Local Craft Breweries near Harlingen, TX (4)

Big River Brewery was founded by husband and wife team Steve and Bertha Padilla. Both in the medical field with nursing degrees, Steve happened to get his hands on a home brewing book and a starter’s kit. During their travels, they would also visit different microbreweries. The more he studied, the more interested he became in brewing his own beer, especially the science part of it all. The hobby soon turned into a passion, and the passion eventually became a business in 2017. Still keeping his job as a nurse and anesthetist, Steve puts in extra hours to keep brewing his craft beers. He gets a lot of help from the family especially with Bertha manning the taproom and managing their accounts. Their son and daughter pitch in at the brewery and the taproom, too. All the beer the family creates incorporate an element of the Rio Grande Valley.

Brewsome Brewery is a “small batch craft brewhouse and restaurant” that opened in March 2019 in McAllen, Texas. They have a pet-friendly patio, and reviews about the ambiance of the place have been generally positive. “The atmosphere was great” and similar reactions dominate the reviews. On the other hand, the reviews of their beer have been inconsistent, at best. Some visitors gave the highest marks while others gave their beers low or mediocre grades. The marks for their food are also inconsistent. Some love the food, but others don’t. The brewery currently offers guests about 10 different varieties. For those who don’t like beer, they have a selection of Southern Style Craft Sodas.

Whether you are in the mood for a handcrafted beer or an awesome selection of food, Padre Island Brewing Company has what you want! It is gastropub offering “craft beers, burger, great sandwich, homemade pizza, and the best seafood on the island” in a casual ambience with a deck & views. They are using four basic ingredients (malted barley, hops, water, yeast) and everything takes place in house. Their brews gets piped through a system under the floor directly to their taps at the bar. They are currently brewing “27 different varieties,” all tied to the Island and they always have 5 on tap.  Padre Island Brewing Company also do a couple of beers to give back to organizations on the Island, like the Kemp’s Ridley Bock with Sea Turtle Inc.

5x5 Brewing (pronounced 5 by 5) is on a mission. The mission: produce consistent, quality craft beers “while maintaining a strict code of ethics and integrity” and provide “dedicated selfless service”.  This craft brewery based in South Texas is owned by a team of veterans.  The name of the company is actually a radio operator’s term to describe “signal and clarity (is) at its best”. The team operates their business with military precision. Quick and efficient restocking and distribution of inventory, for example, has fueled their growth. The military theme is consistent, too. They have beers called Brunette Bombshell, FUBARR, and Teufel Hunden, for starters. Some of their beers are available year-round, while others are seasonal recipes. There are some in the works, too. Scout for them in over 100 bars and restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley.