The owners found inspiration from Houston’s historic Astrodome—once known as the Eighth Wonder of the World—for its name and the brewery’s dome-like interior. But the play on Space City doesn’t stop there. Many of 8th Wonder’s beers reflect what Houston is known for, like the Cougar Paw red ale, the Dome Foam cream ale, and a porter named Mission Control. Those who want to have fun beyond beer—or who are sober curious—can also indulge in 8th Wonder’s cannabis options. Notable drinks include the Wonder Water sparkling lime THC seltzer and the Lil Bit peach mango THC seltzer.

We love that this brewery plays on Houston’s Space City nickname. Do you love IPA and have a fascination for the conspiracy theory that Americans never really walked on the moon? Then sip on the Fake Landing hazy IPA. For a lager, try the Cloud Punch pilsner. Or if you’re in the mood for something other than beer, ask for the Schwifty hard seltzer, which comes in different fruity flavors, a wine by the glass, or a Rockwell’s Hooch cocktail. No matter what you do, be sure to bring some friends, hang out for a bit, and maybe play a game or two of foosball.

Run by husband-and-wife team Adam Cryer and Sarah Pope, Baileson began with a dream for a neighborhood brewpub in 2015 and came to life two years later. The couple kept the building’s original 1950s auto service center structure for the taproom, which serves a multitude of IPAs and other ales. The flavors and pours change with the seasons, and although Baileson doesn’t offer wine or cider, its next-door neighbor Vinology does. As long as someone in your group is drinking the brewery’s beer, you can bring the outside drinks over to enjoy, too.

City Acre is one of the most unique breweries in Houston for its atmosphere alone. Located in a quiet residential neighborhood on the northern edge of the city, the space makes you feel like you’re sitting in someone’s backyard. The beers here are mostly light and refreshing, but check out City Acre’s sour series if you want something funkier.

Fresh off a rebrand and remodel, the spot formerly known as Sigma Brewing has been serving Second Ward since 2016—and you may have spotted its tallboys at H-E-B in more recent years. Year-round brews include the Kaizen, a Japanese-style rice lager, and the Loggerbier pilsner. The seasonals are worth seeking out too, especially the Medina Sod hazy pale ale if you like 'em hoppy.

For nearly a decade, Eureka Heights Brew Co. has been serving all who are thirsty for a good beer. With plenty of indoor seating, it’s the perfect spot to visit with some friends when you want to escape Houston’s brutal summer heat—or if it’s one of those rare days where the weather is nice, enjoy Eureka Heights’ outdoor space and soak up the sun with one of its year-round beers in hand. We suggest the Final Boss Tropical for a fruity refresher, or the Somethin’ Light for a lighter beer. With 18 taps, there’s something for everyone.

This is Local Group Brewing 2.0, after a purchase by Distincture Hospitality and a name change. The beer here has personality—try the Hot Boi pineapple and tangerine blonde ale or the Gurl Dinner stout. But the most notable news of the ownership change was the arrival of Daniel Leal, previously the chef at now-closed cocktail bar Night Shift, who has elevated the food menu with burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, and snacks like Sichuan brussels sprouts and sweet and spicy wings.

This small taproom within the arts district packs a punch with constantly rotating taps. The Dollar Pils Y’all is a fixture, but come back often to try seasonals like a Back That Razz Up fruited sour with raspberry lime, and an English pale ale called, erm, Margaret Thatcher Naked on a Cold Day.

A staple of the Heights since 2017, when it opened in the middle of Hurricane Harvey, Great Heights has continued its commitment to great-quality beer through classic pilsners, IPAs, hefeweizens, stouts, and more. The brewery serves Cake & Bacon pastries in the morning as well as pizza for lunch and dinner.

Opened in 2011, Karbach Brewing has grown exponentially since it was acquired by beer conglomerate Anheuser-Busch in 2016. It now offers two event spaces, a bar, indoor and outdoor seating, and a full kitchen. Sip on classics like the Crawford Bock, Love Street, Hopadillo, or a Ranch Water hard seltzer for all the non-beer drinkers.

Even before Saint Arnold there was Magnolia Brewery, which operated for 40 years at the turn of the century but has been long gone for almost 100 years. New Magnolia pays homage to that history, making classic recipes of Czech amber lagers, Kölsch styles, IPAs, and more.

It’s all about Australian good vibes at this brewpub, which serves everything from a Heff Off Mate hefeweizen to a Freckled Dingo pale ale. The full kitchen is half the draw: Come here for the fish and chips, lamp chops, sausage rolls, and a take on Chiko rolls.

Owner Brock Wagner built Saint Arnold, the oldest craft brewery in Texas, from the ground up 30 years ago, teaching people along the way that there's more to beer than just Miller Lite. Now, folks can enjoy staples like the Art Car IPA, the original Amber Ale, and the H-Town Pils in the stunning taproom that’s designed like a church. When the weather is bearable, we love to enjoy the outdoor garden with a great view of downtown. Saint Arnold also serves nonalcoholic beverages such as its Hop Spring sparkling water and famous root beer, and has a full kitchen offering stone-fired pizzas, burgers, sandwiches, and bar bites.

For a great view of downtown Houston, head to Houston’s newest brewery, which took over the embattled Buffalo Bayou Brewing space. Tejas Brewery and Taproom is the outpost for the Tejas Beer brand, which was bought by Gulf Coast Distillers in 2019. The brewery serves its classics, Tejas Clara and Negra, along with some seasonal brews like a coffee porter made with coffee and roasted malts, as well as half-bottle wines and cocktails made with whiskey, vodka, and gin from the sister distillery.

Opened in 2019, True Anomaly made a name for itself with its many fruited sour variations, and is one of the few local breweries that offers a saison and a grisette. While the taproom calls EaDo home for now, note that it will soon be moving to a new and much larger location in Second Ward at the end of 2024.