Local beer and good eats

The homemade pimento cheese and Ritz-cracker plate hit the spot with a creamy pint of Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro.

Although craft beers entered the Houston scene more than 20 years ago, it’s only in the past five years that the local-brew movement has exploded here. Joining Houston’s 21-year-old brewing company, Saint Arnold, in recent years have been other local breweries, also receiving national attention, among them Karbach, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company, Lone Pint, No Label, Southern Star and 8^th Wonder.

Many of Houston’s bars, taverns and restaurants pair their local, national and international craft beers with delicious food. I recently stumbled across a few new finds that have quickly become my favorites, and re-visited legendary taverns that are Houston institutions.

As I was conducting my “research,” I encountered knowledgeable bar staff who educated me on the beers they served. At D&T Drive Inn, 1307 Enid Street in the Greater Heights, the bartender offered the perfect suggestion of the homemade pimento cheese plate to go with my Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro. At Witchcraft Tavern & Provision Company, 1221 W 11^th St. in the Heights, I was offered samples of several beers to pair with my Stilton Burger.

At Saint Arnold Brewing Company, 2000 Lyons Ave. just north of downtown, the Newery – as some staffers still name the historic brick warehouse they’ve called home for five years – now serves lunch, with prime rib dip and jerk chicken emerging as the most popular menu items.

Dessert Gallery, 3600 Kirby Dr.,  has recently introduced Craft Beer Desserts of the Month, partnering with local craft breweries to add beer as an ingredient to many of their traditional desserts. 

I always enjoy hearing about favorite spots. You can email me at [email protected] or share your favorites in the Comments under this story at thebuzzmagazines.com.

Buzz dining contributor Russell Weil is a native, second-generation Houstonian who loves the history of his hometown and all things burger. Author of the blog Eat More Burgers, Russell enjoys finding new dining spots with his monthly “Burger Buddy Adventure Group.” Russell also is a longtime docent at Holocaust Museum Houston and a project manager at the technology-communications company ContentActive, where many of his clients are nonprofits, including the United Way, Houston Food Bank, Houston Restaurant Weeks and Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center. Check out his blog at eat-more-burgers.com. Regular Buzz dining columnist Dai Huynh will return in a couple of months.