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.

Later, Late August

Michelin-recognized Houston restaurant quietly closes after only 2.5 years

Photo by Rebekah Flores

Late August is now open at The Ion.

One of only two Black-owned Houston restaurants with a spot in the Michelin Guide has served its last meal. Late August, chef Chris Williams’s restaurant in the Ion mixed-use development, has closed for daily service but will remain open for private events through the end of the year.

Lucille’s Hospitality Group, the company behind Late August, issued the following statement about its closure as a full service restaurant:

Late August, in close partnership with the Ion, is transitioning its restaurant operations in the Ion District to focus on private catering and event services through Lucille's Hospitality Group, and other projects, including the Hospitality Group’s newest upcoming concept The Branch. The restaurant is grateful to the ION team and the Houston community for helping establish the space as a celebrated, Michelin-recommended culinary destination.

Late August will continue to honor previously booked events through the end of the year and remain a partner through catering services in the district. The restaurant space will transition to an event-focused model as part of the Ion's continued commitment to providing a dynamic mix of dining and retail experiences across the district. Lucille’s Hospitality Group is excited for what is next, and can’t wait for our community to check out its other concepts at Lucille’s or The Branch. If you’re interested in booking an event at Late August, you can reach out to catering@lhghouston.com.

Williams tells CultureMap that the decision to close the restaurant was triggered in part by Rice University’s plans to expand the Ion by adding the Arc, a nearly 200,000-square-foot research and technology facility that will replace a parking lot that’s adjacent to the Ion. Williams decided the construction would disrupt diners’ ability to access the building, which made closing it a more practical choice.

“We have 12,000 other restaurants,” Williams says about the number of choices that Houstonians have for where to eat dinner on any given night. “The idea of guests having to cross a major thoroughfare, we all agreed was not a sustainable path for us.”

Opened in 2024 by Williams and executive chef Sergio Hidalgo, Late August served an innovative menu that blended African and Mexican flavors. Last year, the chefs switched Late August from an a la carte menu to a tasting menu that better highlighted Hidalgo’s skills and the restaurant’s ingredients, many of which were sourced from Lucille’s 1913, the restaurant’s affiliated farm in Kendleton, Texas. The creative cooking helped Late August earn a Recommend designation from the Michelin Guide and a Best New Restaurant award from Esquire magazine.

“It was a great opportunity. We have zero regrets,” Williams says. “Just gratitude for the support and recognition we were able to get.”

While Hidalgo is leaving the company, many of the restaurant’s staff, including pastry chef Jennifer Parsons, will be transitioning to The Branch, a health-conscious new restaurant that’s opening soon at Midtown high-rise Forme. Details on that restaurant, including its projected opening date, will be released soon.

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