let's get crafty

Bayou City's best breweries raise a glass to Houston Craft Beer Month with pairings, parties, and more

women drinking beer true anomaly houston brewery

Toast Houston Craft Beer Month at spots like True Anomaly Brewing.

True Anomaly Brewing/Facebook

August means scorching temps, which makes a nice, cold, craft beer sound really, really good. Perfect timing for Houston Craft Beer Month, which starts Tuesday, August 1.

This annual event brings together beer enthusiasts, local breweries, and the community to revel in the rich tapestry of craft beer while fostering a spirit of giving back to those in need, per press materials.

Fans can look forward to exciting events and promotions that will cater to seasoned beer aficionados and newcomers alike. Participating breweries and pubs will be offering exclusive beer tastings, pairing sessions, limited edition brew releases, and various entertaining activities for attendees to enjoy.

This year, Houston Craft Beer Month is partnering with the Houston Food Bank. That means a portion of the proceeds from participating breweries' sales will be donated directly to the beloved nonprofit that battles hunger in Houston. Attendees will have the opportunity to contribute through on-site donation points located at various event venues.

"We are excited to partner with the Houston Food Bank for this year's Craft Beer Month,” said Michael Duckworth, CEO of True Anomaly Brewing, in a statement. “Our thriving craft beer community has always been passionate about supporting local causes, and this partnership gives us the chance to make a meaningful impact on hunger within our community.”

While the list of partners continues to grow, currently participating breweries in the month-long celebration include: 11 Below Brewing, Astral Brewing, DECA Beer Company, Eureka Brewing, Frost Town Brewing, Galveston Bay Brewing, Great Heights Brewing, Holler Brewing, New Magnolia Brewing, No Label Brewing, Project Halo Brewing, Saint Arnold Brewing, Spindletap Brewing, Texas Leaguer Brewing, True Anomaly Brewing, Urban South Brewing HTX, Vallensons Brewing, and Walking Stick Brewing.

head east

Eagerly-anticipated Houston barbecue joint hosts weekend preview pop-ups

Courtesy of Eastbound Barbecue

Get a first taste of Eastbound Barbecue this weekend.

One of Houston’s most eagerly anticipated new barbecue joints is giving diners a preview of what’s to come. Eastbound Barbecue will host “Sneak Peak Weekends” every Saturday and Sunday beginning this Saturday, December 20, until the restaurant opens in early 2026.

Held at the restaurant’s location in the East End (1105 Sampson Street) from 12-4 pm (or sold out), the weekend service gives diners their first chance to try Eastbound Barbecue’s smoked meats, sides, and desserts. That includes, smoked brisket, baby back ribs, jalapeno & cheese sausage, hatch chili lasagna mac & cheese, herbed potato salad, and more. Save room for the two dessert offerings, salted caramel banana pudding and cookie butter cake.

To distinguish Eastbound’s barbecue, chefs Lopez and Granville use different seasonings than other restaurants, such as rosemary salt in the brisket rub and a miso-caramel sauce that gives its ribs a sweet and savory bite. During the preview, Eastbound’s prices are noticeably lower than many other Houston barbecue joints, with brisket priced at $29 per pound, ribs at $26 per pound, and pulled pork at $22 per pound.

As CultureMap reported in August, Eastbound unites four friends, Ryan Penn, Ryan Powell, Luis Lopez, and Jake Granville, who also held senior roles at various restaurants owned by prominent Houston chef Ronnie Killen. Since then, the four partners have finished many of the improvements they needed to make prior to opening, including closing in the patio and installing offset smokers on the property.

For Penn, leaving the Killen’s organization after almost 20 years was a difficult decision, but one he felt he had to make. “I could have worked for [Killen] forever and been happy. It was more along the lines of, if I don’t do this now, I don’t want to be 70 and wish that I had,” he said at the time.

Courtesy of Eastbound Barbecue

Get a first taste of Eastbound Barbecue this weekend.

news-you-can-eat barbecue openings