Houston, Texas is a city known by many names: The Bayou City, Space City, and simply H-Town. Houston can add another moniker, Craft Brew City. With so many brewhouses setting up shop throughout the city’s landscape, Houston is the perfect place for craft beer connoisseurs to hit the tasting rooms and determine which brewery holds the winning title. For craft beer addicts who want a head start, here’s a list of the 10 best craft breweries in and near Houston, Texas.
1. Saint Arnold Brewing Company: granddaddy of Texas breweries!
With a spacious and attractive beer hall featuring a colorful mural, neatly varnished communal tables, and top-notch brew, Saint Arnold Brewing Company has rightly reigned not only as Texas’ oldest craft brewery, opening in 1994, but its most beloved. Helping usher in the craft beer revolution, Saint Arnold Brewing Company has been bestowed with more Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup medals than any brewery in the South! Must-samples are the Santo and Endeavour, and if their award-winning seasonal specialty Pumpkinator is on tap, definitely give it a go. Bring your own pizza or burgers and make it an excellent combo with any of Saint Arnold’s tasty pints on tap.
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Address: 2000 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020
Website: Saint Arnold Brewing Company
2. Karbach Brewing Company: wunderbar beer guzzling action!
Established in 2011, Karbach Brewing Company is a bustling German-style brewery that features informative and entertaining tours, a great gift shop, and a restaurant that serves high-quality food in a pub-like atmosphere. The crowd-pleasers at Karbach Brewing Company are Love Street, Sympathy for the Lager, and Rodeo Clown, and the spot to enjoy them is the wonderful Biergarten setting. Along with the lagers and ales, Karbach Brewing Company churns out great fun with movie nights and live music.
Karbach Brewing Company
Address: 2032 Karbach St, Houston, TX 77092
Website: Karbach Brewing Company
3. Awesome ales at Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company.
Tucked away in the historic and charming Houston Heights neighborhood, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company approaches their craft beer with a creative flair. Focusing on inventiveness, while still maintaining its traditional roots, Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company offers unique and tasty brews. The Great White Buffalo and the 1836 are top-of-the-line and you’re likely to get a taste of each on the Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company tours that are conducted Saturdays from 12 pm to 3 pm. Buffalo Bayou Brewing also hosts many entertaining events, like the BuffBrew Christmas in July party.
Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company
Address: 5301 Nolda St, Houston, TX 77007
Website: Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company
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4. Choice spot on Houston's beerscape: 8th Wonder Brewery!
Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account
In 2013, 8th Wonder Brewery began churning out its brew from a dome-like warehouse in East Downtown Houston. Taking its name from the historic Astrodome sports stadium, that at the time, in 1965, was dubbed the 8th Wonder of the World. 8th Wonder Brewery’s intent is to live up to Houston’s inspiring spirit with its brewing abilities. Equipped with actual stadium seating from the namesake landmark, guests can relax and sample 8th Wonder Brewery’s top beers that are as wonderful as their whimsical-sounding names, such as Rocket Fuel, Hopston, and IntellectuALE.
8th Wonder Brewery
Address: 2202 Dallas St, Houston, TX 77003
Website: 8th Wonder Brewery
5. Brash Brewing: beer with attitude!
Brash Brewing is bold in its approach to craft beer. With brassy beer names like Hot Fuzz, Droogs, and Skankin’ Dirty, Brash Brewing makes its presence known. For heavy-hitters, go for the Vulgar Display of Power; a Russian Imperial Stout that weighs in at a hefty 13 percent ABV, Alcohol by Volume. Looking for something on the lighter side, Cortado is a nice choice. Along with Brash Brewing’s beer taps, visitors can find fun diversions like the 1980s arcade games, Donkey Kong and Space Invaders. There’s also a jukebox that pumps out mainly hard-driving heavy metal music.
Brash Brewing
Address: 508 W Crosstimbers Rd, Houston, TX 77018
Facebook: Brash Brewing
6. Spindletap Brewery: a Texas-size geyser of beer delights
This Saturday from 12-4, our brewmaster Shaun Ebersole will be onsite at Central Market for a sampling of our newly...
Posted by SpindleTap Brewery on Wednesday, 26 October 2016
Arrivals to Spindletap Brewery quickly see the brewmasters hard at work the moment they enter the doors. With large glass windows to view all the beer-making action, Spindletap Brewery may be the new kids on the block, but they appear to be old-hands at producing top Texas craft beer. Try the BoomTown Blonde for a classic ale experience, and for die-hard hops lovers sample the Hopper House double IPA. Spindletap Brewery is a spacious warehouse facility where guests can watch sporting events on a massive high-def projection screen, host a party, or play games while tasting some of Texas’ truly original craft beers.
Spindletap Brewery
Address: 10622 Hirsch Rd, Houston, TX 77016
Website: Spindletap Brewery
7. High-profile hops & more at No Label Brewing Co.
Located 29 miles (46.6 kilometers) west of Houston is No Label Brewing Co. Residing in an old rice silo in Katy, Texas, a city known for its rice farming, it’s only appropriate that No Label Brewing Co.’s 1st Street Ale is brewed with a touch of rice, giving it a smooth, clean, and crisp finish. No Label Brewing Co. is a kid-friendly brewery that offers a picnic area for families to enjoy some quality time, while adult members of the party imbibe No Label Brewing Co.’s seasonal favorites like, Black Wit-O and Forbidden Lavender. The tap room is open daily and tours are given Saturdays from 12 pm to 3 pm.
No Label Brewing Co.
Address: 5351 1st St, Katy, TX 77493
Website: No Label Brewing Co.
8. Platypus Brewing: sudsy Aussie-style beer with a Texas twist!
Helmed by a husband and wife-team, Platypus Brewing could transform the way Texans think about Australian beer. A delightful fusion of Aussie and Texan styles, Platypus Brewing offers unique craft beer, like Troppo, an American wheat ale flavored with passionfruit and mango. Or try the Bobby Dazzler, an Australian ale blended with local Houston honey and Australian Topaz hops. And don’t forget the awesome signature beer nuts, coated in house-made caramel and chipotle spice; a perfect paring with any type of beer! With an inviting bar area, board games, and a wonderfully cozy outdoor deck, Platypus Brewing is the perfect place to chill for locals and travelers.
Platypus Brewing
Address: 1902 Washington Ave Suite E, Houston, TX 77007
Website: Platypus Brewing
9. Between sinful & saintly there's Back Pew Brewing Company
Located a quick 25 minute drive from Houston is Back Pew Brewing Company. Residing in a former church, Back Pew Brewing Company churns out two types of beers that split along two different types of beer drinkers. There’s the saintly imbibers of which “"sessionable” brews are favored; clean varieties, like Blue Testament American Pils, with never more than 3% to 4% ABV. Then there are the sinners; bold drinkers who opt for the dark side, with choices hovering in the 8.5% ABV realm, like Back Pew Brewing Company’s 9th Circle Black IPA, a potent mixture with bitter hops. The taproom tempts guests Saturdays from 12 pm to 5 pm.
Back Pew Brewing Company
Address: 26452 Sorters McClellan Rd, Porter, TX 77365
Website: Back Pew Brewing Company
10. City Acre Brewing makes the science of suds a stand-out!
A rustic tastingroom boasting beers with rare names like, Mosquito’s Revenge, a triple-malt pale ale, and Chipped Tooth IPA, a bitter yet smooth American variety, City Acre Brewing is unique in many ways. With a chemistry background in his arsenal, one of City Acre Brewing’s owners mixes flawless batches of authentic English-style porters and ambers, as well as inventive brews inspired by the community. For visitors hoping to get some eats along with their spirits, try City Acre Brewing’s kegs and eggs weekend brunch from 11 am to 3 pm, or the daily menu that features burgers and other delicious seasonal foods.
City Acre Brewing
Address: 3418 Topping St, Houston, TX 77093
Website: City Acre Brewing
If it's Houston craft beer, pour me a pint
For those passionate about pilsners, ardent for ales, or anything in between, Houston’s craft brewery scene is the go-to place for sudsy pleasures. From seasoned brew crews to eager startups, Houston’s craft breweries are always hard at work churning out a diverse choice of craft beer options. Yet all have one thing in common, dedication to top-notch craft beer that’s as big and bold as the Lone Star State.
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