Anyone who has spent any time in our incredible city during the summer months knows that it is hot outside now and getting hotter! Although, that does not mean we have any reason to slow down when it comes to enjoying Houston’s local beer scene.

It has already been a great year for beer thus far. I know many of you readers have had your fair share of big, heavy beers in the last few months (I know I have).

Spindletap’s yearly springtime offering of their much sought after, “Juiceton” Double IPA at 8% ABV, has come and gone.  

Anyone who has made it over to Brash Brewing in the last several months may have enjoyed their popular “Vulgar Display of Power” Russian imperial stout at a whopping 14% ABV. 

Perhaps closer to the beginning of this year you had True Anomaly’s “Jupiter Drops” double IPA with lactose at 8.9%.

Of course, after this summer is over, we get to look forward to exciting fall time releases, like Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s “Pumpkinator 2024” imperial stout, and a multitude of other cool-weather, heavy-hitting Houston favorites.

If it is your prerogative to enjoy more big beers this summer as the sun stays up longer and our days get hotter, then you are a much bolder Houstonian than me. 

However, if you are interested in cooling down this summer with some of Houston’s lighter alcohol content beers without sacrificing awesome flavor, then I encourage you to continue reading this article.

The following beers are not ranked in any ascending or descending order. I think each and every one of these beers is a perfect summer-time refreshment, depending on what style ale or lager you happen to be craving.

1. “Pink” – Vallensons’ Brewing Company (Berliner – 4% ABV)

“Pink” is a Berliner Weisse style ale, that has some overlapping qualities to a sour, without quite as much tartness. It is light in consistency and is overflowing with cherry flavor. Given the style, you should expect this beer to be a bit sweet, but I personally would not consider it a dessert- specific beer. There are many beers available in this category that have a comparably beautiful color in the glass, but “Pink” is deceivingly better than the rest. It is slightly sweet, slightly tart, very refreshing, flavorful and completely crushable. It is no surprise that “Pink” has won several awards in the last few years. 

“Pink” is currently on tap at Vallensons’ Brewing Company at the time of this article’s publication.

2. “Pilsner Rešov” – Equal Parts Brewing (Czech Pilsner – 4.6% ABV)

Anyone who has done a little bit of reading about Czech pour styles or has spent any time enjoying beers in Europe, is probably quite refreshed when seeing a lager style beer poured with a head like the one in the picture here of “Pilsner Rešov” by Equal Parts Brewing.

Equal Parts Brewing has done an excellent job giving their visitors an authentic experience on how a cold-fermentation beer should be served, as well as how a high quality one should taste. 

In this article I won’t dive deep into different pour styles made famous by the brewers of Czech Republic, nor the Lukr side pour faucet that this beer was beautifully dispensed from. 

In my opinion “Pilsner Rešov” is about as close as we can get to the perfectly crafted pilsner that tastes exactly as it’s initial creators intended without leaving Houston. 

This pilsner has floral hop character, with nearly no bitterness. It finishes clean with a very faint note of pepper.

This award winning pilsner is currently on tap at Equal Parts Brewing at the time of this article’s publication. 

3. “Castle Pale Ale” – Walking Stick Brewing Co. (American Pale Ale – 5.1%)

For those of you looking for a slightly hoppier refreshment while remaining in the low ABV category, I recommend trying “Castle Pale Ale”. 

This is a British style pale ale with great hop aroma and relatively low bitter properties. This beautifully crafted beverage is slightly malty, but not quite as malt- forward as it’s amber color may lead you to believe. It is a refreshing ale with a ton of flavor for 5.1% abv. 

“Castle Pale Ale” is currently on tap at Walking Stick Brewing Co. at the time of this article’s publication. 

4. “Citrus Shandy” – Saint Arnold Brewing Company (Shandy – 4.5%)

If you are familiar with shandy as a beer style, then you likely know that a proper shandy consists of equal parts beer to lemon soda. Saint Arnold Brewing Company’s “Citrus Shandy”, is perfectly balanced between these two main ingredients that make up the perfect shandy.

The lemon and grapefruit soda in this beverage is citrus-y, (just as the can describes), and refreshing. Of course, just like any proper shandy, this is a sweet beer – but it still tastes like beer!   

I think balanced is a great word to describe this beer. This is a beautifully crafted lager, with the added refreshing compliment of Saint Arnold’s lemon and grapefruit soda. It is neither too bland nor too sweet. 

“Citrus Shandy” is available on tap and in cans to go at Saint Arnold Brewing Company. It is also available in cans to go at many Houston area grocery and liquor stores.

5. “Fire in the Hole” – Holler Brewing Company (Mexican Lager – 4.7%)

The last beer I will share qualifies as an incredible Houston beer at a low ABV to enjoy this summer – although this one may not actually cool you down!  

Spicy beers are not for everyone, but if you enjoy spicy food, then a little heat in your beer can really turn your pint into a party!

“Fire in the Hole” starts with a perfectly brewed Mexican style lager. Hot peppers used in the brewing process, provide this beer with some big flavorful adjunct notes that give off quite a kick. The spicy heat in this beer is presented evenly throughout the drinking experience. It may leave you never wanting to go back to a dressed Modelo. 

This beer is served ice cold at Holler Brewing Company and is available in multiple different serving sizes. If you are unsure as to whether you will like this hot and spicy beer, I encourage you to at least give it a try as part of a flight.

“Fire in the Hole” is currently on tap at Holler Brewing Company at the time of this article’s publication. It can also be purchased to go at their brewery if you provide your own clean growler. 

Houston’s craft beer scene is thriving, offering a vibrant mix of past achievements and future potential. The five beers mentioned are personal favorites of each style and not ranked in any particular order. I encourage you to try any of these beers and share your thoughts with me. Ultimately, the best beer is the one enjoyed in a place that makes you happy or with people you care about. Cheers to enjoying great beer this summer!

The post Beers under 5.2% to Cool You Down This Summer In Houston first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Beers under 5.2% to Cool You Down This Summer In Houston appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Aug 28th starting at 4pm

I can’t think of a better place to host an event focused on celebrating Houston beer than Star Sailor HTX. This small beer boutique in the Heights embodies the community and vibes that I think best represents the craft beer scene in Houston. More on that later!

To wrap up Houston Beer Month, we are inviting you to our inaugural celebration party at Star. Don’t forget to wear your favorite brewery shirt and hats to represent! Who knows – you might even run into a brewer or beer sales rep while you are here. In addition to a damn good time, expect swag giveaways, delicious bites from David’s kitchen and a limited run of #HoustonBeer shirts available to take home. (Thanks Cask Branding!)

Psstt… pro-tip! There is still time to score a free t-shirt by contributing YOUR article on Houston Beer Guide! Email cheers@houstonbeerguide.com to get in! Guidelines can be found here.

RSVP on Facebook – https://fb.me/e/4aeFEOWsF See you there!

Breweries: Interested in sponsoring or being a part of the event? Send us a message.

The post #Houston Beer Celebration 2021 at Star Sailor first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post #Houston Beer Celebration 2021 at Star Sailor appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

August is Houston Beer Month. 

Yeah….we just made it up. Isn’t that how all great ideas are started anyways? In fact, this project is so new that we don’t even have an official logo finalized yet!  But those things will come later, much later!   So why are we doing this?

In deemed craft beer cities across the nation, it’s common to see a week-long schedule of events and things to do around town.  These beer weeks are catered breweries hosting taproom events, locals-only pours/taproom takeovers at local beer bars and the loyal beer drinkers (both residents and tourist travelers) celebrating the delicious beer we have to offer.  With being the largest city in Texas and the ever expanding melting pot of styles selection in beer, we have no choice but to go BIG with a month long celebration, sticking by the place we call home.  

Wanna get involved?  That’s easy!  Drink up and speak up!  We are asking all Houston beer folk to show mad love to their local breweries in celebration all month by sharing their social media posts, tagging locally made beer on their socials and show love for all things Houston beer! Houston Beer Guide is also accepting guest community contributors all month for those that want to share their love for Houston beer with us. We are happy to feature your work and are excited to hear your perspective. Check out our writing guidelines below and tell us why you love Houston with beer reviews, photography and stories of great craft beer and comradery. Don’t forget to tag us at @HoustonBeer and use hashtag #HoustonBeerMonth for reposts and giveaways! 

Breweries! Tell us about your upcoming Houston Beer Month events – We will share it with our readers as a special thank you for contributing to Houston Beer Month. 

In the meantime, help us get the word out and encourage your local Houston brewery/bars to get involved.  After all, it’s a celebration of all the amazing beer served in this city!  As beer fans, we hope you will join us year after year in this deserving endeavor in support of Houston beer.  Once August is completed into planning next year, our work continues on to grow this but we gotta start somewhere. It’s time we put our city in the spotlight it deserves. 

Houston Beer Month and Houston Beer Guide marketing assets are available upon request by email at cheers@houstonbeerguide.com.

Cheers Houston!

PS. Want to see where I am drinking? Follow my adventures all month on Instagram.

-Sylvia

@HoustonBeerMaiden

Guest Contributor Writing Guidelines for August

• Articles should be at least 2-3 paragraphs max
• Articles should be focused on your honest experience about beer or brewery, ideally positive with an engaging story or subject
• Must include an original photo with our article. Submitting multiple photos is also accepted
• We are publishing articles daily for the month of August – email your submissions to cheers@HoustonBeerGuide.com along with your full name, city of residence and featured photo of yourself.

The post Celebrating Houston Beer Month in August first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Celebrating Houston Beer Month in August appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Here I am 8 years into my journey, and I am in my third year serving as the Vice President for the Bay Area Mashtronauts Homebrew Club. I have gone from a few early batches of decent beer that may have only tasted okay, but certainly gave me an immense sense of pride to winning medals and awards in homebrew competitions. I love homebrewing and how it enriches my life, but most importantly to me is my development of my sensory skills and descriptors so that I can familiarized myself with the myriad of beer styles that exist.  I have worked hard to taste and learn, and I have been able to earn the rank of Certified Judge from the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP). I love learning about craft beer, the vast range of styles of beer, and how to use my senses to describe beer in all aspects as I drink it.

When using all your senses and focusing on describing each aspect of the beer you are drinking from a sensory perspective, I find it adds a great deal to the overall experience of enjoying that beer. That is a big reason I wanted to be a contributor to Houston Beer Guide. The most worthwhile part of my experiences has been learning to objectively taste a beer and build a large vocabulary to draw from to describe it. It is something that I am passionate about and would love to pass on to the readers who are interested in more in-depth reviews than you typically see on Untapped or Social Media.

I have decided that for my beer review pieces, I will treat these beers as if I were judging each beer as an entrant in a homebrewing competition and use the BJCP scoresheet as a guide to lay out my thoughts. I feel that this will help me to better organize my thoughts on the beer, as well as make the post a little easier to follow.

I always endeavor to continue to learn and grow in my knowledge of craft beer and homebrewing, and luckily that means drinking more beer. Hope you will all drink along with me!

The post Contributor Introduction: Tristin Marcks first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Contributor Introduction: Tristin Marcks appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

I actually got into the industry about 8 years ago, when I started volunteering at Saint Arnold in the tap room. At the time I was also teaching music at a high school and was doing this on the weekends. My wonderful wife realised I wasn’t happy teaching, and found a job posting for the Galleria Whole Foods opening, so I applied, interviewed, and got accepted into their specialty department as a bartender at the brewery. From there I moved up to be the beer specialist and was fortunate enough to get my Certified Cicerone. After a few years at the Galleria store, I moved to the Montrose location’s beer department and bar to learn about their higher package volume. Since then, I have transitioned to be a stay at home dad.

I currently enjoy many different beers, but crispy pilsners have been in my fridge fairly regularly the last few months. I have mainly been enjoying the many different new breweries that have been establishing themselves in Houston.

Outside of beer, I teach and play drum set, gigging occasionally and teaching private lessons. I’m an avid nerd, enjoying video games, sci-fi and fantasy books and movies, and tabletop role playing. 

You can find me on Instagram at @AManandHisPint.

The post Contributor Introduction: Josh Wharton first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Contributor Introduction: Josh Wharton appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

I’m proud to announce that Houston Beer Guide is making a triumphant return in January with new contributors, ready to document and share Houston’s finest craft beers, exploding beer culture and expanding beer scene.  We aren’t real professional journalists, just passionate beer lovers that want to give Houston’s beer community a voice. We hope you will stick around to listen to it.  

Hey, I’m Sylvia. For years, I’ve watched fellow friend, local homebrewer Josh Frink and his team of writers share their passion for craft beer through these articles of expression.  Through these simple writings,  I’ve seen the diversity of brews created and shared in this city truly represent the vast differences we share being craft beer enthusiasts and supporters. With what was once a small niche hobby, you can’t help but recognize that everyone  and their grandma is drinking nowadays and at the very least, tasting local craft beer.  Crazy beer releases that draw insane Black Friday-like antics still amaze me and I’m excited to see events like this foster the newest wave of craft beer drinkers to come.   Fruit forward ales, sugarly dessert-like concoctions and pickle beers seem to be everywhere but the return of the refreshing drinkable lager still remains the standard for your average craft beer drinker. Still in my opinion, traditional brewing techniques and brewing sensory training still remain to be a critical part of the ultimate execution of quality beer but yeah of course, it’s nice to see that the landscape has changed to include these fun ingredients.  Who doesn’t love a beer that tastes like their favorite food?  Not only do our beer taste preferences vary in choice, but the many ways we choose to enjoy these tasty malt beverages. Whether that includes chasing brewing trends, hunting “whales” or trading beers from other states or simply cracking open a no fuss favorite in the comfort of our home – beer has become a fulfilling yet functional hobby for many.  By contributing and leading the charge on the success of Houston Beer Guide, I hope to share my craft beer perspective and pledge to create a creative and safe place for other writers to do the same. 

My craft beer obsession became a “thing” a few short years ago while enjoying a delicious pork banh mi at a local sandwich eatery in Friendswood, just south of Houston.  Locals know this spot as the “original Nobi sandwich shop”.  There was a paper sign hung behind the kitchen counter that read “New Craft Beer Bar in Webster, Coming Soon”.  I had tried Sam Adam’s Boston Lager and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale before but never knew the quality of locally produced craft beer.  Enduring the awful acoustics and uncomfortable bar stools at this new craft beer pub, we quickly became ‘regulars’, drinking away all our extra cash trying everything in 5oz pours. At the time, the popular beer checking application, Untappd was recently released and we were busy trying to catch ’em all! Once we found a favorite, we made sure to get a free pint of it on Pork Chop Tuesday.  Over the years, my beer choosing habits slowly morphed into what looks alot like my dining preferences now. I make it a rule to try everything (at least once!) and never judge a beer by it’s label.  For me, purchasing power comes with the changes of the wind and is surprisingly synced with my vibe.  IPAs for the outdoors, stouts for the couch.  That being said, special thank you to the Nobi Public House family for being that special place to remember, you opened the doors to business and the door to my crooked craft beer heart.  I am thankful to have The Beagle right in my backyard as a place to remind me of my beer roots. 

Enough of that.  Let’s talk about this year….

This year kicked off pretty normal with 66 breweries in operation with brewers across the city steady filling up fermenters and planning the annual brew schedules with one thing in mind, to brew great beer for the amazing people of this city.  It’s no surprise breweries were laser focused on providing the best beer experience they could offer.  March arrived and we started taking notice of our everyday lives starting to change.  Many local breweries were forced to shut the doors to taprooms, finding creative ways to continue operating business, and asking their customers to support them more now than ever.  Beer fans across the city made sure to load up on grocery store essentials and canceled their plans to enjoy their beer without their friends – safely at home.    When May arrived, breweries were able to reopen tap rooms and patios for a short time before being ordered to close once again.  In mid July, TABC released guidance regarding a license modification that allowed breweries to operate to go sale with limited patio dine in service.  While that didn’t last very long, craft beer fans were already busy organized to take action by engaging with social media initiatives like The Houston Beer Run organized by an online Facebook group I help admin, Texas Beer Collective. This project was important because we knew that the only way these breweries would be around post-pandemic, was if we contributed our hard earned dollars towards the purchase of local independent craft beer.   On Friday July 24, TABC issued a different ruling regarding how the 51 percent designation is determined, meaning what qualifies a business as a restaurant (which can open for dine-in service) versus a bar (which can’t).  All this, requiring an additional permit to be legal. Good grief!  Fast forward to December, here we are, still trying to figure out how to balance our safety alongside the continuation of our lives and a bit of normalcy.  I don’t know about you but I’ve mastered the ability to enjoy a beer responsibly with a face mask if I have to, and I sure as hell don’t complain about it or give service staff a hard time. And you shouldn’t either.  

2020 was definitely NOT full of rainbows and sunshine and I’ve learned alot about my beer consumption, and the beer community around me.   Despite these current challenges, new brewery openings such as Local Group Brewing, Urban South HTX, and 6 Wards Brewing kept beer fans busy, trying new brews and visiting unexplored tap rooms to support beer to go.   I’ve learned that craft beer consumers are always challenged to try new beer recipes and this year was no different, despite the challenges that this pandemic brought.  I hope that through this that more consumers find value and more satisfaction supporting their local city’s craft beer business.  

Want a hoppy IPA, try out Spindletap Brewery in 5th Ward. 

 Looking for a dark decadent stout, try Saloon Door Brewing in Webster.  

Want a clean refreshing kolsch? Saint Arnold’s Lawnmower is still an old favorite that is available at most local gas stations even when you are in a hurry.  

This city has much to beer to offer and THAT IS WORTH CELEBRATING! 

I wondered what others thought about craft beer in 2020 so a few of new contributors chimed in with their thoughts……

“The surge of support from the beer community was amazing and I was happy to lead a route for the Houston Beer Run this year. I spent a lot of money in support of my local breweries and enjoyed seeing people that were not familiar with craft beer step in and explore! Because of the pandemic, consumers kept local to their neighborhoods so I am hoping 2021 allows folks to visit more breweries in our Houston area.   Also, as politically divisive this year was, beer remained the centerfold to keep craft beer drinkers united.  This year, I continued to enjoy one of my favorites, Gentleman’s Relish from Lone Pint Brewery.  This amazing brown ale not only comes in at a great price ($10 per 4-pack) but continues to be my go-to choice throughout the year. “ – Tristin Marcks

“This year, the resilience of Houston area breweries was on display more than ever.  Despite the hurdles, breweries continued  to show creativity by innovating new ways to stay engaged with the beer consumers.  As an example, Eureka Heights Brewing Co. continued to launch new beer releases each week, and while they aren’t the most eye-catching on social media, the beer was always delicious.   The beer that I enjoyed most this year was Taco Tuesday Mexican Lager with Lime from 11 Below Brewing Company.  – Cody Miller 

“Keep up the support, beer fans! Nobody wanted to be quarantined this year but it’s nice to see everyone still willing to check out new breweries!  Be sure to check out award winning Vallenson’s Brewery and taste any of the craft “tea” variants if they are on tap from Vallenson’s Brewing Company in Pearland. Good stuff!” – Bryan “Chops” Soliz

“I second the resilience. The ability to pivot into trying something new has proved to be instrumental for smaller breweries.  For a city this size, we thankfully noticed only a few closings which is very impressive.  The support from organizations like CraftPac, operated by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild has been instrumental to fighting for better beer laws and progressive beer legislation.  This is something I hope will continue in full force in 2021.  This year, I kept with my go-to options : Art Car IPA from Saint Arnold Brewing Company and Mini Boss from Eureka Heights Brew Co.” – James Weiss

James is right.  This city would not be where it is now without our loyal craft beer fans and beer industry advocates.  Pat yourself on the back for not only creating an industry that feeds a lot of families but is also home to the coolest, most down to earth people I know.  Because of you, this energy has resulted in an amazing city to drink beer in.  

 It wouldn’t be a goodbye article without an ode to those we lost during 2020.  Much love for our pals at Fetching Lab Brewery who’s taproom has permanently closed after nearly two years of operation.  #TeamAmber.  Thanks for having me along for all the great times and the opportunity to meet new friends along the way.  Right up there with Fetching Lab is Texas Beer Refinery, another lost brewery of 2020.   We certainly haven’t forgotten about the great times and tasty Mexican IPA. 

We hope you will visit Houston Beer Guide often to see what we are drinking and what craft beer experiences we are sharing.  If you are interested in sharing your perspective of beer in Houston, shoot us an email! 

Happy New Year!

– Sylvia B.

@Beerfedmother

PS.  Houston deserves to be among the greatest beer cities in the nation not only in our hearts, but everywhere.    

Houston Beer Month is launching August 2021.

Save the whole month. 

We don’t know totally what to expect yet, but we are working on it!  VIP tasting events, brewery appreciation specials, and the celebration of Texas craft beer! 

Houston Beer Guide is looking for local breweries interested in sponsoring or participating in Houston Beer Month, contact Sylvia at Cheers@HoustonBeerGuide.com for more details. 

The post Goodbye 2020 – Hello 2021! first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Goodbye 2020 – Hello 2021! appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

It’s in this locally focused, charitable spirit that Back Pew Brewing Company in Porter has begun a partnership with Addi’s Faith, a Kingwood-based charity. Part of the proceeds of the Addi’s Faith Kolsch will go to the organization, whose mission is to both support researchers working towards a cure for childhood brain cancer and provide services to families impacted by the disease. Addi’s Faith approached Bobby Harl, president and brewer at Back Pew, and asked him to design a beer that would be approachable for just about anyone and easy to drink during the heat of the late Houston summer. Addi’s Faith Founder and President Amber Bender told me, ‘We went to Back Pew first because they are local, make a great beer, and we enjoy going there on the weekends to hang out.”

Bobby leveraged his expertise in German styles and designed a Kolsch brewed with a slight twist – using Northern Brewer (a hop with a distinct minty-like bitterness) along with noble hops. Bobby’s skill shows in this example of the classic style from Cologne. The beer pours straw gold with a bright white head, with a delicate malty sweet aroma. The taste of the beer is also slightly sweet and bready, with a crisp bitterness and an ever-so-slight fruitiness. The hint of Northern Brewer evergreen/mint helps reinforce the clean, dry finish. Bobby said he would like to coax a little more of the pear-like flavors from the yeast in future versions, but the balance of this beer is pretty perfect in this single batch offering.

Back Pew sees this beer as a first step in what should be an annual effort to help support Addi’s Faith during September, which is also Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The style of the beer may change year-on-year, but the mission remains the same – raise awareness of the disease Addi’s Faith is focused on, and bring the focus of the community on their organization in an engaging way.

Although not much of this tasty Kolsch will be left on shelves and taps around town through the waning days of September, if you’ve missed getting your taste of the brew I highly recommend taking a close look at the history and accomplishments of Addi’s Faith. Specifically, watch the video story below of how Amber and her husband responded to the loss of their daughter Addison Faith to the disease just shy of her second birthday in 2008. From that foundation of tragedy and loss, they’ve built a legacy through Addi’s Faith, raising over $1 million for research on pediatric brain cancer treatment, as well as outreach and support for families that have heard those terrifying four words themselves: ‘Your child has cancer…’

Amber and the leaders of Addi’s Faith have done incredible things in the past 11 years. Now it’s our turn – the craft beer community of Houston – to do our part. This Back Pew Kolsch represents a tasty beginning to what promises to be another chapter in the long happy story of charitable support from the Houston beer community. Learn more about Addi’s Faith and how to support their mission here.

The post Good Beer, Great Cause – Back Pew Brews up Kolsch to Benefit Addi’s Faith first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post Good Beer, Great Cause – Back Pew Brews up Kolsch to Benefit Addi’s Faith appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

Photo: Texas Leaguer Brewing

According to 2015 statistics from the Brewers Association, 75% of adults in the United States live within 10 miles of a brewery. I would guess that number is even higher in 2017. I, however, am in the minority. In fact, just about anyone living in Missouri City and large parts of Sugar Land are probably in that same minority; Running Walker is currently the only open brewery in Fort Bend County. (You can read our coverage on the closing-not-closing of Texian Brewing and the upcoming Fullbrook Ale Works here.) When I heard about Texas Leaguer Brewing and their future Missouri City plans, I was intrigued. I reached out to Nathan Rees, owner of Texas Leaguer Brewing, and found that he was not only a craft beer fanatic, he was also a neighbor. We quickly made plans to meet for a beer and to discuss the future of the brewery.

The new Texas Leaguer Brewing taproom and brewery is located in Missouri City in a 12,000 square foot warehouse on Pike Rd, just off of Gessner and east of the Stafford Center. It’s actually a pretty quick trip from the Galleria area down 59 for those living in town. Their 20 BBL brewing system will give them the capacity to sell beer in cans someday, but right now they’re focused on their tap room and local taps. The brewery will open to a warehouse setup with picnic tables, but they have hopes to open their 3,000 square foot indoor taproom in the spring of 2018, in line with baseball opening day. Nathan says he wants the brewery to be a place for people to come and watch the game or listen to live music. This is a brewery named with a baseball theme after all, and sports will be a big part of the marketing plans. Normal hours will be on Friday and Saturday to begin with, but you should expect it to also be open for most of the major sporting events. As for the live music, Nathan has been performing himself for years around town. He will be performing from time to time at the brewery, and his friends in the music industry are wanting to come play as soon as he’s up and running as well.

Texas Leaguer’s First Four Beers: Knuckle Bock, 6-4-3 Belgian, 2 Hopper IPA, and Airmail Blonde | Photo: Texas Leaguer Brewing

Texas Leaguer head brewer “Doc” Rebeck will have four year-round beers ready for their grand opening: 6-4-3 Belgian, 2 Hopper IPA, Knuckle Bock, and Airmail Blonde, all of which are named to go along with the baseball theme. I got to sample 6-4-3 Belgian and 2 Hopper IPA back in April. 6-4-3 is a Belgian pale ale that is heavy on the Belgian spices. It was this beer that stuck out to me that day, as it is very unique for the Houston area. Hazy golden with a nice foam head in appearance, the almost wit-like initial taste met with a clean finish, and it went down very quickly. The 2 Hopper IPA was still in development when I went to visit in April, but I got a sample from the brite tank during their soft opening on September 22nd. It is made with half El Dorado and half Cascade hops, and it’s then dry hopped with the same 50-50 combo. It has plenty of hop aroma, a soft melon taste, and very small bitter back end. I’m looking forward to getting a full pour to delve into it even further. Knuckle Bock and Airmail were available in full pours at their soft opening. Airmail is a golden blonde ale that got a lot of buzz from people I talked with throughout the night. Hitting you up front with flavors that remind me more of a pale ale than a blonde, it ends with more of a traditional blonde flavor. It is similar to some session IPAs that I’ve tried, but it still retains qualities of a blonde. The final beer of their initial beer offerings is Knuckle Bock, a traditional German style bock. I find it to be one of the best standard bocks I’ve had. To me, a good bock balances the malt flavors and aroma with sweetness, but not over the top sweetness. This one struck that balance for me, and I can see it pairing well with a good plate of BBQ.

Grand Opening is this weekend on September 29th and 30th. Located at 13503 Pike Rd, the brewery will be open from 4-8 on Friday and 11-5 on Saturday. Food trucks will be on site. Follow them on Twitter, Facebook, or on Instagram for more details.

Welcome to Missouri City Texas Leaguer Brewing, we’re very excited to have you!

The post It’s Opening Weekend for Texas Leaguer Brewing Company first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post It’s Opening Weekend for Texas Leaguer Brewing Company appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.

This Sunday, May 7th, Holler, Platypus, and Eureka Heights are teaming up for a 3-stop brewery tour – on bikes. The majority of the route will be along the Heights Hike & Bike trail or on dedicated bike lanes, so it should be an easy ride. It’s even easier when you think about everyone who just completed the MS 150.

It will work a lot like the Saint Arnold pub crawls: pick up a card at your first stop, get it stamped at all 3 stops, and earn a free t-shirt. The shirts have to be picked up at Eureka Heights, so there are two strategies: 1) park at Eureka Heights, bike to Platypus & Holler, then bike back to your car, or 2) park at Holler, bike to Platypus, then to Eureka Heights, and return back to your car at Holler. Either way it’s less than a 10-mile round trip (Google Maps says that will take about an hour). If you want a group experience, Tap & Pedal Bike Touring will lead a group from Holler at 1pm.

If you don’t have a bike (or if you’re like me and your tires are always flat) there is a B-cycle station a 5-minute ride away from Holler at Stude park or a 7-minute ride away from Holler at Spotts park. Bonus: if you choose Spotts park and you return the bike around sundown then you can also watch the Waugh bridge bats take off.

(Hopefully we don’t actually need to tell you this, but please bike and drink responsibly. If you don’t feel safe biking, let a member of the brewery staff know and they will store your bike overnight.)

Heights Bike Trail Brewery Tour

Sunday, May 7th
12-6PM

More details and RSVP at the Facebook event here.

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Let me explain…

I too want to improve my fitness and decrease my waistline this year but I don’t want to sacrifice my beer drinking in order to do so. Beer is deceptively high in calories — it’s often difficult for me to find an IPA with less than 200 calories per 12 ounce bottle. We always think twice about consuming nachos or pancakes but rarely do we put our beer mug down because of the caloric intake. There must be a way for all of us to continue enjoying our heavyweight beers without becoming heavyweights ourselves, right? I’ve attempted to dissect the local craft beer scene in order to find a resolution for you beer-loving fitness enthusiasts (or hopeful enthusiasts) by looking at calories and alcohol by volume, ABV.

The reason for looking at calories is obvious; the reason I also look at ABV is because nutrition facts are not required on beer labels and there’s a lot of resistance to making the information known. Alcohol content is probably the best indicator of calories since every gram of alcohol contributes about 7 calories towards your beer. It can get a lot more complicated than this due to the amount of sugars and the fermentation process, but this is a simple approximation. I utilized two sources for the information: www.myfitnesspal.com & The Next Glass (iOS app). Simply finding caloric information for craft beer is extremely difficult and my findings are only as good as the data available.

I’ve highlighted my 5 favorite healthy brewery options + a “cheat meal”. If you’re still thirsty for more there is a longer list towards the bottom. All calorie amounts are per a 12-ounce serving.

Saint Arnold

Saint Arnold’s Marketing Director, Lennie Ambrose, actually provided their exact nutrition facts. The SA beer with the least amount of calories is the new Boiler Room Berliner Weisse with 120 per 12oz, which I must say is awesomely refreshing. Other good options are Fancy Lawnmower, Weedwacker and Santo, which all clock in at 149 calories each. You shouldn’t have a problem finding any of these on store shelves.

Karbach

I found Love Street Kolsch to have 123 calories and Weisse Versa Wheat, 156 (according to Next Glass). Both are very solid beers, especially in the Texas heat. Also, Staycation with only 4.8% ABV or Zee German Pils with 4.9% ABV will keep you light and tight. The Zee German Pils was released last week.

8^th Wonder

8^th Wonder has quite the assortment of beers available but finding nutrition facts on them is tough. A safe bet would be to keep it light with some Dome Faux’m, which is a cream ale at only 5.2% ABV.

Buffalo Bayou

I wasn’t expecting to find a healthy option from a brewery that creates beers such as Bananas Foster, Mud Turtle, Gingerbread Stout and Red Velvet Stout, but they provide a selection of beers across the spectrum. For instance, their 1836 Copper Ale claims only 171 calories (Next Glass), while the Summer’s Wit hoists 180 (Next Glass). I highly recommend the toasty 1836 to be paired with a lean burger for the ideal post-workout reload. Beer hydrates, right?

No Label

They tout quite a number of beers under the 200 calorie mark. No Label has the lowest average calorie count of all the breweries I looked at. Your fittest bets would be the 1^st Street Blonde Ale with 150 calories and 5% ABV, or El Hefe Hefeweizen with 165 calories at 5.5% ABV (all stats from Next Glass).

Brash (CHEAT MEAL)

Let’s be honest, you don’t drink a beer from Brash because you’re looking to cut back on calories and they don’t make beer for that reason either. Consider a Brash Cortado, Abide, or Smoglifter Stout as your cheat meal. You earned it. If you want to be picky then search out their EZ-7 pale ale with only 5% ABV.

The following is a list of more local beers under 6% ABV or 200 calories per 12 ounces to fit your fitness goals:

B-52

The Payload Pilsner: 5.1% ABV
Schwarzbier: 4.3% ABV & 129 Calories
Wingman Wheat IPA: 5.7% ABV

Southern Star

Bombshell Blonde Ale: 5.3% ABV & 157 calories (Next Glass)

Lone Pint

Zeno’s Pale Ale: 5.9% ABV
Yellow Rose IPA: 6.8% ABV & 215 calories.

Whole Foods Market Brewing

Vienna Lager: 4.9% ABV

Town in City

Mosquito’s Revenge Pale Ale: 5.5% ABV

Spindletap

The Boomtown Blonde Ale: 5.5% ABV
Toolpusher Pale Ale: 5.5% ABV

Galveston Island

Tiki Wheat: 5.6% ABV

Texian

Vaquero Mexican Dark Lager: 5.2% ABV
Travis Pale Lager: 5.2% ABV

11 Below

7-Iron Session Ale: 4.5% ABV

And there you have it. Houston craft brewers are gaining a reputation for producing truly awesome BIG beers but as you can see there are plenty of lighter beers you can enjoy while trying to cut back on calories.

While my list is extensive, it’s not comprehensive, so if you would like to include any breweries that I missed or find faults in my arguments please leave a comment below.

The feedback is always much appreciated. Cheers y’all and I hope you’re able to enjoy plenty of beer while sticking to your resolutions in 2016. Let us know how it goes.

The post New Year’s Resolution: Drink (Somewhat) Healthier Beer! first appeared on Houston Beer Guide.

The post New Year’s Resolution: Drink (Somewhat) Healthier Beer! appeared first on Houston Beer Guide.