We Downed Drinks at Houston’s Top 10 Breweries and Here’s Everything You Need to Know Now That We’re Sober
- Sip the Finest Brews at Southern Star Brewing
- Experience Craft Beer Culture at B-52 Brewing Co.
- Discover Unique Flavors at Lone Pint Brewery
- Enjoy a Brewery Tour at 11 below Brewing Company
- Taste Award-Winning Beers at Spindletap Brewery
- Explore Local Brews at Great Heights Brewing Company
- Sample Innovative Brews at Karbach Brewing Co.
- Celebrate Great Beer at Eureka Heights Brew Co.
- Indulge in Seasonal Drafts at No Label Brewing Co.
- Meet Local Brewers at Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Craving a unique brew that packs a punch of flavor? Me too. After visiting countless breweries and sampling everything from classic lagers to bold IPAs, I’ve had my fair share of memorable pints and disappointing drafts.
The worst part is, some places just don’t live up to the hype. That’s why today’s article is a must-read. We hit the streets of Houston and embarked on a brewery tour to find the best spots that truly deliver.
Whether you’re a craft beer aficionado or just looking for a great place to unwind, we’ve got the inside scoop on the top breweries in Houston. Let’s dive in and explore these hoppy havens!
Sip the Finest Brews at Southern Star Brewing
Website: http://southernstarbrewing.com/
Address: 3525 N Frazier St, Conroe, TX 77303
Contact details: +1 936-441-2739
Operating hours:
- Thursday and Friday: 4pm to 10pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 8pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
Founded in 2008, Southern Star Brewing holds the distinction of being the first brewery in Texas to can craft beer—impressive, right?
This brewery masterfully blends traditional brewing techniques with innovative recipes. Their inviting taproom and frequent community events have turned this brewery into a beloved local hub.
Set on over 13 acres of wooded property, the brewery has a climate-controlled taproom and an outdoor biergarten complete with a stage for live music.
The brewery’s new bar is the centerpiece, showcasing their signature brews alongside new, experimental batches. The covered porch seating area, spanning 4,279 square feet, offers a perfect place to relax and enjoy the atmosphere.
Among the standout brews, the Bloodbelt, infused with blood orange, offers a refreshing twist; the Winter Warmer provides a cozy palate, heart, and soul experience; and the Buried Hatchet Stout brings a smile from top to bottom.
Their signature drink is the Pine Belt Pale Ale, an American-style pale ale with around 6.5 percent alcohol by volume.
| Pro tip: For just $10, you receive a complimentary glass and three pints of beer. |
Experience Craft Beer Culture at B-52 Brewing Co.
Website: http://b52brewing.com/
Address: 12470 Milroy Ln, Conroe, TX 77304
Contact details: +1 936-447-4677
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 4pm to 10pm
- Friday: 2pm to 10pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
Nestled in the forest near Lake Conroe, B-52 Brewing Co. features a three-acre shaded beer garden and a spacious taproom. Known for their lagers and stouts, their signature brews include Payload Pilsner, Wingman Wheat IPA, and Rye Saison.
What sets B-52 Brewing Co. apart is its extensive selection of craft beers and its fun, relaxed atmosphere. The beer garden is filled with cornhole tables, a giant Connect Four game, and plenty of seating options.
The outdoor setup adds to the charm, with numerous activities to keep both kids and adults entertained. In the autumn, a large fire ring provides a cozy spot to warm up.
The brewery boasts a large indoor area and numerous picnic tables outside. With 28 beers on tap, there’s something for every palate. We sampled their pilsner, schwarzbier, and three barrel-aged stouts, all of which were excellent.
| Pro tip: Whenever you visit B-52 Brewing Co., you can bring your own cornhole bags, yard games, and sand toys! |
Discover Unique Flavors at Lone Pint Brewery
Website: https://lonepint.com/
Address: 507 Commerce St, Magnolia, TX 77355
Contact details: +1 281-789-4061
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 3pm to 9pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 8pm
Opened in 2012, Lone Pint Brewery stands out by using raw whole cone hops to craft local Texas ales and being powered by renewable energy.
Lone Pint Brewery offers three signature beers: the Yellow Rose and Little Rose IPAs, and the brown ale, Gentleman’s Relish. The tasting area includes a bar for beer (and wine), a few sheltered tables, numerous picnic tables, and a stage for live music.
The outdoor taproom, set in a container, is surrounded by picnic tables and serves as an excellent music venue. The brewery specializes in SMASH IPAs (single malt and single hops), which are great for comparing hops and malts.
They also host jukebox BINGO on Fridays and Sundays, which is free to play and offers vouchers for free drinks as prizes. The beer selection is impressive; we particularly enjoyed the gin barrel-aged beer and the brown ale on nitro.
| Pro tip:There are food trucks on site offering BBQ favorites on tap! |
Enjoy a Brewery Tour at 11 below Brewing Company
Website: http://www.11belowbrewing.com/
Address: 6820 Bourgeois Rd, Houston, TX 77066
Contact details: +1 281-444-2337
Operating hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday: 5pm to 9pm
- Friday: 3pm to 9pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 9pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 6pm
11 below Brewing was launched to celebrate how refreshing an ice-cold beer is during hot days in Houston. From the outside, it looks like a warehouse, but inside it’s a beer lover’s paradise.
The brewery offers a variety of thirst-quenching, refreshing ales, including its signature 7-Iron blonde, and quirky options like Hipster Sauce IPA and Taco Tuesday, a margarita-style beer.
They have indoor and outdoor seating. They regularly bring in a mix of different food trucks, adding to the variety. The relaxed atmosphere is perfect for gatherings, and they even have a couple of board games!
While the space is mostly not air-conditioned, there are fans, picnic tables, and other seating options to keep you comfortable. Drinking water and non-alcoholic options are readily available.
| Pro tip: Pets are welcome, so bring your furry friends for a fun outing at this Houston gem! |
Taste Award-Winning Beers at Spindletap Brewery
Website: https://www.spindletap.com/
Address: 10622 Hirsch Rd, Houston, TX 77016
Contact details: +1 713-325-1477
Operating hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday: 4pm to 9pm
- Thursday and Friday: 11am to 10pm
- Saturday: 11:30am to 4:30pm
- Sunday: 11am to 7pm
Opened in 2015, Spindletap Brewery gets its moniker from the original Spindletop gusher in Beaumont, Texas, which ignited the 20th-century oil boom.
They’re renowned for producing some of the best IPAs in Houston, and they genuinely stand out with unique flavors. Do yourself a favor and try them out—these IPAs aren’t just one-offs!
One of the highlights is the customized beer flights, allowing you to choose your own selection rather than pre-selected options. Heavy Hands was a delightful surprise for us; we expected it to be hot, but it was juicy with lots of tropical notes.
The climate-controlled taproom offers plenty of seating, TVs, and a large selection of craft beer on tap and in cans. Outside, there’s a park with covered seating, a stage, and various activities, including pickleball and kickball.
| Pro tip: There’s live music here that typically starts as early as noon and continues into the night! |
Explore Local Brews at Great Heights Brewing Company
Website: http://www.greatheightsbrewing.com/
Address: 938 Wakefield Dr, Houston, TX 77018,
Contact details: +1 281-220-6900
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7am to 10pm
- Saturday: 8am to 10pm
- Sunday: 8am to 8pm
Great Heights Brewing Company opened in the midst of Hurricane Harvey, right in the heart of Garden Oaks / Oak Forest, affectionately known as “GOOF.” This quaint brewery is a hidden gem in the area.
They offer a mix of traditional beers, frequently updating their offerings while keeping their core beers available year-round.
The beer selection is solid, offering a little bit of everything. We tried the Cornerstone IPA—fruity and flavorful, even though we typically don’t care for IPAs, it hit the spot. The blueberry sour was also refreshingly good.
The cozy, decorated taproom is air-conditioned, making it a comfortable spot to enjoy a brew. There’s plenty of seating inside with TVs showing games, and they now have an outdoor patio seating area in the back.
| Pro tip: Trivia nights on Wednesdays are a big hit, so keep that in mind when planning your visit. |
Sample Innovative Brews at Karbach Brewing Co.
Website: http://www.karbachbrewing.com/
Address: 2032 Karbach St, Houston, TX 77092
Contact details: +1 713-680-8886
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11am to 10pm
- Friday and Saturday: 11am to 11pm
- Sunday: 11am to 6pm
Established in 2011 by former beer distributors Chuck Robertson and Ken Goodman, Karbach Brewing Co. takes its craft seriously. Their impressive beer selection includes hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, and crisp lager.
The brand’s signature beer, the Love Street Kölsch Style Blonde, pays homage to the iconic psychedelic music venue from Houston’s past, the Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine.
During our visit, we particularly enjoyed the Rodeo Clown and Hop Delusion—bold and flavorful choices that didn’t disappoint.
While we knew the beers were exceptional, the food was a pleasant surprise. The burger and fish were outstanding, and the queso, pretzels, and salad were also very good.
Karbach offers plenty of space, including a downstairs indoor restaurant area, an upstairs event room with a balcony, and multiple outdoor seating and activity areas.
| Pro tip: We recommend arriving at 11:30 on a Sunday to enjoy a meal and a beer flight before taking the tour at 1pm. |
Celebrate Great Beer at Eureka Heights Brew Co.
Media credit: jasandoval13
Website: http://eurekaheights.com/
Address: 941 W 18th St, Houston, TX 77008
Contact details: +1 832-953-4677
Operating hours:
- Tuesday: 5pm to 9pm
- Wednesday and Thursday: 4pm to 10pm
- Friday: 3pm to 10pm
- Saturday: 12pm to 10pm
- Sunday: 12pm to 8pm
Eureka Heights Brewery takes its name from the Eureka Heights fault system running beneath it. They’re brewery is recognizable for their cheekily-named Buckle Bunny Cream Ale, a refreshing and crisp nod to rodeo season and its groupies.
Known for their crisp, flavorful beers with lower alcohol content, they offer well-crafted versions of many trendy styles, often incorporating geek cultural references like Hop Mooninites and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
The taproom boasts 18 taps featuring sessionable beers to suit every palate. It’s spacious with multiple seating areas and even movies playing on a big screen by the beer silo.
This brewery is a fantastic spot to enjoy microbrews with friends, complemented by a regular rotation of food trucks for meals or snacks.
| Pro tip: They host trivia Wednesdays, bingo/run club/burger or steak night Thursdays, and occasional stand-up comedy! |
Indulge in Seasonal Drafts at No Label Brewing Co.
Website: http://nolabelbrew.com/
Address: 5351 1st St, Katy, TX 77493
Contact details: +1 281-693-7545
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 3pm to 10pm
- Friday and Saturday: 12pm to 12am
- Sunday: 12pm to 8pm
Open seven days a week, No Label Brewing Co. in Katy is a go-to for a solid lineup of core brews, including the crisp 1980 Kolsch ale, the hazy H-Town-themed Sittin’ Sidehze, and the traditional El Hefe.
They offer a variety of craft beers and craft hard seltzers, ensuring a diverse selection on tap.This brewery also features a cocktail bar area, a large tap beer selection, an outdoor ground-floor patio, and a second-floor outdoor mezzanine.
No Label Brewing Co. regularly hosts live music, trivia nights, and run club events. Food trucks often park in the back of the patio area, adding to the vibrant atmosphere.
Overall, it’s a fantastic spot for a casual date, business social gathering, or family outing. Don’t forget to purchase a glass to bring back on future visits!
| Pro tip: You can purchase a glass and bring it back anytime you visit! |
Meet Local Brewers at Saint Arnold Brewing Company
Website: http://www.saintarnold.com/
Address: 2000 Lyons Ave, Houston, TX 77020,
Contact details: +1 713-686-9494
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11am to 10pm
- Friday and Saturday: 11am to 11pm
- Sunday: 11am to 10pm
Saint Arnold Brewing Company offers a diverse range of beers, including year-round staples, seasonal brews, special releases, and single-batch creations. Familiar favorites include Lawnmower, Orange Show, Art Car, and Santo, with the Art Car IPA standing out as one of their most popular.
In addition to brewing their own beers, they craft mixed drinks in-house. The food and service are top-notch—the Margarita pizza, wagyu burger, and grilled chicken sandwich were all excellent.
It’s a great spot for dining, socializing with friends, watching TV, and enjoying a drink. The brewery also features an indoor dining area and a charming heated outdoor space with a water fountain.
The walls are adorned with beer-related murals, and a large bar anchors the center of the brewery, which creates a vibrant and inviting atmosphere.
| Pro tip: If you visit on a weekday, don’t miss the slow-pour H-Town Pilsner. This method makes the beer silky and enhances its underlying flavors. |
