[Alphabet Soup] B is for Black Star Co-Op

We have continued on our Alphabet Soup club and made it to B. “B” dinner was a success, and pretty freaking delicious.

We were torn between Bess Bistro and Black Star Co-op.  Black Star Co-op was the winner because we had such a big group for our “A” dinner, we thought BSC would be easier.  (Bess, you are still high on my list!) This also gave us more reason to drink some beer.

Black Star Co-op is the very first cooperatively-owned and worker self-managed brewpub and lies just a few miles north of downtown Austin.  They have house beers which are brewed by Jeff Young.  Depending on the complexity, the beers are classified into rational, irrational or infinite beers.

I tasted four of the rational beers in this flight.  You get 4-5oz pours for just $7.50! From forward to back is: Vulcan, High Esteem, Double Dee and Recalcitrant Dockhand.

My favorite was definitely the High Esteem.  But I am a wuss when it comes to hoppy or dark beers.  I’ve tried… and I just can’t seem to like them.  My friend loved the Recalcitrant Dockhand, but it wasn’t for me. Drinks range from beers, gluten-free beers, non-alcoholic beverages and wine.  There is something for everyone!

We all ordered dinner separately, annnnnnd we all ended up getting Shrimp and Grits ($10).  Of course.  So, I can’t attest to much on the menu, but I ate those shrimp and grits as if I had never eaten food before.  The grits were perfectly cooked and were deliciously creamy, salty, and buttery.  There was also a spicy kick to it and I loved it.

The shrimp were not dry at all, but they did come with the heads on them!  It reminded me of eating at Chinese restaurants when I was a kid.  I would make my dad de-head the shrimp before they even came close to my plate.  I paid this favor forward to my roommate.  After all, she kills the bugs in the house.

You can add a fried egg, avocado and/or jalapenos, which we did.  I highly recommend this.

We also got some cornbread, which I wasn’t a huge fan of.  I am a sweet-cornbread-kind of person, and this was  more of a savory/herb-y bread.  It wasn’t my choice of eats, especially not with the grits on the table.  They have other food that I will have to try someday– a variety of burgers and sandwiches, fish and chips, bangers and mash and much more.

Check them out for yourself!

Black Star Co-Op

7020 East Wind Drive, Austin TX | 512-452- BEER

Mon-Thurs 4-11pm; Fri-Sun 11am-11pm (pub open until 12/1am.)

Next dinner is scheduled… El Chile, we are coming for you!