What began as a college hobby has become much more for B-52 Brewing Co. owners Brent and Chad Daniel. The Conroe craft brewery produces upward of 40 to 50 different beers.

The brewery opened in May 2014 and offers a taproom, beer garden, food trucks, games and tours in a family-friendly environment.

The two brothers began brewing at their home in San Marcos, Texas, in 2012. Later that year during a trip to Costa Rica, they decided to start their own brewery with the help of their parents, Pam and Ron Daniel, Brent’s wife, Jessica, and co-worker Justin Tipler.

The owners named the brewery B-52 after the Boeing B-52 airplane because they wanted to name the brewery after something truly American.

“We didn’t even realize how many people would have some kind of connection to the airplane, whether through personal military experience, their family or friends, which is really cool,” Jessica said.

Today, some of B-52’s most popular beers, such as the Payload Pils, Wingman Wheat India pale ale and Breakfast Stout, are brewed, ferment for two to four weeks and are ready to drink after three to four weeks. Specialty beers, such as the Bourbonator and Bourbon Breakfast Stout, are barrel-aged anywhere from six months to two years to further enhance the flavors.

Jessica said many people think beer must taste like a typical “macro, fizzy yellow beer,” but in reality the brewery believes the flavor possibilities are endless.

“We have a whiskey sour we’re releasing soon along with a sangria beer that has been aged in wine barrels and will have fruit added before bottling,” she said.

The brewery also offers a taproom that is open to the public Friday through Sunday. The taproom regularly offers up to 20 B-52 brews at any given time, and offers food trucks and games, such as Cornhole, pingpong, Frisbee golf and beer pong.

“We want parents to be able to grab a beer and be able to bring their children to a fun, kid-friendly setting,” Jessica said.

B-52 Brewing Co. 12470 Milroy Lane, Conroe 936-447-4677 www.b52brewing.com Hours: Fri. 5-11 p.m., Sat. noon-10 p.m., Sun. noon- 5 p.m.