A longtime brewery and taproom in the Houston metro area has announced permanent closure, marking another brewery closure in Houston and amid broader struggles across the U.S. craft beer industry. Founded in 2008, Southern Star Brewing Company has operated as an independent craft brewery in Conroe for nearly two decades.
Southern Star Brewing Company Ends Its 18-Year Journey
In a recent Instagram post, Southern Star Brewing Company announced it will close permanently on June 28, 2026. The company did not share a reason for the closure of its Conroe brewery at 3525 N. Frazier St.
The brewery stated that its journey through the years was not just about the beers but people, memories, friendships, concerts, weekends, celebrations, and the stories shared over a pint.
Fans quickly filled the brewery’s Instagram comments with memories of favorite beers and events. “Bombshell Blonde will be deeply missed. Thank you for making it. I wish I had a stash or at least a t-shirt of the logo,” a fan wrote.
“I’ll never forget the Bombshell Blonde,” another fan wrote. Others recalled their memories at the place through events.
“Gonna miss the anniversary parties and Oktoberfest parties, I have several glasses from all those parties over the years, thank you for the memories!” a regular customer wrote.
“We had our Christmas party there, we had a blast and y’all were awesome!! Cheers, wishing everyone the best,” another fan said.
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Taproom to Remain Open Through June
Through another post on Instagram, the brewing facility stated that while its taproom gears up to close at the end of June, business will continue as normal in the meantime. Over the next several weekends, customers can still stop by to watch Astros games, grab burgers, and enjoy the brewery’s final weeks in operation.
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Southern Star Brewing Company is the first Texas brewery to package craft beer in cans. With increasing demand for its brews, the company expanded its operations to a custom-built facility in 2016. The brewery currently operates on more than 13 acres of wooded property featuring a taproom. This taproom overlooks the production floor and an outdoor biergarten designed for live music and community events.
A Broader Wave of Brewery Closures Nationwide
Southern Star’s closure comes amid continued struggles for craft breweries nationwide.
According to a report from the Brewers Association (BA), in 2025, nationwide brewery closures of 434 outnumbered around 268 new openings. Matt Gacioch, staff economist for the Brewers Association, pointed to shifting consumer habits, tariff-related costs, increased competition, and retailer consolidation as major industry challenges.
Houston’s craft beer scene has also seen several recent closures. From Platypus Brewing closing after a decade of operation to Fire Ant Brewing Company shutting down after eight years, the list of closures across the city continues to grow.
Southern Star Brewing Company’s closure yet again reflects broader pressures facing the craft beer industry. Customers still have several weeks to visit the Conroe taproom before Southern Star officially closes on June.
