A Six-Pack of Brand New Breweries to Try

In the beginning, there was Saint Arnold. Houston’s oldest craft brewery eked its way into the city over 20 years ago, at a time when most local beer drinkers were still contentedly consuming Bud and Miller and Texas laws were hostile to microbreweries wishing to create something a little different.

All that changed in June 2013, when sweeping state legislation revolutionized the way Texans are allowed to brew and sell beer. The city is now experiencing either a craft beer renaissance or a craft beer bubble, depending on whom you ask. More than a dozen breweries are currently in the works or brand-new to the scene, but these are the six to watch.

1. 11 Below Brewing Co.

Location: Willowbrook
Address: 6820 Bourgeois Rd.
Website: 11belowbrewing.com
Status: Now open!
Main attraction: Thursday happy hours in the large taproom
No. of beers: 3
Best beer name: 7-iron, a blonde session ale
Bottles, cans or kegs? Kegs/draft only
Tours offered? Yes
Food on-site? Yes, via food trucks and catering

2. Back Pew Brewing

Location: Porter
Address: 26452 Sorters-McLellan Rd.
Website: backpewbrewing.com
Status: Now open!
Main attraction: Two lines of beers: Saints for beginners and Sinners for craft beer aficionados
No. of beers: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Best beer name: 9th Circle, a black IPA
Bottles, cans or kegs? Kegs/draft only
Tours offered? No
Food on-site? No 

3. Brash Brewing

Location: Independence Heights
Address: 508 W. Crosstimbers Rd.
Website: brashbeers.com
Status: Now open!
Main attraction: Old-school arcade games and a jukebox in the taproom
No. of beers: Constantly changing
Best beer name: Vulgar Display of Power, a Russian imperial stout
Bottles, cans or kegs? Bottles and kegs
Tours offered? Yes
Food on-site? No

4. Flix Brewhouse

Location: Sugar Land
Address: The Crossing at Telfair
Website: flixbrewhouse.com
Status: Opening Spring 2016
Main attraction: 8 movie theaters with 55-foot MX Auditorium high-def screens
No. of beers: 9
Best beer name: Luna Rose, a wit with coriander and blood orange
Bottles, cans or kegs? Kegs/draft only
Tours offered? No
Food on-site? Yes

5. Spindle Tap Brewery

Location: Trinity Gardens
Address: 10622 Hirsch Rd.
Website: spindletapbrewery.com
Status: Now open!
Main attraction: Taproom with four flat-screen TVs for sporting events and viewing parties
No. of beers: 5
Best beer name: Honey Hole, an ESB
Bottles, cans or kegs? Cans and kegs
Tours offered? Yes
Food on-site? Yes, via food trucks and custom-made barbecue pit

6. Town in City Brewing

Location: Heights
Address: 1125 W. Cavalcade St
Website: townincitybrewing.com
Status: Now open!
Main attraction: 1,400-square-foot beer garden and members-only club
No. of beers: 4
Best beer name: Mosquito’s Revenge, a pale ale
Bottles, cans or kegs? Kegs/draft only
Tours offered? Yes
Food on-site? No, but look for occasional food trucks

Published in the 53 Weekend Road Trips issue of Houstonia Mag.