Screech Owl BREWING
It’s about Beer, Food & Family at this Preston Co. Brewery
I first visited Screech Owl in 2018, back then it was an addition to the garage. A family was brewing some good beers, and opened up their garage for you to sit and have a drink with no cell service, good conversation, and a turkey named “Kevin” you might catch a glimpse of from the parking lot.
I first visited Screech Owl in 2018, back then it was an addition to the garage. A family was brewing some good beers, and opened up their garage for you to sit and have a drink with no cell service, good conversation, and a turkey named “Kevin” you might catch a glimpse of from the parking lot.
Six years later, that garage has expanded, with plenty of seating inside, on the covered deck, and under the new greenhouse full of hanging baskets and potted flowers. There are still turkeys and even a couple of peacocks you might hear an occasional mellow squawking from the parking lot, too. The Johnson family is there - this is their home - brewing a dozen types of beer and cooking up a full menu with bread baked from the spent grain from beer making.
They make all of their bread including buns, pizza crusts, and pepperoni rolls from the leftover spent grains from the brewing process. The result is a dense bread with a bit of a nutty flavor, and full of fiber and protein - the good stuff! This tastier bread enhances the food, offering a unique bite that isn’t your run-of-the-mill burger or pizza.
With quality beer comes quality food. The elk burger with bourbon sauce was great! This tender patty is topped with a thick slab of smoked Gouda, American cheese, fried onions, mayo, and house-made maple syrup bourbon sauce. This flavorful and salty combination of ingredients and the contrast of the sweet bourbon glaze made this sandwich delectable. Add hand-cut fries and this meal is the perfect addition to pair with your beer. We chose the Class III Whitewater IPA for this one.
Grandmother's pizza was extra cheesy. Sausage, bacon, onions, mushrooms, and double cheese is officially my forever pizza order after trying this combo out. And, there is more than just pizza pie! Each time I visit, I always want to order the special, usually grandmother’s peanut butter pie, for dessert. I say “want,” because I’m usually too busy chatting up a new friend or laughing at the kids in the giant sandbox to remember to order it! My go-to beers are the Wild and Wonderful Strawberry Ale and the ever-popular Bold Blonde Ale.
I love this place for more than just their beer and food, though. If I want to introduce someone to West Virginia hospitality, this is where I take them. The Johnson family is proud of what they do and welcomes anyone and everyone. The master brewer, Roger, greets me like a beer-brewing Santa Clause in the WV mountains, so happy to see me with a twinkle of mischief in his eyes. The brewery owner and CFO Crista, continues that warm charm as she tends the bar and chats with people like they are family at every barstool. If Kristin, head brewer, is not making beer she’s helping in the kitchen. Executive chef and GM Jameson pops out to say hello to groups as he works in the kitchen too, helping pump pizzas and sandwiches out on the fly. Even the grandkids, Maddy and Aiden play a role and have specialty pizzas named after them on the menu. It's a family affair, and everyone feels like a friend if they aren't already.
The crowd that frequents Screech Owl Brewing is, well, everyone: young and old, kids and friends. Side-by-side groups roll into the lot on their buggies. A mom and dad come through with a new baby. Twenty-somethings in baseball hats have a few rounds at a corner table. Seating is plenty for the adults and a giant 25-ton sandbox is just outside near the tables for the kids to distract themselves as parents take a break.
It's a great break - away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and deep down a country road in Cuzzart, Preston County. I love it and will keep the memories of this place close to my heart. And next time, I'm getting grandmother’s peanut butter pie!
*The Morgantown Dish originally wrote this article for the Dominion Post. It has been repurposed digitally for the author’s blog.