Blackwater Brewing Co.
Rt. 32
Davis, WV
304-259-4221
West Virginia is certainly
not the mecca of most beer geeks. Breweries/brewpubs can be counted on
one hand and are, for the most part, a good distance from each other. This
is the exception. Mountain State Brewing is just a mile down the road making
this area a beer destination!
Surrounded by beautiful
mountains with ski areas and parks nearby, there is a lot for the tourist
to enjoy.....hiking, biking, climbing, camping.
This aesthetic venue was
opened in 1998 by Terry Lee and Rosalinde Benson who still oversee the
daily operations of the pub. The Executive Chef David Cartwright manages
a crew of skilled cooks who prepare delicacies from American, Italian and
German cuisines. Debra Sampson is the brewer and Director of Operations.
She brews six beers on a regular basis: Seneca Gold Wheat, IPA, Gold Ale,
Marzen, Parsons Porter and Black Diamond Stout. She utilizes a three barrel
brewing system that is situated right in the bar area for all to see.
Debra is not only the brewer, but along with Terry and a few other members of the staff, has helped to design and build the furniture and bar! Talk about hand-crafted!
In case you're wondering, that IS newspaper on the walls. Pages and pages of newsprint from many different periodicals are glued to the walls for all to read while they're enjoying the experience. As you can see, the dining area is bright and comfortable while the bar area is a little more intimate.
We were happy to see a
good crowd coming in for lunch. I imagine it gets a lot of seasonal business,
though I'm sure that the locals come here to get away from it all on a
regular basis. I know I would!
Obviously not an area
that you would be just passing through, it is certainly worth the trip
off the beaten path. Check out their website
for menus, events and local color.