The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

The Flying Saucer Draught EmporiumThe Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
The Flying Saucer Draught EmporiumThe Flying Saucer Draught Emporium
Bar, Eatery

705 Main St
Houston, Texas, 77002-3313
United States

(713) 228-7468 | map
beerknurd.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.25
Reviews:
74
Ratings:
148
pDev:
8.24%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by jim102864:
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Reviewed by jim102864 from Connecticut

4.18/5  rDev -1.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3
Not a suprise that it was such a pain in the ass to get to from the West Loop during rush hour but try getting to the parking lot adjacent to the place and prepare to lose your mind navigating the endless one way streets and no left turn signs. When I finally figured the whole mess out, I was 7 bucks lighter in the wallet for parking and in dire need of a beer. Maybe that's the reason they're so successful.

FS number 2 for me, and again consistentsy in selection and quality of both the beer and the barmaids makes this a great place in an otherwise ho-hum region of the country for beer.

The decor isn't much different from the Nashville location, 'cept it's smaller. Same plates of those who've guzzled 200 beers hanging from the walls; same hot chicks in plaid skirts servin' em up. The obligatory flat screens mounted too high above the bar can be seen here along with the tap wall deocorated with pennies.

Very unusual that there are absolutely zero belgians on tap, but the Belgian bottle selection is respectable (again, we're in Texas). Any bar that's serving that bad ass 12% abv Scaldis can't be all that bad. Place was loud and busy for a Monday night, but that's because nearly all drafts are $2.50. Suffice it to say the 20 something crowd was predominant, however, the mix of old farts such as yours truly and younger types was comfortable, at least for me anyway.

Bartenders saw me taking notes probabaly thinking I was the health inspector, since I got asked three times if I was ready for another even though my glass said otherwise. Guess it's just that southern hospitality thing shining through.

Besides the Scaldis, they had Maradsous 8 in a bottle and a Left Hand Milk Stout on tap that was very special indeed.

Almost failed to mention the food, which should tell you where I'm heading on that front. Nice cheese plate, headlined by some smoky gouda and grapes with pates of some kind including one that was too heavy on the mustard seed and vinagar and another that was a mushy concoction of, I think, prunes or something. The roast beef au jus sandwich was a couple of thin slices thrown on a large roll with some dipping au jus sauce - nothing to flip your skirt about.

A must visit if you're visiting Houston. Go for the beer. Hit the Italian joint accross the street for a real meal.
Aug 27, 2007
More User Ratings:
Photo of SViterileroux74
Rated by SViterileroux74 from Texas

4.05/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.5
Great bar with a good selection on tap, also great offering of bottled beer from all over the world. The food was as expected for a pub/bar.
Apr 24, 2023
 
Rated: 4.64 by JohnDon from Texas

Oct 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.69 by mig100 from Texas

Jul 08, 2018
 
Rated: 3.93 by bromannrn from Texas

Jun 18, 2018
Photo of silverhorn
Reviewed by silverhorn from Texas

4.7/5  rDev +10.6%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25
One of the oldest beer bars in Houston. No one tops their beer selection both in quantity and quality. The staff is well schooled in beer knowledge and willing to share it with you. It is obvious the goal of this bar is to encourage beer customers to come back. The managers are very knowledgeable and willing to get into deep beer conversations. The crowd is big and most of those hanging by the bar area are beer people who will always ask, "Whatcha drinking?" and not as a greeting but to genuinely discuss the beer. My favorite spot in Houston.
Monday night is pint night with $3 pints of any beer on their expansive wall... I've had 120 Minute, Rasputin, Czar and many other quality pints for 3 bucks! Check it out.
Mar 07, 2018
 
Rated: 4.31 by brew-Ed from Texas

Jan 20, 2018
Photo of bigbeerfan
Reviewed by bigbeerfan from Illinois

4.86/5  rDev +14.4%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
This is a great place to hang out and drink some great beers. It’s loud and friendly and the decor is very unique. They have some really high quality beers available in addition to their 80+ drafts. One of my favorite features is the Ghost beers. You can blind taste test beers and then go online to rate them. The highest rated beers will then end up on the menu. Definitely one of my favorite places in Houston.
Dec 29, 2017
Photo of Best_Enjoyed_In_Texas
Rated by Best_Enjoyed_In_Texas from Texas

4.35/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 3
Need to put a burger on their menu.
Aug 20, 2017
 
Rated: 4.21 by jkoogler from Texas

Apr 15, 2017
 
Rated: 4.1 by Spaceman_Jer from Colorado

Jan 31, 2017
 
Rated: 4.15 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Dec 03, 2016
 
Rated: 4.29 by Daniellobo from District of Columbia

Aug 21, 2016
 
Rated: 4.6 by Tbone2131 from Connecticut

Jul 14, 2016
 
Rated: 2.71 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Jun 12, 2016
Photo of mynie
Reviewed by mynie from Maryland

4.4/5  rDev +3.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Right downtown, near that weird monorail funicular thing that they have in lieu of actual public transport. Kinda neat, really, and it sums up Houston quite well: a city that provides minimal infrastructure for the majority of its citizens also has a really convenient, futuristic semi-train thing that services only those who live or work in the city's most expensive area.

So the vibe of this joint is kind of that of its neighborhood, i.e. solidly white collar and upper class. You don't get any of the annoying bits associated with a shitkicker or bro bar, but you also have to deal with listening to rich people speak.

The building is old. Its ceilings are high and the interior is spacious is woody. Old beer swag and mug club completion trophies line the wall (which are just the saddest goddamn things; why don't you mug clubbers simply review 2000+ beers, like Real Men?).

The vibe is pleasantly quiet: no loud music, even fairly late at night, and while there are sports that play TV the volume is on low enough that you can easily carry on a conversation even if you're sitting right beneath a TV.

The bartenders and wait staff were friendly and fast, knowledgeable about the beer selection without seeming pretentious or condescending. I cannot vouch for the quality of the selection, since I don't really know of any other south texas joints to compare it it, but the breadth was excellent: about 30 taps, all good to great, and then another 50 or so bottles.

Draught selection was a great combination of local brews (Arnolds, Live Oak, Karbach, Brash), nationally available craft brands, and good European imports. Nothing struck me as particularly rare--even during their rare beer tapping on Thursday--but it was all good.

Pours ranged from 5-7. Same with the bottles, aside from some obvious exceptions like Cascade.

Overall, the best place to stop for a beer in downtown Houston.
Apr 09, 2016
 
Rated: 4.43 by thatche2 from Georgia

Apr 04, 2016
 
Rated: 5 by Bryan12345 from Texas

Mar 26, 2016
 
Rated: 3.91 by aknalley from Texas

Feb 07, 2016
Photo of cjohns73
Reviewed by cjohns73 from Delaware

4.21/5  rDev -0.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25
Went here while at a conference. Pretty nice beer selection both on tap and in bottles. I was quite happy to be able to get Yellow Rose (maybe its easy to find but I am not local). Food was typical bar food -- no complaints here. Inside is fairly hokey but decent outdoor seating.
Dec 12, 2015
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Rated by pescadoWRC from Argentina

4.74/5  rDev +11.5%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
If you love beer, these is the place in downtown Houston! Great selection! But they do not carry a Beer de garde when I was there...
Oct 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.13 by Pro_Magnon from Texas

Aug 16, 2015
 
Rated: 4.15 by PaleAleWalt from New York

Jul 17, 2015
Photo of Daa
Reviewed by Daa from Texas

4.69/5  rDev +10.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.75 | service: 4.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25
I love this place. We try to visit it whenever we are in the area. Overwhelming selection of beers (in a good way) but the staff is incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. The only downside is its popularity. It could double in size and it would still be crowded most nights. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but beware that it gets pretty crowded and loud.
Jun 10, 2015
 
Rated: 4.1 by BdM from Netherlands

May 30, 2015
Photo of Buck89
Reviewed by Buck89 from Tennessee

4.51/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4
Huge bar with a phenomenal selection on tap, and many really nice bottles from all over the world. The staff is very friendly. I had a nice experience tasting some local Texas offerings. This is very similar to their other locations, so if you have been to one you can expect the same in Houston. The food was okay and could be better, but it is a great beer bar.
Apr 27, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by ArkyVaughan from New Jersey

Apr 15, 2015
 
Rated: 4.01 by Dogleg from Pennsylvania

Mar 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.26 by johnnycomelately from Louisiana

Feb 28, 2015
 
Rated: 4.14 by Cynic-ale from Texas

Feb 09, 2015
Photo of Sammy
Rated by Sammy from Canada (ON)

3.64/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75
A number of taps may have been on longer than optimal.
Jan 06, 2015
 
Rated: 4.28 by Brandonparrent from Michigan

Jan 01, 2015
 
Rated: 4.3 by kylehay2004 from Illinois

Dec 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4.37 by Scobu from Texas

Dec 13, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by PhishNoC from Tennessee

Dec 10, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by ColSanders from Texas

Nov 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by matter59 from Texas

Nov 03, 2014
 
Rated: 4.5 by Can_has_beer from Texas

Oct 29, 2014
Photo of Murtaza
Reviewed by Murtaza from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +5.9%
This is a really cool place to visit or frequent for that matter. they have an incredible selection of beers. long lists of beer in bottles or cans. and an overwhelmingly large variety on tap. very impressed with their offerings. they don't have many activities like pool or darts (although some) but hey, who cares when theres a cold brew in your hand. wish they had a better outdoor seating arrangement. regardless, this place in the go-to joint for good beer in Houston.
Oct 27, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Briscoe88 from Texas

Oct 19, 2014
The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium in Houston, TX
Place rating: 4.25 out of 5 with 148 ratings