During its first year of operation, Fort Bend Brewing Co. has grown to distribute more than 1,000 barrels of craft beer to nearly 200 restaurants, bars and retail locations around the world through the efforts of a small full-time crew and a handful of community volunteers.

"When we started this venture, we wanted to combine creativity, brewing traditions, the Texas state-of-mind and imagination with high-quality ingredients to make exquisite craft beer," co-owner Ty Coburn said. "It's taken a lot of hard work, good brews and more hard work."

Sharon and Ty Coburn opened the brewery in November 2012 to bring the art of craft brewing to Fort Bend County, becoming the county's first craft brewery.

"Our goal now is to come out with our seasonal beers," Sharon said. "Craft beer drinkers always want to know what you are brewing next. We try to put something new on the board for each tour. It won't always be distributed, but it is something for those on our tours to try."

Fort Bend Brewing Co. offers four traditional craft beers as well as seasonal and small-batch creations. The brewery has expanded from its original capacity of brewing 30 barrels to 120 barrels at a time in the first year of operation. In October, a brew called Foreplay was made in a "nitro" style made with nitrogen and carbon dioxide to give the beer a complex, bubbly look and taste.

"From our year-round core brews to our seasonal [brews] and specials, we appeal to a wide market segment from the novice craft drinker to the most critical crafter," Ty said.

Tours of the brewery take place the first and fourth Saturday of every month. As the company continues to grow, Fort Bend Brewing has plans to install a flat screen television to offer sports coverage during tours and to open a larger tasting room for customers to order and sample available craft beers.

"We have a long-term goal to open a tasting room in Sugar Land," Sharon said. "We would like to have a destination area where we can have a larger tasting room. Our roots are here, and we do everything locally."

Fort Bend Brewing celebrates its one-year anniversary Nov. 14 with barbecue, live music and craft beer tasting.

"We're proud of what we have accomplished, but have bigger plans for the future," Ty said.

Types of beer:

Classic brews

• Texas Backyard Blonde Ale features a light, complex flavor using malts and hops from Germany.
• Texas Farmhouse Ale is a dry, spicy Belgian-style brew with floral notes.
• Texas Thunder Stout has creamy vanilla, chocolate and toffee flavors and aromas.
• Texas Lightning IPA is a full-bodied English–American hybrid ale.

Small-batch creations

• Foreplay—a "nitro" beer made in a traditional English bitter-style fashion that is only available for a limited time during tours.
• Over Backwards—a small-batch brew available for Seasonal Beers tasting made in honor of "bending over backwards for Fort Bend County," said co-owner Sharon Coburn.
• Grand Reserve—a small-batch brandy wine brewed to celebrate Fort Bend Brewing Co.'s one-year anniversary. It is only available for tasting during tours.

Volunteer for beer

About 15 volunteers donate their time and knowledge of beer at Fort Bend Brewing Co. each month. Volunteers are able to help with tours on the second and fourth Saturday of the month by assisting with ticket sales, beer tasting and food service.

"We get to meet great people, work with great people, talk about beer and drink a little beer," said Ray Walker, one of the first volunteers with Fort Bend Brewing Co. "It is not a bad gig at all."

For more information on volunteering opportunities, call 281-769-8618 or email [email protected].

Tour the brewery:

Upcoming tour dates: Nov. 9, 23

Tours of the Fort Bend Brewing Co. are held from 1–3 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturday of each month. Tickets are $5 or $10—depending on desired glass size—at the door and include drink tickets and a souvenir glass. Admission is limited to the first 110 guests. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Interested volunteers that are TABC certified are able to volunteer to assist with tours.

Fort Bend Brewing Co.

13370 S. Gessner Road

281-769-8618

www.fortbendbrewing.com