When the weather warms and the skies are blue, it feels like there is no better time to guzzle down a cold, craft beer. Gone are the days when there were only a handful of beers from big beer corporations to choose from. The microbrewery movement of the ‘90s has blossomed into a multi-billion dollar business with thousands of independent breweries across the nation, showcasing their finest ales.
Houston has its fair share of craft breweries and taprooms, making it an ongoing adventure to taste your way through them all. Consider this guide of where to enjoy some of the best of what the Bayou City is brewing, while enjoying the camaraderie of like-minded beer connoisseurs.
Under the Radar Brewery
Like its name suggests, Under the Radar is a true neighborhood gem. Most of the taproom is outdoors, nestled under the trees with plenty of picnic tables for seating and playing board games. Food trucks are on site most days, but the brewery has a few snacks on offer, like peanuts and beef jerky. It’s a smaller operation, but the beers are plentiful. Radar Love is a hefeweizen-style brew, and there are bolder brews like the rich espresso stout, Basti’s Brew, and Porter Authority, an English porter. There is even a low-alcohol kombucha on tap. 1506 Truxillo St., Houston, undertheradarbrewery.com
8th Wonder Brewery
8th Wonder’s moniker pays tribute to the Houston Astrodome, which opened in 1965 and was dubbed the “Eighth Wonder of the World”. The brewery itself first began brewing beer in 2013, and has since opened a distillery across the street. Cannabis products were recently added to the offerings, including Wonder Water THC seltzer and Ocho Verde, a cannabis spirit.
Though the beer list is small, it covers all the bases with many different ales, plus a porter and a stout. Located in Houston’s East End, the vast space offers plenty of seating inside and out, with Houston-themed murals and sports memorabilia softening the industrial feel. The giant statues of the Beatles in the backyard add a bit of quirkiness. The beer garden is dog- and kid-friendly, and often has food trucks parked onsite. 2202 Dallas St., Houston, 8thwonder.com
Eureka Heights Brew Co.
This Heights-area warehouse-style brewery and taproom has a good-sized offering of sessionable beers with low ABV. Its Buckle Bunny and 713 Pilsner are easy-drinking, while the double IPAs are a bit stronger. The beers on tap rotate, but there are approximately 20 different options on most days. Kids and adults can play pinball, cornhole, and foosball, or participate in one of the brewery’s weekly events like bingo and trivia. Food trucks rotate regularly, and dogs are welcome. 941 W. 18th St., Houston, eurekaheights.com
Karbach Brewing Co.
Founded in 2011, Karbach has seen immense growth in just a few years. It was acquired by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2016, but still prides itself on its Houston roots. Karbach’s best-sellers include Love Street, Crawford Bock, and Hopadilla IPA, but there’s always something new brewing as the team creates new limited-time sips for its F.U.N. Series.
The Karbach compound has a pub, biergarten, and the Karbach Restaurant + Patio, which offers a menu of shared plates like Korean fried chicken ($11) and the Clutch City dip trio ($11), plus entrees like the Texas wagyu smashburger ($17) and grilled salmon ($22), and a kids menu. The most recent addition, Pizza & Pints, is a laid-back eatery and pub with giant mozzarella sticks ($10) and a selection of pizza pies. 2032 Karbach St., Houston, karbachbrewing.com
Spindletap Brewery
This popular family-friendly brewery and taproom is located on the northeast side of Houston and has been open to the public since 2015. While guests can enjoy original ales like Boomtown Blond and Toolpusher Pale Ale, it also turns out solid IPAs like Houston Haze and Hopper House Double IPA, and a couple of canned mocktails. A food truck is typically parked nearby with items like pizza and burgers, and with more than three acres of outdoor space, there is plenty of room to linger. Patrons are welcome to play miniature golf, pickleball, soccer, horseshoes, and more. 10622 Hirsch Rd., Houston, spindletap.com
Walking Stick Brewing
Taking up a city block in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area, this family-run establishment features a taproom, brew house, and beer gardens in the front and the back. There is a wide selection of brews including Pikes Peak Pilsner, Conundrum IPA, and Massive Brown Porter, with a flight serving as a great way to find a favorite.
Flower arrangements decorate the tables, and the space boasts an array of seating options ranging from picnic tables to comfy bean bag chairs. Live music, trivia nights, and karaoke are a few of the fun events guests can partake in throughout the week. 957 Wakefield Dr., Houston, walkingstickbrewing.com
Saint Arnold Brewing Company
While not the oldest brewery in Texas, Saint Arnold was the first craft brewery in the state, shipping its first keg in 1994. The Saint Arnold team is always working on new brews, but some of the breweries trusted year-round offerings include Art Car IPA, Fancy Lawnmower, Amber Ale, and the dry stout, Irish Hello. Seasonal beers, like Oktoberfest and Christmas Ale, plus a variety of ciders and non-alcoholic root beer and ginger beer round out the list.
Its cathedral-like restaurant boasts apse-like nooks to settle into, while the covered beer garden offers sweeping views of the Houston skyline. Nosh on beer-friendly fare like the holy smashburger ($17), Slow Dough soft pretzel ($10), and fish and chips ($18). 2000 Lyons Ave., Houston, saintarnold.com
Great Heights Brewing Company
More and more breweries and taprooms seem to be popping up in residential areas and Great Heights, located in the Garden Oaks/Oak Forest area, is a prime example. Not only will guests discover great beers, but Great Heights brews coffee and espresso drinks too. Pastries from Cake & Bacon are available during breakfast, and the taproom serves pizza for lunch and dinner.
The list of on-tap beers rotates, but IPAs are a focus here with a variety of options, including the popular Fruity Pellets. German-style beers like Great Heights Hefeweizen and Lager-ish are available, as well as pilsners, sours, and an English stout. Take to the pet-friendly patio or stick to the hopping indoor taproom with friendly bartenders.There is often a food truck parked outside, but guests are welcome to bring in their own food as well. 938 Wakefield Dr., Houston, ghbrewing.com
