Food? Beer? Blackwater Draw Has You Covered

College towns are known for many things and two of these things are food and beer. Essentials to the college student, food and beverage are part of the college lifestyle and it’s common to find restaurants and taverns made with the college crowd in mind. College Station, Texas, home to Texas A&M University, has its share of eateries and taverns and one that my family and I tried and liked is Blackwater Draw, a brewpub located at 303 Boyett Street, College Station, TX.

Food and Warm Ups

Blackwater Draw is equal parts brewery and restaurant and thus attracts people for both eating and drinking. It was constructed from what looks like someone’s former house and when you walk inside, you feel like you’re entering somebody’s place of residence. A large outdoor seating area is perfect for those who like the fresh air and the inside, with its openly viewable fermenters, is friendly and inviting.

Food at Blackwater Draw is American in scope, featuring appetizers such as Chips & Queso and Parmesan Truffle Fries; Sandwiches like the Pulled Pork, Chicken Salad, and Portabella Burger; Soups & Salads; and even a few seafood options. They have a Kids menu as well and a brunch menu, popular on Sundays.

Fresh Brew

I sampled a handful of beers while at Blackwater Draw. Here are the beers I tried, in alphabetical order by name, followed by the style and my Untappd rating on a 5- point scale:

• Border Town, Vienna Lager, 3.75
• Brewjeria, American Brown Ale, 3.75
• Contract Killer, Porter, 3.75
• Flight of the Great Pumpkin, Stout, 4
• Ole St. Nipplaus, Milk Stout, 4

Average Rating: 3.85

Flight of the Great Pumpkin, with its blend of roasted malt, real pumpkin, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg with hints of oak, was my favorite beer, followed closely by Ole St. Nipplaus Milk Stout. Each beer I tried was easily better than average and worthy of a second helping.

College Town Sustenance

Blackwater Draw is a cool little brewpub in College Station. There are actually two facilities for this brewpub: The restaurant and pub that I visited and a separate packaging facility and taproom. The latter is good for those who want to sip on beer and tour the brewhouse while the former is good for families and others looking for a square meal to match with the brew.

I would have rated Blackwater Draw highly based on the beer alone, but as my family and I quickly discovered, Blackwater Draw also knows a thing or two about making tasty food. We each ordered different foods and appetizers, like we usually do when we visit someplace new, for both sharing and rating purposes. I loved my Portabella Burger and the grilled cheese was excellent. They prepared my burger just right and the freshness was indicative of meat that wasn’t previously frozen. I was more than happy with my choice of burgers, but the next time I dine here, I may have to go with the build your own burger option, just to see how far my imagination can carry me. They have less common choices for burger toppings like peanut butter and eggs and a burger lover could create a truly bizarre concoction if they wanted to. If these burger add- ons sound a little too adventurous for your tastes, don’t worry- you can select from more traditional toppings like lettuce, tomato, bacon, pickles, etc.

Aside from the burger, we liked our other foods also. The grilled cheese, with its four different cheeses, was a treat for connoisseurs of artisan foods and the sliders were top- notch. Foods are served in a metal basket, which was different from what we expected and rather cool. We were more than satisfied with the food quality and can see why Blackwater Draw is so popular with locals.

Service at Blackwater Draw took time to get going, but once we got past the slow startup, the wait staff kicked into gear and checked back at reasonable intervals. And as I already mentioned, the beer brewed at Backwater Draw is just as good as the beer from most of the larger craft breweries in Texas. I liked our visit to Backwater Draw and while I was expected something with a little more college- focus, there was little not to like about this College Station brewery and restaurant. Pay a visit the next time you’re in town for a Texas A&M Aggies game or to visit student friends. And tell them Great Beer Now sent you.