First Impressions: Elk Horn Brewery

Wednesday I had the opportunity to check out Elk Horn, Eugene's newest brewery, on their first day of service.

Elk Horn is run by the same folks behind Delacata, the popular Southern-style food cart you've likely seen around town. The owners' Southern influence shows in all aspects of the presentation, food, and experience.

The most surprising thing I discovered, upon placing my order, is that Elk Horn isn't brewing their own beer yet! I was told that'd be ready in October. In the meantime, Elk Horn has another claim to fame ready to go - they're the only business in Eugene producing hard cider. It's the cider I focused on - there were 5 on tap, ready to be sampled. The rest of the tap handles are rounded out by a good, but not spectacular, selection of local and regional beers easily found elsewhere in town.

Elk Horn's ciders - Dry, Apple, Peach, Blackberry, and Black Currant

I'll be the first to admit that my experience with cider pales in comparison to that of beer. That being said, Elk Horn seems to know what they're doing in this regard. Compared to macro-scale cider, Elk Horn's are milder and drier, with lots of subtle flavors that meld well together. From the acidic and mild Dry to the sweet, rich, and full Blackberry, these are all worth trying. I didn't much care for the Black Currant - it had a harsh and bitter vegetative note - but the rest are winners.

Another mark in Elk Horn's favor is the food. The owners have put their time with Delacata to good use, producing a menu full of Southern goodness - including gumbo, fried catfish, and what I assume to be their signature offering, an imposing elk burger.Over the past few days, they've also added BBQ, including chicken and tri-tip, as well as a couple of good-looking desserts. The food's a bit on the pricier side, but portions seemed generous and everything I saw coming out of the kitchen looked well put-together.

Speaking of a well put-together experience, the decor is top-notch. Elk Horn's owners have transformed the already-interesting multilevel Carl's Jr into a comfortable and relaxing place to be. Bluegrass and Americana waft from the speakers, the walls are covered in reclaimed wood (made from pallets, as I'm told) and the upstairs windows are now garage-style, which I'm sure will be great when the weather cools off a bit. There's also a good outdoor patio that was a very popular choice. Parking is a bit limited - the lot was full while the restaurant was not, and there's not a lot of street availability. My other concern here is that the open kitchen is quite noisy, but I bet that it'll be quieter once the staff gets into a good rhythm.

Overall, Elk Horn's well worth a visit, especially for fans of good Southern cooking with a PNW twist. They're located at Franklin and Hilyard.