Sawyer Yards' new brewery

Growing Houston beer brand claims prime Sawyer Yards brewery and taproom

Tejas Beer has claimed the former Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company space.

Tejas Beer/Facebook

It didn’t take long to find a new occupant for the Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company facility in Sawyer Yards. Gulf Coast Distillers announced it has leased the building at 2101 Summer Street as the new home for its Tejas Beer brand.

Also marketed under the brand Giant Texas Distillers, Gulf Coast Distillers is the largest distillery west of the Mississippi, according to the company’s website. It has been brewing Tejas Beer since 2020, which is when it acquired the brand from the shuttered Big Bend Brewing Company in West Texas.

Initially, Tejas will sell both its Clara lager and Negra amber beer at over 500 locations, including Houston-area H-E-B stores, according to a release. The beer will be distributed locally by Houston Distributing Company and Faust Distributing Company.

“We are excited to bring the beer Tejas Beer brand and this beautiful Houston brewery under our family of companies” Carlos de Aldecoa, president and CEO of Gulf Coast Distillers, said in a statement. “Our group’s 100-year history in beverages, plus our business operations expertise, financial stability, and strategic business alliances with great organizations such as Faust Distributing Company and Houston Distributing Company will bring the Tejas brand into a market leading position.”

Tejas will open the Sawyer Yards facility later this summer after completing renovations. Its beers will also be available at the Giant Texas tasting room, which is part of Gulf Coast Distillers facility in the greater Fifth Ward (5610 Clinton Drive).

“We are proud to be a part of helping bring this Texas-style brand to Texans,” Houston Distributing Company CEO Bo Huggins added. “Tejas Beer will be a prominent part of HD’s distribution portfolio. Look for it everywhere soon.”

In January, CultureMap broke the news that Buffalo Bayou Brewing Company had been locked out of its facility by Sawyer Yards owner Jon Deal. At the time, he promised that whoever took occupancy of the building would be “well run and well funded.” Deal says. Working with a company as large as Gulf Coast Distilling would indicate Deal kept that promise.

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The Audrey's premiere

Hollywood-inspired Houston restaurant sets Uptown opening date

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

A restaurant inspired by a glamorous Hollywood icon is ready to make its debut. The Audrey Restaurant & Bar will open on Wednesday, August 5 at Aspire Post Oak, a 40-story luxury high-rise at 1616 Post Oak Blvd.

Part of Culinary Khancepts, the hospitality group behind Liberty Kitchen, State Fare, the River Oaks Theatre, and others, the Audrey occupies almost 5,500 square feet on the building’s first floor. The restaurant seats about 160 people, dividend between a bar and lounge, main dining room, outdoor patio, and private dining areas.

Owners Denise and Omar Khan worked with Laura Loreman Interior Design Studio to bring elements of Audrey Hepburn’s signature style to the restaurant’s interior. Details include Tiffany blue interiors, crystal chandeliers, gold accents, floor-to-ceiling windows. An Audrey Hepburn-inspired mural and floral installations greet diners as they enter.

On the culinary side, the restaurant will serve the same menu of contemporary American fare that’s served the original location well since it opened in The Woodlands three years ago. That includes pastas, sandwiches, steaks, and seafood towers. Signature items include: citrus scallops with fennel-orange salad, truffle mushroom ravioli, and beef Wellington. The popular “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” brunch will also be served at the new location.

Mayahuel chef Luis Robledo Richards designed the Audry’s dessert menu. Winner of Latin America’s Best Pastry Chef in 2019 and a judge on Netflix’s baking competition show Sugar Rush, the chef’s menu includes chocolate cake, mascarpone cheesecake, and coconut panna cotta.

"Opening in Houston has always been part of our vision for The Audrey," Omar Khan said in a statement. "The response to our Woodlands location confirmed what we hoped — that guests were looking for a restaurant where exceptional food, genuine hospitality and timeless design come together naturally. Audrey Hepburn represented elegance, warmth and kindness, and those values continue to inspire every detail of the guest experience.”

Photo by Ben Brown

The Audrey serves decadent seafood towers.

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