Pearland is one of the fastest growing suburbs in the Greater Houston area, so it’s only fitting that they should have their own brewery. With BAKFISH straddling the border of Pearland and Friendswood, they have hit on a need in an area that is ever-growing with craft beer fans. Even though they opened their doors several months ago, their official ribbon-cutting was this past Friday and they were celebrating their grand opening all weekend long.
We managed to make it there on a Saturday. With a festive crowd attending, food trucks on hand, Euro 2016 on TV, and some terrific beer being served, we had a tremendous time celebrating with them. Plus, they had a grand opening deal of $10 which got us two pints of their regular brews and one specialty beer (IPAs) in addition to their special grand opening glass.
We got there soon after they opened at noon to make sure we got a spot to sit and it was a good thing we did. By 2:00, the place was full and many people were sitting outside under their awning in 95 degree heat. We were some of the lucky ones who got a spot inside where the air conditioning kept it comfortable.
Since I had previously tried their Circle Hook IPA and I’ll Tell You Wit during their commercial release at Center Court Pizza & Brew, I wanted to see what hype has been surrounding some of their other brews. The first beer I tried was the All Y’all Texas Ale. Personally, I was unimpressed with this beer, not because it’s a bad tasting beer, but because it doesn’t quite raise its game to the level that I’ll Tell You Wit has. All Y’all is a golden ale that tastes similar to a pilsner due to the malt used but a lot of the fruity characteristics that should come through seemed muted and it finished very dry and bland. Personally, I was not a fan, but I talked to several people that loved it, so it might just not be for me.
However, I quickly corrected my initial mistake by ordering their Goat Roper Brown Porter. Talk about a dark roasted malt flavor! This beer is so delicious and executed to perfection. The chocolate and coffee notes from the brew are evident on the nose and tastes rich when it hits your palette. I was able to get quite a bit of dark fruit on the finish with a slight hint of something tasting similar to pecans. This beer is one of the best porters in the Houston area and should be near the top of the list to try when you visit this place.
Finally, my premium choice was their Defying Gravity Double IPA. A couple of months back, I had met a couple named Adam and Heidi, who both raved about this beer. They recommended that I make the trip to the brewery and order this immediately. I remembered their passion for this beer and made this a priority to try, and I was so glad I did. Unlike other double IPAs, this one didn’t overpower me with too much bitterness. It was the perfect balance of hoppy and grapefruit flavored. Ironically, the beer tastes lighter, like a regular IPA while it’s colder and as it warms, it starts to taste boozier. I found this to be a wonderful double IPA in an ever-growing beer category.
All in all, you should be paying attention to BAKFISH. With their lineup being solid from top to bottom, you should make the trip out to their taproom. I think the demand they will start to see from their customers can only increase if they continue to exceed the high standards they’ve set. I can’t wait to come back and try their beers again and hopefully see new offerings from them in the future.