Southern Star Brewing: Friendly People, Good Beer
Conroe, Texas isn’t a well known place outside of the Lone Star State and even within Texas, it is known mainly for its scenic lake and the tourists who visit each year. However, there is another good reason to visit Conroe- one that will make a day of fishing or boating even more memorable than before. That reason is Southern Star Brewing Company, a craft- brewing operation located less than an hour north of downtown Houston.
Southern Star Brewing started brewing in March, 2008. Co- founded by Dave Fougeron and Brian Hutchins, Southern Star Brewing began operation by brewing its signature Pine Belt Pale Ale. The lineup has since expanded to include two other products: Bombshell Blonde and Buried Hatchet Stout- two very different products that help to diversify the product offerings. All three products are packaged in cans or kegs. There is no bottling going on at Southern Star Brewing, and this is one of its many unique features.
Southern Start Brewing offers a tour each Saturday at 1pm (some Saturdays there is no tour, so call or visit the web site to verify). There is no cost for the tour, but guests are strongly encouraged to purchase a pint glass, shirt, or other merchandise from the bar area. There is some incentive to buy a glass: You can use it for refills of beer. You get four tokens with your pint glass purchase, and each token can be exchanged for a glass of beer. The Outlaw Kookers provide food, for a reasonable price, and it compliments the beer quite nicely. Tours attract a large number of guests, so one must wait patiently in line for a refill. Keep in mind, too, that there is no air conditioning. Summers in this part of the country can be brutally hot, so you need to consider this if you pay a visit during the warmest times of the year.
Southern Star operates out of a warehouse and it is growing quickly. Before long, there is a strong possibility that the brewery will outgrow its current facilities and will need to transfer to a new building. Judging by the quality of the beer, this brewing operation is capable of even greater things and I fully expect to see its product lineup expand further in the near future. I like the Pine Belt Pale Ale best, but the other products are memorable in their own way and most beer drinkers will have no problem selecting a favorite.
Conroe, Texas may not be a household name, but it is a nice little tourist community with one fine, enjoyable craft brewing operation known as Southern Star. Its products are sold in Texas, Ohio, Alabama, South Carolina, Indiana, Kentucky, and while the brewery may not be very well known outside of Texas, the company continues to enjoy a growing and loyal following among beer drinkers in Texas and in many other U.S. states. It’s a brewery worth getting to know better, I recommend a visit if you happen to be in the Houston area.
Rating: 8 Cheers out of 10
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