I used two standard sized crock pots this weekend to make a roast for my wife's side of the family. One roast was all venison, the other was an english cut beef roast. Both were delicious.
Once the roast was finished cooking I sequestered some of the juices and mixed in some flour to thicken up the sauce, then added it back to the crock pot. I've done this once with an Amber I made and it was difficult to distinguish the beer's flavor, the chocolate porter added a whole 'nother level.
2-2.5lbs meat
handful of cut carrots
2 medium sliced and diced onions
4stalks of chopped celery
generous handful of sliced mushrooms
full glass beer
.5 cup beef broth
served with horseradish and carmalized onion mashed potatoes.