Houston Brewing Company
Corporate brand
UnclaimedHouston Brewing Company was a Scottish microbrewery based at the Fox & Hounds pub in Houston, Renfrewshire, operating from 1997 until its closure in 2016.
Last updated August 25, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Houston Brewing Company was a Scottish microbrewery established in 1997 in the village of Houston, Renfrewshire. Founded by Carl and Caroline Wengel, it operated from premises attached to the Fox & Hounds public house and restaurant on South Street. The brewery and pub were closely connected for most of the company’s existence, and the brewery’s small scale led to its classification as a microbrewery. The company specialized in cask-conditioned ales, while also producing seasonal and bottled beers. Its principal cask range included Killellan Bitter, Peter’s Well, Texas, Warlock Stout, Blonde Bombshell, Tartan Terror, and Black & Tan. The brewery was also known for producing a changing series of seasonal beers, reportedly one per month at the height of the program. These beers were distributed across the United Kingdom, and their labels often used caricature-style artwork depicting members of the Fox & Hounds staff. Houston Brewing Company developed a strong reputation in Scottish and British real-ale competitions. Its Peter’s Well beer won Champion Beer of Scotland in 2000 and 2001, while Killellan won Champion Bitter of Britain in 2005. Peter’s Well later received the title of Champion Best Bitter of Britain in 2011. The brewery also received recognition in contests organized by the Campaign for Real Ale and the Society of Independent Brewers, including Scottish regional and UK national competitions. At its height, the business distributed beyond its local area to customers throughout the United Kingdom. Its beers were available through major pub and retail channels, including the Wetherspoons pub chain and Aldi supermarkets. In 2012, the business was sold to new owners. The new ownership subsequently closed the brewery in 2016, ending production under the Houston Brewing Company name. No current operating business, parent company, or official website is identified in the available reference material.
History
Houston Brewing Company was founded in 1997 by Carl and Caroline Wengel in South Street, Houston, a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The brewery was established in premises attached to the Fox & Hounds public house and restaurant. Its operations remained closely associated with the pub for most of the brewery’s life, giving the business the character of a small, pub-linked microbrewery rather than a large independent production facility. The brewery’s core output consisted of cask-conditioned ales, supplemented by bottled beers and a substantial seasonal program. Its principal cask beers included Killellan Bitter, Peter’s Well, Texas, Warlock Stout, Blonde Bombshell, Tartan Terror, and Black & Tan. The company was particularly associated with rotating seasonal releases, producing approximately one seasonal beer per month at the height of that activity. The labels used distinctive caricature-style designs that frequently portrayed staff members from the Fox & Hounds. Houston’s beers achieved recognition in Scottish and British real-ale competitions. Peter’s Well won Champion Beer of Scotland in 2000 and again in 2001. Killellan received the Champion Bitter of Britain award in 2005, and the brewery also recorded a Champion Best Bitter of Scotland result that year. Peter’s Well’s most prominent success came in 2011, when it won Champion Best Bitter of Britain. The brewery’s beers were also recognized in competitions associated with the Campaign for Real Ale and the Society of Independent Brewers. Although small in production scale, Houston Brewing Company achieved distribution across the United Kingdom. Its beers reached national pub and retail channels, including Wetherspoons pubs and Aldi supermarkets. This distribution gave the brewery a reach beyond its Renfrewshire base while retaining its identity as a Scottish real-ale producer. The business was sold in 2012. The available account does not identify the purchasers or provide details of the transaction. Under the new ownership, the brewery was eventually closed in 2016. Houston Brewing Company is therefore a defunct brewery brand, with no identified current owner, parent group, or official website in the available material.
- 2016
Brewery closes
[1]The new owners closed the brewery, ending production.
- 2012
Business is sold
[1]Houston Brewing Company was sold to new owners; the available sources do not identify them.
- 2011
Peter's Well wins Champion Best Bitter of Britain
[2]Peter’s Well was awarded Champion Best Bitter of Britain, one of the brewery’s most notable competitive achievements.
- 2005
Killellan wins national bitter award
[1]Killellan won Champion Bitter of Britain, while Houston also recorded a Champion Best Bitter of Scotland result.
- 2001
Peter's Well repeats Scottish championship
[1]Peter’s Well won Champion Beer of Scotland for a second consecutive year.
- 2000
Peter's Well wins Champion Beer of Scotland
[1]Peter’s Well received the Champion Beer of Scotland title.
- 1997
Houston Brewing Company is founded
[1]Carl and Caroline Wengel established the brewery in premises attached to the Fox & Hounds pub and restaurant in Houston, Renfrewshire.
Products and positioning
A small Scottish real-ale microbrewery known for cask-conditioned beers, rotating seasonal releases, and award-winning bitters distributed through UK pub and retail channels.
Cask ale
Killellan Bitter
A principal Houston Brewing Company cask ale with an alcohol by volume of 3.7%. Killellan became one of the brewery’s best-known beers after winning Champion Bitter of Britain in 2005 and also receiving a Scottish best-bitter distinction that year.
Cask ale
Peter's Well
A 4.2% ABV cask ale and the brewery’s most prominently awarded beer. Peter’s Well won Champion Beer of Scotland in 2000 and 2001 and later became Champion Best Bitter of Britain in 2011.
Cask ale
Texas
One of the brewery’s seven principal cask ales, listed at 4.3% ABV. It formed part of the regular range produced alongside Houston’s seasonal and bottled beers.
Stout
Warlock Stout
A 4.7% ABV stout included in Houston Brewing Company’s principal cask range. It represented the brewery’s darker-beer offering alongside its bitters and lighter ales.
Cask ale
Blonde Bombshell
A 4.0% ABV beer in the brewery’s regular cask portfolio. It was produced as part of the range available from the pub-linked Scottish microbrewery.
Cask ale
Tartan Terror
A 4.5% ABV cask ale and one of Houston Brewing Company’s seven principal beers.
Cask ale
Black & Tan
A 4.2% ABV beer included in Houston Brewing Company’s regular cask-conditioned range.
Seasonal beer
Seasonal beer series
A rotating collection of seasonal beers produced throughout the year, reportedly with approximately one release per month at the program’s height. The beers were distributed across the United Kingdom and were recognized for caricature-style labels featuring Fox & Hounds staff members.
Brand decisions
2016
Closure of brewing operationsOtherBackground
Following the 2012 ownership change, the brewery continued only until the new owners ended its operations.
Action taken
The Houston Brewing Company brewery was closed.
Aftermath
The brand became defunct and no later production is identified in the available sources.
2012
Sale of the breweryM&ABackground
After years of operating as a pub-associated Scottish microbrewery with UK-wide distribution, the Houston Brewing Company business was sold.
Action taken
Ownership transferred to new owners whose identities are not specified in the available reference material.
Aftermath
The brewery was subsequently closed in 2016.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/houston-brewing-company · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled