After eight years of operation, the Conroe brewery is relocating to a larger facility within the city.[/caption]

After operating for more than eight years in Conroe, Southern Star Brewery is making a move to a bigger facility by March to expand its services and operations.

The 38,000-square-foot facility will quadruple production and feature a new brewing system that will allow the team to create authentic European-style lagers, owner Dave Fougeron said. Beers will continue to be available in cans, and the brewery will continue to offer tours and tastings at its new facility.

“It will be a lot of fun,” Fougeron said. “It’s four times the size of the space we have now. It [will allow us] to come out with a whole bunch of new beers.”

The craft beer industry has seen success and growth in the area, Fougeron said, adding that the desire to try new and different beer styles is a rising trend. Although Southern Star is not new to the business, it will continue to introduce new styles and flavors and has five—potentially six—new beers slated to come out in 2016.

The move is a long time coming for the company, Fougeron said. He invested in the land, which is across the street from the existing brewery, three years ago. He said the business is “bursting at the seams” inside the currently leased space.

Southern Star’s year-round brews include the Bombshell Blonde Ale, Buried Hatchet Stout, Pine Belt Pale Ale and Valkyrie.

3525 N. Frazier St., Conroe 936-441-2793 www.southernstarbrewing.com Hours: Fri. 5-9 p.m., Sat. noon-6 p.m.