Contributor

Jackie VonPanda

Houston native who has found an outlet for combing two long time loves in life; craft beer and writing. He is a small-time pinball head and enjoyer of occasional misadventures of any kind. Can often be found hidden away at home watching bad TV or happily taking an epic nap. "Wherever the wind may blow, life takes you strange places."

27 articles
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Breweries

Huggy Bear Continues Brewing Up Excellence at Holler Brewing

Nestled in the middle of the Sawyer Yards area, just northwest of Downtown, resides Holler Brewing . Founded by Kathryn and John Holler in 2016, the brewery has become a popular Houston hangout ever since. Well known for their award-winning beers Dollar Pils Y’all and their namesake Extra Special Bitter (ESB), John…

Jackie VonPandaDec 18, 2023
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Culture

One Offs and Short Batches #4: “Velour Jumpsuit” featuring Nomadic Beerworks & Crafty Brothas

On Saturday, November 18, Nomadic Beerworks in Austin released a new collaboration beer named Velour Jumpsuit with Darnell Gardner and Chris Washington, jointly known in the Houston and Austin beer community as the Crafty Brothas . The release, Velour Jumpsuit, is a 10.6% alcohol by volume (ABV) Imperial Spiced Peach…

Jackie VonPandaNov 29, 2023
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Bars

Star Sailor hosts very first Fallfest Brewfest

On Sunday, November 5 th Star Sailor held their very first Fallfest Brewfest at the establishment. The festival featured nine Greater Houston and Galveston area breweries as well as local vendors. The weather outside was perfectly warm, creating the perfect opportunity to try beer, cider and spiked root beer samplings…

Jackie VonPandaNov 7, 2023
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Legislation

#HoustonBeer Shows Up for 2023 Texas Craft Brewers Guild Brewers Festival

On Saturday, September 30 th , the gates opened at Fiesta Gardens in Austin for the 2023 Texas Craft Brewers Guild Craft Brewers Festival. The festival, which is a one-day event, is a chance for Guild Member breweries from all across the state to gather and either introduce themselves to first time patrons or catch up…

Jackie VonPandaOct 12, 2023
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Culture

“One Offs and Short Batches #3: “Kentosty” Turkey Forrest Brewing & H-Town Craft Sippers

The celebration of Mexican Independence Day started off on Saturday, September 16 th with a collaboration beer drop at Big Owl Craft Brew House. Turkey Forrest Brewing, the Big Owl in-house brewing tandem of Louie Espinoza and Oscar Gonzales, teamed up with Houton area craft beer stalwarts 'The H-Town Craft Sippers'…

Jackie VonPandaSep 19, 2023
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Breweries

First Pour - Drye Tears / 11 Below Brewing Company

https://youtu.be/nTTeUxv_skk?si=HJUGENw4kzc-n_-T Watch on YouTube - Houston Beer Guide Check out Jackie's first pour of Drye Tears, a 16.9% rye barrel aged imperial stout from 11 Below Brewing Company Visit the taproom for this limited time release, starting Saturday 9/2/2023 📍11 Below Brewing Company - 6820…

Jackie VonPandaSep 2, 2023
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Breweries

Craft Culture X (For the Culture and Ovinnik Brewing)

A new and unique brewery is opening in the Lazybrook/ Timbergrove area named Craft Culture X Brewing . Craft Culture X is a joint brewery consisting of two partner breweries: For the Culture Brewing and Ovinnik Brewing. Photo Credit: Luis Montalvo (@luistpxmedia and @thepintexchange) For the Culture is the first Black…

Jackie VonPandaAug 17, 2023
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Breweries

Red, White and Blue(berry) with Senate Avenue Brewing

With the celebration of the anniversary of America’s independence behind us, our very own Senate Avenue Brewing has reissued a 2022 favorite, their Red, White and Blueberry cream ale to celebrate this important holiday. Front entrance of Senate Avenue Brewing Company This smooth Cream Ale comes in at 6.2% alcohol by…

Jackie VonPandaJul 10, 2023
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Bars

One Offs and Short Batches # 2 : Rye’d With Pride - Counter Common Beerworks & HTown Beer Guys

Photo collaboration for this story courtesy of Marcus Cain (@visualsbywest) and photos edited by Sofia Panda (@panda.sofia) Photography: Marcus Cain (@visualsbywest) Pride Month unofficially kicked off on Saturday, June 3rd at Counter Common Beerworks and Kitchen . Counter Common hosted the release of a new…

Jackie VonPandaJun 7, 2023
Under the radar
Breweries

Lost and Found at Under the Radar Brewery

This week's mid day adventure of Houston craft brewing takes me to Under the Radar, located in a small neighborhood bordering on the far south side of Midtown, and the far north side of the Museum District. A little pocket of space in this vast city that, well… that flies under the radar. I pull into the brewery early…

Jackie VonPandaApr 28, 2023
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Breweries

Brewing Happiness in an Old-World Style with Stesti Brewing Company

I first became aware of Stesti Brewing back in 2019. I completed a walking ghost tour through downtown Houston one afternoon with some friends that just so happened to end at the Craft Beer Cellar on Franklin Street… and what kind of beer lover doesn’t go into a bottle shop when it is right there? I made my way inside…

Jackie VonPandaApr 3, 2023
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Breweries

Brewing up collaboration from conversation with Elder Son's Brewing

Every craft beer enthusiast has had a conversation at some point with their friends, often while several pints deep into a great night of drinking… ‘If I got a chance to do a collaboration with XYZ Brewing, this is what I would do, and it would be epic.’ You know…that conversation. Except this time Robert Frye, the…

Jackie VonPandaMar 14, 2023