Valle Kauniste is the owner of Pearland-based Vallensons' Brewing Co.[/caption]

Valle Kauniste dreamed of opening a brewery for 10 years.

On Memorial Day weekend, his dream became a reality when he opened Vallensons’ Brewing Co. off Rice Dryer Road near Hwy. 35 close to Pearland’s Old Townsite.

“I’ve been homebrewing for about 20 years, and it’s always been a passion of mine to make craft beer,” Kauniste said. “There’s just so many different variables: from the artistic to technical to engineering, there are just so many bits and pieces—a science—that go into making beer.”

Vallensons’ is a family-friendly taproom—not a bar­—that serves beers brewed in-house. For those not fond of a cold glass of golden ale, the taproom serves wine, too.

As a budding brewery, Vallensons’ is in the experimentation phase; Kauniste brews and puts a new flavor on tap for patrons to test. One of Kauniste’s most popular beers—and his personal favorite—is the Settler’s Oatmeal Stout.

“Stouts and porters are my passion,” he said.

Kauniste’s dream of owning a brewery started to gather momentum when he and his wife, Lori, purchased a one-acre plot four years ago.

“Since then, it’s just been saving and planning,” Kauniste said. “I bought bits and pieces of equipment for many years when I found an opportunity. … Now, here we are.”

Beer brewing equipment at Vallensons' Brewing Co. off Rice Dryer Road in Pearland.[/caption]

The ingredients for brewing beer are standard: water, hops, grain and yeast. The magic happens when a brewer changes the ratios of each of those ingredients.

Valle’s children are involved in the business as well, which Valle said has always been part of the plan.

“I have two sons, so it’s ‘Valle and sons,’” Kauniste said. “My kids have brewed with me since they were that tall. They’ve actually brewed their own root beer.”

As it stands, Vallensons’ is only open on weekends but could expand its hours in the near future.

“We have been very fortunate to have a lot of people come out; people from all over the place that we know, and that we don’t know, which has been really cool,” Kauniste said. “We are really enjoying that response.”

Vallensons’ Brewing Co. 4081 Rice Drier Road, Pearland 281-705-4063 Hours: Closed Mon.-Thur., Fri. 3-10 p.m., Sat. noon-10 p.m., Sun. noon-7 p.m.