Skallywag Suds N’ Grub, located literally right inside the Kemah Lighthouse District at 600 6th Street, is a new bar with the top craft beer selection in Galveston County. With 43 beer taps to start with, and another 20 to 30 brands in bottles, Skallywag will highlight local craft breweries and host some micro brews, too.

What is craft beer? Craft beer is made by small brewers. The hallmark of craft beer and craft brewers is innovation. Craft brewers interpret historic styles with unique twists and develop new styles that have no precedent. Craft beer is generally made with traditional ingredients like malted barley and sometimes non-traditional ingredients are often added for distinctiveness. They are unique.

A few of the Texas craft beer brands on tap are Galactic Coast Brewing (Galveston County's only craft brewery), Real Ale from Blanco, Lone Pint from Magnolia, No Label from Katy, and both St. Arnold's and Karbach from Houston. But this is “just a taste” of what you’ll find.

Red and white wine are also represented on tap as well with both flavors coming out of the tap and into your glass crisp and chilled.

Owners Demetri Kouloumoundras and his brother John Kouloumoundras have taken great care in creating Skallywag. The design of the bar maintains an intimacy and atmosphere that is unlike anything in the area. “We will not be pretentious in any way...” Demetri said. This is evident in the details. “I like collecting old things. It’s collecting memories. Every piece of wood used in creating the bar has some kind of meaning or story.” It’s interesting to hear the Kouloumoundras brothers talk about the pieces that were brought together to create this vision.

For instance, the cedar wood used around the penny laden bar has a history. The knotty pine used by the chalkboard menu is from his great-grandparents’ home that was attacked by Hurricane Katrina. The whiskey barrels that adorn the outside décor are from Michigan.

As Demetri was collecting these items, he was also formulating Skallywag’s concept. The ideas had been rolling around in his head for awhile until John and their parents were able to pull them out and bring Skallywag to reality. It’s a true family venture with John’s construction company All Coast Construction taking the lead on the build out. Everyone who was hired to work on this is a Bay Area local.“This was really important to us,” Demetri added.

To further demonstrate the Kouloumoundras’ family involvement, the bar’s name ‘skallywag’ was a term used by Demetri and John’s great-grandfather. And while the term may have a few definitions, in this instance, it means a “craft beer ice house with a come-as-you-are laid back atmosphere.”

Skallywag is upping the game at their full bar, too, and using pickled veggies in their drink creations. Take the “Slap Ya’ Mama” Bloody Marys for instance. This drink is almost too beautiful to consume. Happy hour specials are from noon to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Those specials include $4 Fireballs, $2.50 Bud Light, Miller, and Coors Light longnecks, and $4.50 “what's in the well” drinks. Well drinks are made with premium liquors.

Those 21+ can enjoy their adult beverages amid good conversation and against the backdrop of a commercial-free jukebox. In August, it may get a little rowdy at Skallywag when the NFL ticket starts, and the Houston Texans football games will be shown on their nine TVs.

Currently, Skallywag offers daily “food truck-esque” styled food. Like $5 in-house smoked pulled pork sandwiches topped with ginger cilantro slaw – until they run out. More kitchen items will be added at a later date when Chef Joe Rackley joins the team. They will then offer a revolving menu of made-from-scratch exotic game burgers, smoked meat sandwiches and more – think Southern fusion pub grub.

Skallywag Suds N’ Grub is open from noon to 2 a.m. every day.  Be sure to “like” them on Facebook to stay up-to-date.

[mapsmarker marker="39"]