Every now and then, a pleasant surprise catches me off guard. That’s what happened when I stumbled upon a beer garden video taken at Seasons Gourmet Food & Grocery on Facebook. First off, I had been waiting for this place to open for months (delays in permitting from the City of Galveston are common). Secondly, I was expecting this to be a small neighborhood market, but not with a beer garden. Finally, who would have thought their commitment to Texas craft beer would be so incredible.
When we made our way to Seasons in Galveston, we had no idea they served exclusively Texas craft beer on tap. In fact, nothing served on their tapwall is currently from anywhere other than the Greater Houston or Austin area including several brews in the immediate vicinity such as Galveston Island Brewing and Galveston Bay Beer.
After speaking with the owner, Johnathan McCutcheon, we understood his vision very clearly. His goal is to provide affordable grocery and beer options in the Galveston area to everybody in the city. It’s unusual to see somebody so committed to keeping prices down. In fact, he made sure he did his research by shopping various bars and shops that sell groceries and craft beer and priced his products competitively. In fact, he’s one of the few guys in the Galveston area that has Copperhead Brewing’s beers on tap and it’s affordable as well. You must make a visit to the shop to hear some of the specials he has.
Keep in mind, we visited on the second week that he was open, so the place is still trying to figure out consumer preference on both the grocery and craft beer side. Since he’s doing 64oz growler fills of Lone Pint Yellow Rose for an affordable price, that’s been my go-to, as well as selling Live Oak Hefeweizen six-packs cheaper than any place on the island.
Since Galveston doesn’t have a Whole Foods or even an H-E-B, it’s nice to support a small local business geared toward providing local, organic foods to the town. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a beer or two while you’re shopping. In fact, they’ve even outfitted their grocery carts with pint glass holders while you browse. What’s better than checking out the produce at a local market than doing so while enjoying a Copperhead Medusa or a Galveston Island Tiki Wheat? I can’t think of much else.
If you plan on making Galveston your summer destination, swing on in to Seasons to grab a brew, order a deli sandwich, and grab some groceries while you’re at it. In a span of 4 days, I’ve made it there twice and plan on going on a regular basis. This is becoming an after-work hotspot for me, but it should be on your craft beer itinerary the next time you make a trip down to Galveston. You’ll truly get a local experience like no other.