
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Review from Karen S.
The folks here are very nice, the beer is very good, the location makes for a fun day-trip from anywhere in Sacramento, and it's just a good time.
I'm in the alcohol business and got 'ye grand ole tour of the actual brewing stuff which was cool. They showed us the hops and let us taste beer out of the stainless steel tanks. Which was way cool since it was actually the same beer of what I already had from the tap inside the bar area.. but it tasted totally different!
Rock on Jack Russell! My favorites are the Farmhouse Ale and the Irish Red... -
Review from Rob R.
Cool farmhouse style building that contains a brewery! The IPA was excellent ($3 for 10oz, $4 for 16oz, $5 for 20oz) - definitely want to try more.
There's a ton of seating outside and everyone there was dog friendly. Don't be afraid to talk to the locals - they gave us some great tips!!
