I'm an oregon boy heading to south Houston to visit my brother tomorrow. He lives in the league city area. Looking for the best brew pubs, breweries and beer bars to attend while in the area. Really focusing on checking out local small breweries. Where should I go?
Nobi is basically the only beer place in Clear Lake. The closest brewery to the Clear Lake area is Texas Beer Refinery. There are a couple in Galveston but if you're willing to drive a half hour to Galveston then you might as well drive a half hour the other way into Houston. Houston has St Arnold's, Karbach, Buffalo Bayou and 8th Wonder. There are more but you'd be looking at an hour drive from Clear Lake. IMO Karbach has the best beer and Buffalo Bayou has the best buzz for your buck - $10 gets you a full tulip of their flagship beer plus three more pours and you keep the glass. It's been a while since I've been there so I don't know if the tour has changed since then. Bottle shops and growler fill stations in Houston would include Growlers Beer and Wine, Jugs, Premium Draught, Spec's on Smith Street. Many HEBs and Whole Foods have growler fills and usually a fair selection of bottles. If you go to Whole Foods you should check out the new one that has a brewery inside. I haven't had it so I don't know if any of it is good. Houston beer bars in no particular order (just the highlights IMO) would be Flying Saucer, Hay Merchant, Petrol Station and Cottonwood. If you aren't able to / can't go into town then go to Nobi everyday you're here and you'll have a fine time.
Okay you are down on that south end and it is kinda bare. Agree that Nobi is the only place. If you go North you can go to Yellow Rose and Southern Star, but from the south side it is a rather long drive (1-1.5 hours). I think that Buffalo Bayou has the best beer and best bang for your buck and they are also the most involved from a Q&A standpoint. St. Arnold's you should do for a lunch. I am not sure if they still do this so call them, but they used to have unlimited beer at lunch). Karbach and St. Arnold's make good beer (transitional form mainstream to craft beer), but I think 8th Wonder is not that great outside of their Rocket Fuel Porter. I agree about with sethsticles about beer bars, but would also add Hughie's Bar and Grill in the Heights has an amazing menu and a really great rotating tap selection. Also, Moon Tower has a great selection and really good hot dogs. We also have Gingerman, but like Flying Saucer they are sorta chain-ish. Make sure you try a Yellow Rose IPA from Lone Pint while you are in town. I think it is the best regularly produced beer in Houston. D&T is also a really good bottle shop.
Daemose, Jester King is a 7.5-8 hour round trip. That being said they are amazing. Their fruited sours are the dank and you can only get their most dankitty dank beers at the brewery. Yeah if you want to take a trip to Austin there are a sick amount of breweries in the hill country. I would suggest if you have the time, take two of three days to hit up places there (though you need a new thread for that).
It isn't that far to drive down to Galveston Island Brewing Company.... and I really like the beers I've had from them so far... Nobi is the best craft bar to hit..... Boondoggles and Tapology also have craft brews in the area. Saint Arnold, Karbach, Buffalo Bayou and 8th Wonder... as others have said and look into their tour times or lunch times for Saint Arnold. I've had good beer from Texas Beer Refinery... they aren't open every Saturday yet I don't think...
