Houston, TX recommendations.

While I aspire to do a current write-up of Houston brewery recommendations/reviews, this thread is still reasonably current and contains a lot of my views/recommendations. https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/should-i-visit-dallas-or-houston-for-beer.665666/

If you like Spindletap, then I would also recommend Great Heights and Astral, which are both reasonably close to Spindletap. Both make great IPAs and are worth the visit if you're already on that side of town.

And if you're going to be in Katy, I would also suggest going a little further out to Baa Baa. I've never been, but I've had enough of their beers to know that they make great IPAs as well.

 

Follow @kbenson links, if you are in Katy and don't feel like driving and like Vietnamese food then hit up Corner 99 in Katy, they have a couple of Baa Baa's beers on tap, and the food is good. You are right next to No Label, not what I would consider one of the better breweries, but they have stepped up their game in the past years, and shit they are always packed (but from memory not much AC and we are still 96 degrees at 8:30, but you get used to it). If you find yourself downtown, think about hitting one of the Hughies Taverns. Not vouching on the food as I have never been but Krafted Kitchen and Taps in Katy has what seems to be a diverse beer list.
Food (not the best beer)
Mala Sichuan Bistro
Phat Eatery (have a couple of craft on tap)
Quick eats there is food court inside HMart (no alcohol, but good food)
Whiskey Cake (decent tap list, and do get the cake)
Postino in Cinco Ranch (good food and some diverse beers)
If you can't tell by this list, I only eat at Asia Town in Katy when I am over there

 

There's not a whole lot in Katy. You'll need transportation. No Label is in Katy. As mentioned, not bad (improved of late) but definitely not the best in town. Baa Baa is also near(ish) Katy and from the few hazies I've had from them, they're pretty good.

D&Q is a good bottle shop (though a bit pricier) and will have singles.
Most HEBs will have a singles section, but YMMV as to how good those singles are.

Another vote for Great Heights - awesome beers!

This may get some hate, but Brash is good for stouts.

 

Well... Tell us what you thought! Urban South has always been solid, but never a favorite for me. They recently changed head brewers picking up an former brewer from Other Half. I'm excited to see where he takes things.

 

Yeah same here, but man my daughter got a couple of their fruit based kettle sours, shit they were good if you like that kind of thing.

 

If you are in Katy, check out Growler USA

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/53730/?view=ratings

Brand new spots, and since you seem to be able to move around Houston easily enough, I'll add these. I have not been to either of these, but plan on it soon

Frost Brewing is downtown right by Minute Maid
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63298/
Counter Beerworks and Kitchen is in the "Bellaire Triangle"
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/63368/

 

I've been to both! Quick hit reviews:

Frost Town Brewing--Awesome (huge) space located very close to Minute Maid park. It's potentially a great pre-Astros spot for craft beer fans. However, their beers right now are fairly pedestrian. Their initial offerings are definitely designed to challenge the palates of non-craft drinkers as little as possible. None of their beers are particularly great but, other than their hazy IPA, nor are they particularly bad. These guys are new and it's too soon to tell how good they'll be when they get their legs under them. I would hit them up before a game and will look to see how they grow and improve over their first year. No food, but I'm sure there will be food trucks, especially when there are games.

Counter Commons Beerworks--Also a very sizeable space for what is definitely a neighborhood brewery. But even though they are a neighborhood brewery, they have come out of the gates incredibly strongly. All four of their initial offerings are excellent. I'm a hop head, and will say their pale ale and hazy IPA are both excellent. (Their pale ale is probably my favorite beer on their initial tap wall.) But I also loved their altbier and kolsch-style ale. They have a Munich-style Helles coming and I can't wait. Their head brewer trained and brewed in Germany before a stint at Saint Arnolds. He's going to make a great German lager. Their food is also outstanding. It's a blend of elevated bar foods with both Mexican and Korean influences. Everything I tried was fabulous. If you're in this 'hood, they are definitely worth checking out.

 

Sounds awesome. I'll probably check out Frost on a Sunday afternoon when the Astros are on the road. Free street parking downtown then, and most certainly less of a crowd ha. Really looking forward to Counter Commons, but I didn't know about the brewers history, so that is great.

 

I just want to add to this as I just hit up Counter Common for lunch. I had the Kolsch, Helles, Altbier, and IPA, all were good to excellent. I was boring and got the burger, but it was REAL good. The menu overall is fun and interesting. My favorite new place to open in Houston in a long time.

 

Nice! I can't get enough of this place. I live relatively close by and it is awesome to have a great local brewery (with great food) . They should be putting on a hoppy wheat beer and their second hazy IPA (at 6.9% abv its probably an IIPA) this weekend. I'm looking forward to both!

 

Actually at frost now with the fam. Impressed with the space and the beer, while not the best is pretty solid, and one of those times where company trumps content

 

This is actually on my radar to take some friends to in the next couple of weeks.

 

Any updates on this thread over the past 10 months? I will be in downtown Houston next week, staying within walking distance of Minute Maid park. Looking for the best walkable brewery and or tap list in the area and local food. Plan to Uber to Hughie's (unless there's better Vietnamese within walking distance) but also looking for Tex-Mex recommendations. No preference to beer styles, but would like to try the finest Houston has to offer. Thanks!

 

So if your downtown I would have to say hit up Ninfa's on Navigation, still a pretty legit spot. Places to hit downtown
Equal Parts Brewing (solid beers all around)
True Anomaly (Get burger from Rodeo Goat across the road and take it to brewery)
8th Wonder (they get shit from people, but not a bad brewery and a great space, take it for what it is)
If you are into that Smoothie Sour thing then you have to hit up Urban South as they nail this style, you can hit up Holler while you are in that area, I haven't been in a while so can't vouch for it.
St Arnolds is a great space, pro tip, go inside and order beer, most of the beers you get outside are just their staples
I haven't done the brewery thing in a while, find when I go downtown now I am usually going to Equal Parts as they do half pours and have a pretty chill spot.
Do take that uber to Hughie's, but be warned they are closed on Sunday

 

Strong second to @donspublic recommendation of Ninfa’s and Hughie’s.
El Tiempo is solid Houston TexMex as well in my opinion.

 

Really appreciate the info and details.

 

Since you'll be downtown near Minute Maid, I'll add these two food recommendations that you can walk to:

https://huynhrestauranthouston.com/

https://www.irmassouthwest.com/

 

Really appreciate the info. Goes without saying, anytime you all head up my way I got you covered. I'll be in Houston tomorrow and will report back my findings upon my return.