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Get Your Buzz On

From beer to wine, these local tours illustrate the art of making alcohol

It's fun to see how things get made. It's even more fun when you get to taste the end product. That's the case with several area companies whose business is bottling goodness. Whether you're a beer snob or an oenophile (look it up), there are plenty of places to learn the craft and imbibe a little along the way.  

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. near Downtown is one of several local craft breweries that offer regular tours and tastings

Breweries

No Label Brewing Co. in Katy has been providing tours since it opened its doors in 2010. The family-owned craft brewery produces a line of ales and lagers with names like El Jefe (a German Hefeweizen) and Pale Horse (an American pale ale). Tours and tastings are held every Saturday except the first one of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $5 for those 21 and up. No Label is also dog and kid friendly.

Bombshell Blonde and Buried Hatchet Stout are just a couple examples of the brews you'll find at Southern Star Brewing Co. in Conroe. Production began at Southern Star in 2008 and has been ramping up ever since. The brewery does free tours and tastings each Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. A few items such as t-shirts and glasses are also offered for sale. In 2009, Southern Star launched an annual Pro-AM (professional amateur) contest for home brewers. The winning submission's brew gets scaled up to be brewed on Southern Star's system.

Karbach Brewing Co. is the brainchild of the founders of CR Goodman Distribution Co., the group responsible for bringing labels such as Sierra Nevada, Chimay and Dogfish Head into Texas. In 2008 the partners sold their Texas portfolio to build a brewery of their own. Names like Sympathy for the Lager, Rodeo Clown Double IPA and Weisse Versa Wheat promise to become household names in Texas' growing craft beer movement. Karbach offers tasting tours through the brewery on Fridays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays, noon to 3 p.m. The informal setting allows participants to hang out among the tanks as they're guided through the brewing process. Tours are $7.

Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Texas' oldest craft brewer, took over a 100-year-old warehouse on the edge of Downtown Houston in 2010. That's where Saint Arnold makes 10 different craft brews and shows off its operation to thousands of visitors annually. Guests are able to explore the new biergarten-inspired space, sample brew in the tasting room, get a peek at the tank farm, and even host private events inside the facility. Tours and tastings are offered every Saturday at 11am and weekdays at 3pm. Admission is $7 which includes a logo tasting glass.

Located between the Heights and the Washington Avenue Corridor, Buffalo Bayou Brewery creates beer that is "unapologetically Houston." Buffalo's flagship beer is the 1836 (named for the year Houston was founded), a copper ale that's a tad sweet but full of flavor. Tours feature an experience right among the tanks, with picnic tables, multiple serving stations and plenty of fun.

Wineries

The 100-acre Messina Hof estate in Bryan, Texas is home to one of Texas' most recognized wineries. Established in 1977, today the winery and resort (there's a bed & breakfast on site) boasts a full line of award-winning wines, from Riesling to Shiraz. Tours and wine tasting are offered seven days a week. The winery's calendar is also packed with cooking classes, wine appreciation classes, food and wine pairing seminars and winemaker dinners. Guests can stroll the picturesque grounds, have a bite to eat at the restaurant and even stay the night. The $10 tour price includes sampling of four wines.

Haak Winery in Galveston County

What started in 1969 with an anniversary gift of grapevines from Gladys Haak to her husband Raymond has grown to a full-fledged enterprise. Today thousands of people turn out annually for a tour of Haak Winery. In 2000, Haak produced its first commercial wines and has since expanded to more than a dozen different varieties, from dessert wines such as Madeira to refined whites like the dry Blanc du Bois. Several Haak vintages have won major awards at international wine events. Tours ($5, which includes four tastings) occur daily, but calling ahead is recommended.

Spirits

One might not think of Texas as the location of a rum distillery. But the founders of Railean Distillery in San Leon, along the shores of Galveston Bay, have made a point of putting Texas rum on the map. Coined "the original Texas rum" Railean is an award-winner that comes in both a white and reserve, dark version. Each tour includes a discussion on the process, from sugarcane to fermentation and finally distilling. Tours and tastings are free but by reservation only, so call ahead.

By AJ Mistretta