Ten-Ten Road area of Raleigh gets new taproom serving mostly local craft beers

Until this week, I'd had little chance to explore the local craft brewery scene since moving to the Raleigh area of North Carolina. Then just the other day, I learned that a taproom, Elevated Grains, featuring packaged and draft craft brews and had opened not far from my home, so I thought it was worth checking out.

I met one of the two co-owners, Mike, on that afternoon and while we were chatting, his mother and stepfather walked in. They had come to town from their home in San Antonio to help Mike celebrate his birthday that weekend ... and to fete Mike and fellow owner Scott on the taproom's opening.

I sampled all six brews on tap on Thursday, and while two or three stood out, I didn't dislike any of them -- including the stout, which is usually a beer I don't particularily care for. The stout was Milky Way, from Trophy Brewing in Raleigh.

In fact, all the beers on tap last week were from North Carolina except the Double Aught pilsner from Bear Republic Brewery of Healdsburg, Calif., a sample of which you'll see in the 5 oz. snifter at right.

My favorites were the Newlin' original pale ale from Haw River Brewery of Saxapahaw, N.C., and the Oktoberfest, another from Trophy in Raleigh. Also on tap were Classic Saison of Blackberry Farm of Walland, N.C. (that's the saison at left), and Grove, a New England IPA from Brewery Bhavana in Raleigh. When I came back a second time Saturday -- it was Mike's birthday. Scott and Mike said those brews -- available in 5, 10 and 16 oz. glasses (see price chart below) -- would remain on tap until the kegs hit bottom, at which time a new brew would be introduced in its place.

Elevated Grains is at 7987 Fayetteville Road, Raleigh. It's in modest quarters at the southern end of the Food Lion strip mall at the northeast corner of U.S. 401 (Fayetteville Road) and Ten-Ten Road. Scott said he and Mike have long-range ambitions to move into a larger space when they are ready to start brewing their own beers. For now, though, they work to introduce locals to other craft brews -- those they favor, in particular.

You can find Elevated Grains on Facebook and Instagram. Store hours right now (they are subject to change) are noon to 10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 7 p.m. Sunday and Monday. Elevated Grains does not serve food, but customers are welcome to bring food or have it delivered to them at the taproom. The strip mall has a Dominoes, Jersey Mike's Subs, China Moon and Smithfield's BBQ close by (and a Wendy's and Subway across Ten-Ten Road).

Below are photos showing Elevated Grains' packaged warm and cooled craft brews.

Above: Mike chatting to a customer near the array of glasses. Elevated Grains has 5, 10 and 16 oz. (pint) glasses available, and also has a modest number of wines.