On Saturday I drove over to Conroe, Texas (near Houston) to tour the Southern Star Brewery. This is a small regional brewery that makes three commercially-available beers: Bombshell Blond, Buried Hatchet Stout, and Pine Belt Pale Ale. They make a number of other beers but I think they are only available at the brewery. An example of this was their Pro-Am collaboration Black IPA.
This is a great brewery, awesome people, and an excellent atmosphere. You show up on a Saturday at 1pm, pay $5 for a pint glass and you get to drink free beer. Their brewery location reminds of Heavy Seas in Baltimore (except a little bit smaller). Tucked away in an industrial/commercial complex it’s quite the laid back atmosphere. They have brats/burgers twice a month out back–and they let you tour around the brewery! Here are a few pictures — they have the most interesting fermentors I’ve ever seen … and most of them all have interesting names too!
Another interesting thing about this brewery is that they can all of their beers. Here’s their “canning machine” — two at a time! Wow! Look at the stack of beer cans ready to be filled!
They are producing about 3500 barrels a year with plans to push it up over 5000 this year (2011/2012). If you are in the area, I highly recommend a stop in at Southern Star — Well worth the trip!
Enjoy!
Beer Mentor
Looking good…love the t-shirt. Keep the tours coming, a new post is right up there with an apple product release in the office.
Thanks Brian! I’m so busy enjoying life sometimes that it is hard to document it! Ha ha!