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There will be one less Houston brew on taps and on the shelves. Two-year-old Fort Bend Brewery Co. revealed today that it has ceased operations at its Missouri City facility as of January 31.
Owners Ty and Sharon Coburn shared the news on Fort Bend Brewery's website and Facebook:
Due to various circumstances, it is with regret we must inform you that Fort Bend Brewing Company ceased brewing operations December 30th, 2014, and permanently closed on January 31st, 2015. FBBC has been brewing high quality beers for over 2 years, and has been a proud contributor to many activities and charities in the local community. We gave it all we had to build a brand that we were proud of. For all our cynics and disparagers, you know who you are, well, my mother taught me if I don’t have anything good to say about someone, then don’t say anything at all – enough said.. To all of our supportive retailers and patrons, we sincerely thank you for your support during the past years, you made it worthwhile. To our awesome volunteers, we couldn’t have done it without you. With the warmest gratitude from the bottom of our heart, thank you, we will miss you. On to the next chapter….
Ty and Sharon Coburn
As craft beer continues to expand its reach across the nation, Houston area brewers have found a growing audience appreciative of the art involved in making a fine brew, so much so, people are known to wait in long lines for new releases. While Fort Bend Brewing didn't have the cult-like following of Saint Arnold, Karbach, Southern Star and Buffalo Bayou Brewing, the brand had a loyal following nonetheless, especially in Missouri City, Stafford and Sugar Land. Unfortunately, it wasn't enough to sustain the cost of running a brewery — which is very costly as noted by Houston Chronicle.
While several up-and-coming breweries have folded within the last four years, Fort Bend Brewing Company is one of the better known brewers in town to close. With a new crop of brewers like Allen's Landing Brewing and 11 Below on the way, plus the rise of dedicated craft beer bars, there's still hope that Houston's new breweries can survive in what's quickly becoming a crowded market.
