I am a home brewer, and thus, whenever I travel I find myself planning our trip not by the location of hotels, but rather, by the occurrence of micro breweries. So naturally, when I heard of this 'little school house" that had home made beer and great food, there was no question that an adventure to this place was in order. And an adventure it was!
The VENUE:
The school house is located in a small town near San Angelo called Eola and yes, the location is literally an abandoned school house for children. What you find upon entering the school house is exactly what you would imagine of a venue of this type, a micro brewery fused with an abandoned school house and a mild vibe of "this place is haunted!" From colorful walls, the blackboards, and the child like seats - you half expect a teacher to start ranting about how you didn't do your homework just as Mark serves you up another fresh pint. These features work together very well to provide a great feeling of authenticity.
The BEER:
Beer is something that has been around for literally 5,000 plus years. Beer is simple. Beer is good. And with the right person behind the brew pot, brewing beer can be as adventurously unique as any other type of food (yes, beer is food!) With Eola, you find a return to this tradition. You find an establishment that experiments with making incredible beer and isn't afraid to break the mold. Take the "Wild Farm Ale" for example, where Mark has decided to ferment his traditional farm ale with a wild form of yeast. The results were spectacular. Eola gives its visitors a chance to be a part of the beer making process - the beer making adventure, if you will - and to develop a fierce loyalty for the process and the establishment.
The COMPANY:
The best thing about the Eola School House is that people go for two reasons: (1) great company and (2) amazing beer. This isn't your sleazy college bar and it's not likely to get out of hand. At the focus of the evening will be conversation with total strangers over your love of the place and the great beer that is being serves. you'll arrive as strangers, and leave helping Mark put up a new roof because you believe in the concept of the operation and you want to be a part of the process. In all honestly, the place started feeling like HOME + MICRO BREWERY. It's a good combination.
All together, this establishment is brilliantly authentic and the beer is superb. I recommend calling ahead and bringing just a friend or two. You'll make the rest when you arrive.
Awesome, unique, friendly.... Those are three words that describe this place. Mark, the owner, brews all types of beer throughout the year. He is known for his Farm Ale, which is a very refreshing and easily drinkable beer with a hint of lemon. One of my favorites was the Scottish ale he made earlier in the year.
Also, he makes some of the best tasting hamburgers that I've ever had. The pizza he makes is delicious too.
It's all a one man show, meaning that he make the beer, cooks the food, and runs the place by himself.
COME SUPPORT THIS GREAT PLACE!
I visit this place often. Â You won't "happen by" the pub, it has to be your destination. The most unique brew pub i've seen. Mark is always inventing new and exciting beers....one of my favorites was a Smoked Chipotle Stout....all natural, no extracts. Â The atmosphere is extremely laid back....certainly a step back in time. If you are tired of noisy fast past joints, go see Mark, relax, and have some great craft beers.
Review Source:" We've done some sketchy stuff, and this by far was the sketchiest"- A friend's quote summarizing up the experience.
Having no prior knowledge of this brewery, or what to expect, even with this warning, you'll be surprised. Imagine a burnt down schoolhouse, like you imagined in kindergarten so you could have summer all year round. Now imagine this building only partially renovated. With the setting of middle-of-nowhere, this just screams horror-film location.
However, if you brave the exterior and enter, you'll be met with the diviest of dive bars, a bar that dove perhaps. Â Inside is a one man show of brewer, cook, waiter with the menu written in chalk on the old blackboards. It's average food, good beer (surprisingly), in a bizarre location.
Maybe located 20 miles towards San Angelo, this would be a popular place, but with its remote location and venue, the experience of going almost surpasses the bar itself.
It's open 7 days a week til~9pm, so if you're up for a VERY unique experience head on out. I made it out with both kidneys
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