The Ion announced today that it will add another hyper-local concept to its already robust food & beverage offerings at the newly opened innovation hub in the iconic former SEARS building in Midtown. Second Draught *– a 2,000-square-foot taproom from the creators of neighborhood brewpub Baileson Brewing Company – will serve up a noteworthy selection of pours from Houston’s 70+ craft breweries when it opens in its high-profile street-level space in Q1 2022.

Second Draught is the latest addition to the Ion’s diverse dining options, which include Late August – a new concept by celebrated Chef Chris Williams of Lucille’s fame in partnership with Top Chef finalist Chef Dawn Burrell; The Lymbar, a neighborhood craft cocktail bar and restaurant with Latin and Mediterranean flavors from Chef David Cordúa; Common Bond – the newest on-the-go iteration of the popular bistro and bakery; and STUFF’d Wings – the first brick-and-mortar location of Jarrod Rector’s popular food truck (within the broader Ion District).

“We are excited to join the Ion as a communal space for building tenants, partners, and visitors to grab a pint of beer and exchange ideas,” noted Sarah Pope, Co-Founder of Second Draught. She added, “We will showcase the great beer being made right here in Houston and give smaller operators the chance to be tasted in the city’s most prominent setting for innovation and entrepreneurship.”

Adam Cryer, Pope’s husband and Co-Founder at Baileson Brewing Company, said the opportunity to help fledgling local craft brewers gain a wider following was a big part of the appeal of becoming the Ion’s taproom operator. “This environment is all about incubating start-ups and giving creators the support to succeed. We want to do the same for Houston’s craft beer scene. Call us the incuBrewer,” he quipped.

Pope and Cryer plan to foster a welcoming and cozy space that becomes part of the neighborhood fabric. “We hope to be another community gathering place where people can meet, connect, drink beer, and brainstorm,” said Pope. She added, “The next technology breakthrough idea could very well happen on a napkin in our bar, so we want to make sure it’s a place where people want to be.”

Burdette Huffman of The Blue Ox Group represented Rice Management Company in the leasing transaction for Second Draught.

*noun. draught /draft”

1. British spelling of draft

adjective: draught

1. denoting beer or other drink that is kept in and served from a barrel or tank rather than from a bottle or can.

“draft beer”

About the Ion

Ion: Where ideas go to grow. Located in Ion District, the namesake building is the transformative centerpiece of Houston’s innovation corridor. Designed to bring our city’s entrepreneurial, corporate, and academic communities into collaborative spaces and programs, the sunlit structure of steel and glass is a home for advancing diverse knowledge, teams, technologies, and products that propel our world forward. From Fortune 500s seeking flexible office space to first-time startups looking for the funding to design a prototype, the Ion provides wide-reaching space and support to connect every What if with What now?—welcoming individuals and teams of all kinds to a place to build a better way.