Houston Area Bars, Brewpubs, and MicrobreweriesHouston Area Bars, Brewpubs, and Microbreweries
Little bar with quality music, almost never a cover and 20-odd taps of relatively high quality and 15-20 more beers on bottle.
Replaces the departed Bradleys at this location. Serving a number of "home" beers that are currently contract brewed elsewhere due to TABC holdups. Will be brewing on premises soon. Wide assortment of pizza, plus a number of other menu selections. Beer, though not brewed there, was reasonably good and freshness.
Recently aquired...brewing on premesis soon.
No longer brewing
Larry G. Nottingham (larrygn@pobox.com) reports:Have a wood fired pizza oven and offer
pizza's, calzones (sp) and more. If you go on a Friday or Saturday, expect
a large and enthusiastic crowd. Has over 40 imported and domestic beers
online, a full liquor bar with wines and single malt
scotches.
Brenham has more to crow about than fine ice cream now that this brewery is selling. Brews a fine Lager (a Helles in style) as well as a Pilsener with more styles on the way. Check out our unnoficial Brenham Brewery page (the official website can be reached through the title-bar link above).
Smallish downtown bar with nice tap selection.
Irish pub specializing in traditional Irish fair plus Guinness etc...
Well supplied inner-loop store with everything the homebrewer/winemaker needs as well as CO2 and other kegging supplies. How-to all-grain demonstrations by the Foam Rangers Homebrew Club can be seen (typically) the first Saturday of every month.
West side's homebrew shop. Sponsors a club whose name eludes me presently.
(P)The Gingerman - 5607 Morningside; (713)526-2770
The original branch of the chain. Located in a house just across the street from Rice Village. Beer garden in back.
Fantastic selection of taps, and an always well informed bar staff. One of the finest bars around.
Jim (jims@ihlpb.att.com) reports: Pub near Rice University campus. This pub was called 'one of the best
Beer-bars in America' by Michael Jackson in the Pocket Guide to Beer.
There are 50 beers on draft and around 100 in bottles (I didn't make
it to the bottles). A very nice courtyard is located in the back of
the pub. The selection is great and the atmosphere is good."
Branch of the ever-growing Fort Worth based chain. Adds another fine bar to the growing downtown scene. Wide selection of beer (lays claim to being the largest selection in Houston) off tap and bottle. Taps are generally well cared for and service is good. This branch is a bit different from the others I've been to. Features an open downstairs and a smaller upstairs "Love Pub," whatever that means. Louder and generally not quite as laid back as the Fort Worth version, but much nicer than the Addison branch. Featured not one, but two Rogue taps on a recent visit plus an assortment of other very well chosen brands (selection is often somewhat mundane at the other branches). The copper backsplash now seemingly required in the post-Gingerman era is interestingly comprised of one zillion pennies (I counted). Fewer plates here, but you still are advised not to touch them unless you are ready to leave.
Small house just off Kirby near the village. Interesting tap selections, local beers featured, botce ball available in back.
Used to be the Bank Draft brewpub, but has since morphed into a Scottish Pub. No longer brews, and the former brewery area is now home to a video game and some chairs. However, the interior is largely unchanged otherwise. Serves a decent assortment of beers in Imperial pints and what must be one of the best single malt Scotch collections in the city. However, the prices on the Scotch are quite steep (I think the "cheapest" goes for $7). Food is available (I think they bring it over from benjy's next door).
Little bar with around 15 taps, bottle selection and little nooks and crannies into which one can disapear.
A great little English pub-like bar with live music and great tap/bottle selection.
Not to be missed (when available) is Tangle-Foot, an excellent strong bitter on tap.
As a bonus, beers are served in Imperial Pint glasses and are at cellar temperature.
A beer lover's paradise.
Bar with a good feel. Nice selection of beers at reasonable prices (Wed and Sat $2.50 gets you
any pint in the house until 9).
No info
Pub style bar (dedicated to Rudyard Kipling) with 20-odd good taps plus more in bottle and a full bar. Downstairs bar while upstairs features
live music most every night, usuallly with cover to go up the stairs. Full menu that's pretty much available
any time the place is open, so no worries about when the kitchen closes. Well worth a visit.
The largest independant micro in Texas.
Now available around the state (in bottles) and at finer bars on tap, this brewery produces a Brown Ale, Amber Ale, Lawnmower Ale,
Kristall Weizen and a stable of rotating seasonals. For more info, check out our St. Arnolds Page
-No information; located one exit past FM1960 off 290.
Houston's newest brewpub...run by Max Miamoto. Daily happy hour, all house beers $1.25. More info as soon as avialable.
Pub located across the street from the renovated Rice Hotel and run by honest-to-God Irishmen. Serves a full line of classic Irish pub food plus the beer to go along.
The reincarnation of the late, great Ale House...though it was in the works well before Ale House closed, this bar
carries much the same concept on at a new location. Clearly intended to be cozy, with wood paneling throughout and larger spaces consciously
subdivided by design (rather than by the vagueries of old construction, as was the case with Ale House). Sports 30 or so taps plus a beer
engine for Saint Arnold's Cask products (mostly the magnificent Amber, but sometimes Christmas Ale and other seasonals
that will benefit get the treatement). Also has food (I think it's basically the same pub-menu from Ale House) and a full bar. All around nice place for former Ale House patrons
to call home.
Loosely speaking, Chapel Hill is located between Houston and Brenham, on the road to Austin. For directions, click here. Maintains an assortment
of beers, some more pedestrian than others. Notable is the complete Brenham line, Live Oak beers and other rotating "good" beers.
Log cabin style bar that lays claim to being the pub with the largest beer selection in Texas. Flying Saucer and Gingerman might
contest that, but it really boils down to a relatively meaningless numbers game. What matters:
Nice place, good atmosphere, free peanuts and excellent selection.
Maintains a website
Commonly known as "The Volcano" (I had been going there for years before I learned of the 'official' name) this little bar has a small group of well-selected taps. While only 10 or twelve in number, the bar gets a listing here because of their dedication to Saint Arnold's products, giving over 4 taps to the local brewery. They serve Lawnmower, Brown, Amber and the seasonal tap. Hopefully they'll add a Brenham tap soon, but for now Guinness and a few other exceptional brands also available, as are some great mixed drinks--don't miss the Mojito here on a hot day.
