Wednesday 12th of January 2011 12:36:22 PM

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I stopped into this establishment on my way from NM to MD to sell my car. I had no idea what I got myself into.

85+ on tap. 75+ in bottle. Crazy amounts of beer. Only bad thing is if you are not from that area, you'll never get to try all the great beet they have.

I only had an appetizer so I can't say if all their food is good or not. The appetizer was really good. I got the nachos. Like I said, it was suppose to be a quick bite to eat and a beer before heading back out on the road. I forgot it was also a Saturday night in downtown Houston so the place was packed but I was still able to get a seat at the bar.

I ended up drinking 3 beers total and had to stay downtown because I wasn't able to continue driving on the highway. I had already been on the road for over 15 hours.

If I'm ever in Houston for more than just a layover at the airport, I will always go here to try the rest of their selection.

Friday 9th of November 2007 04:55:12 PM

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I have been coming to this bar off and on for about 7 years.

They have about 6 tables out front and these are the only place you can smoke at. The long bar seats about 50. There are plenty of booths and tables to share. I’m not sure what’s upstairs, but I always see staff going to and fro. It is decorated kind of like a German Beir hall which I like!

The bartenders are a very friendly and knowledgeable bunch. They will offer samples and are quick with suggestions.

As with all Flying Saucers, you get 80+ taps and a very large bottle selection. This outpost has lots of local options from Real Ale, Live Oak & St. Arnolds. They carry a lot of the New Belgium line-up and have good imports and rotating specials.

Note that every Monday almost all pints are $2.75. Happy hour the rest of the week has the same price. Wednesdays are brewery nights where they feature beers and free glassware from a selected brewery. It was Chimay the last time I was there and I walked out with a great marked chalice.

The food is just ok. I like their mix and match plates, but the rest of the menu leaves something to be desired.

This is the best beer spot I have found in downtown Houston. It is very popular and attracts good crowds every night of the week. Give this place a try, I don’t think you will be disappointed!

Wednesday 16th of May 2007 06:53:50 PM

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This beer bar reminded me a lot of Max's in Baltimore. They have something like 80 taps and a few hundred bottles, but for the average beer geek you are going to run out of options after about two visits.

They have local selections from St Arnold's (Houston), Real Ale (Blanco, Texas), and Live Oak (Austin, Texas). These are the beers I sampled on my several visits.

What's on tap in addition to the local selections is the same stuff that we've all had many times over every where else we've been. The only interesting taps beyond the local taps were the offerings from New Belgium since I can't get these beers on the East Coast (my usual stomping ground).

If you want to go with bottles, they have a few things of interest. The Belgian styles are moderately represented. Noted beers are the Moinette Brune, the Grotten Cave Aged Brown, and the Hoogstraten Poorter.

The newbie beer geek will have a field day here, but it's not really a destination for veterans or seekers of the unusual.

Even though Houston allows smoking in bars, the Flying Saucer isn't too bad. They have decent ventilation, so the place smells okay and you'll be able to taste your beer.

The food is excellent. They have suggested food and beer pairings that change often. You can order cheese plates to pair with your beer (there is a cheat sheet in the menu). The price is moderate and at happy hour you get 22 oz pours for the pint price.

I like the attitude of this place. They are a real beer bar. They refuse to serve beer in frosty mugs. They do every thing they can to make sure that you have the best beer experience. Don't miss it if you are marooned in downtown Houston for a day or two.