The Best Breweries In Houston, Ranked

Is there anything better than being in Houston with a nice glass of cold beer? According to Culture Trip, the largest city in the Lone Star State is brimming with culture, great food, and drink to boot (of the cowboy variety, of course). Visitors can expect plenty of hospitality, as most residents take their southern manners very seriously. Those who are just stopping through might also be surprised by the diversity of experiences available in H-town. You might find yourself at a dive bar with a live poetry reading, a neighborhood cookout, or even dining at Beyonce's favorite local restaurant.

The concrete jungle is America's fourth largest city and its expansion shows no signs of slowing down (via Houston Chronicle). Amid all the growth and change, one thing is for certain: Houston has a great beer scene. And as we all know, beer makes people happy. There is something special about enjoying an ice cold beer with your friends on a sweltering day in the Bayou City. As locals, we've rounded up our favorite breweries in Houston, with a little help from the community. Whether you are just visiting or call Clutch City home, be sure to stop by a few on the list.

SpindleTap Brewery is known in the Houston area for having delicious brews and a great focus on community. According to customers, one of the biggest perks of the location is the large, air-conditioned seating area. Since Houston tends to be pretty warm and sticky almost year round, having a cool place to relax and enjoy your beer is definitely a must. On nicer days, you can also take advantage of the outdoor entertainment complex with mini golf area, basketball hoops, and even a baseball field. It's a great place to bring the family because there is something for everyone to enjoy. Some visitors cite issues communicating with staff, as well as occasionally dirty restrooms as low spots.

The brewery has plenty of great flavors to choose from, including locally-named brews like Houston Haze. It also does seasonal and limited time flavors, so if you are still searching for your favorite, there will always be something new coming into rotation. The team leans heavily into their Texas roots, as the Juiceton Double IPA uses the same colors as the Astros baseball team. The logo is even an oil tower, a nod to Texas' rich history in the field. 

This place is a great spot to spend a hot day. According to Eureka Heights Brew Co., the local roots run deep. It gets its name from the Eureka Heights fault system, a series of lines that spread out underneath the city of Houston. The system is a little-known piece of local history, but that's what this brewery is all about — being unique. The brewery's website copy and social media presence is tongue-in-cheek, and you'll see that attitude carried over into the great service, too. It's fun and will keep you on your toes when you visit.

Reviewers on Tripadvisor state the brewery has all the classic offerings required for a good time. There's an abundance of great places to sit, arcade games, and equipment for the cornhole championship of your dreams, as well as food trucks galore in the parking lot. The beer is tasty, too. The only downside is that it gets a bit hot in Houston and some reviewers mention this brewery isn't as comfortable temperature wise as other local favorites.

This local spot is a fun brewery with a focus on sustainability. According to Great Heights Brewing Company, it first opened its doors right in the middle of Hurricane Harvey in August 2017. It was a terrible time for the community of Houston, but a bright spot in the storm was the addition of this local business. The team does what it can to create a great atmosphere for hanging out and enjoying the finely-crafted brews. There is air conditioning (a must in Houston!), mood lighting, and the best music to groove to. You can bring your own food or grab some from a local food truck. Great news for livestock in the area: All grain from Great Heights brews is donated to local farmers to feed their animals.

All of this effort doesn't go unnoticed by those who frequent the brewery. Reviewers on Google mention they enjoy the trivia nights put on at Great Heights and agree there is a little bit of everything on offer. Stand-out beers according to fans include the Blueberry Sour and the Fruity Pellets IPA.

One thing is for sure about Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company: It's a great place to stop if you're really hungry ... and also want a drink. The brewery also has a restaurant serving delicious fare so you can eat and drink to your heart's content, all with picturesque and uninterrupted views of downtown through the large windows. Its location just outside Houston's theater district makes it perfect for grabbing a drink before or after a show or sports game. With a huge range on offer, Buffalo Bayou's beers include: 1836, a copper ale originally made for Texas Independence Day which became a regular on the list; Tropikal, a fruity sour beer; and Red Velvet Stout, which — you guessed it — tastes just like the popular dessert.

Rassul Zarinfar and Ryan Robertson founded the brewery, affectionately known as "BuffBrew" in 2011. The pair met when Zarinfar couldn't find the kind of beer he enjoyed locally in Houston, so he decided to make it himself (via Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company). He met Robertson who was already working in the industry in North Texas, and they started making magic. The pair's passion for their work and creating great flavor shines through in what they do and earns Buffalo Bayou Brewing Co. a solid spot in the rankings.

No Label Brewing Co. is a family-friendly, award-winning brewery shaking up the suburbs. According to the Houston Chronicle, the once small-town brewery took home second place in one of the world's most prestigious beer competitions. The World Beer Cup takes place every two years. In 2022, the brewery's Cali Boy IPA earned the second spot in the Imperial IPA category. When reflecting on the win, No Label co-owner Tom Paynter said, "For this beer to be recognized as one of the best IPAs on the planet just further validates our No Label vision."

Even before the win, the brewery was struggling to keep up with high demand from fans. "Right now, we can't make enough beer as it is. All the beer is selling out, which is a fantastic problem to have," Paynter told the newspaper. "We're just doing our best to make sure that the Texas stores are stocked, and all the taps have kegs." The overall popularity of the brand earns it a spot near the top, as does its awesome location. Near the heart of Katy, Texas, No Label is found between the abandoned rice silos in the area. It's a longstanding symbol of the community, and many are thrilled it's been brought back to life. There are plenty of places to sit, food to enjoy, and great games to play (via No Label Brewing Co.).

Saint Arnold Brewing Company is Houston's oldest craft brewery. According to Houstonia, the brewery is a local institution held in especially high regard. It consistently produces delicious, high-quality brews and Houston is lucky to have it. The Art Car IPA (named after the annual Houston parade of the same name) earns top marks. Visitors can't get enough of Saint Arnold, praising the beer and the brewery tours, the great food available on-site, and saying it's a place they want to return to again and again.

The very first keg of Saint Arnold's brew made its debut on June 9, 1994. Now, you can purchase the drinks on site, or at a number of other locations across Texas and Louisiana, including bars, restaurants, grocery stores, and liquor stores. Founders Brock Wagner and Kevin Bartol are Houston natives and saw a major gap in the market in their hometown. Houston is one of the largest cities in the U.S. and didn't have its own craft brewery. The pair quickly fixed that problem and can be credited with helping to build the Houston brewery scene into what it is today (via Saint Arnold).