USA, TX: Fire Ant Brewing Co. to finally launch in Tomball in August

The highly anticipated Fire Ant Brewing Co. will finally be opening its doors in August once the final details of the brew pub in downtown Tomball are completed, Chron.com reported on July 12.

The brewery is adding the final touches to the brew pub at 308 Market St., including the installation of a new indoor bar, completing inspections and creating a food menu, said Bruce Kissinger, CEO and co-owner of Fire Ant Brewing Co.

“Our hold up right now is getting the restaurant done,” he said.

While the kitchen is completed and is awaiting inspections, Kissinger along with co-owners Kurt and Carl Hohnholt have been brewing and stocking up on beer.

In the commercial sized refrigerator near the kettles, about 75 kegs of ales, lagers, pilsners, porters and more are waiting to be tapped and served. Some of the kegs will be featured at the upcoming Tomball German Heritage Festival, as they’ve been served since 2014.

With their 15 different styles of beer and three seasonal brews, the pub is also developing a menu that feature German influenced food.

“We’re working with a chef right now. The menu is definitely a work in progress. We want to incorporate a lot of our beer into the food,” Kissinger said.

Fire Ant Brewing Co. will be the second Tomball craft brewery after Bearded Fox Brewing opened in 2016. Other craft breweries in northwest Harris County include 11 Below near Willowbook Mall, Hop Scholar Ale House and Tapped DraftHouse & Kitchen in spring.

While Fire Ant’s beer may be distributed to local Tomball restaurants, but there are currently no plans to make it available to grocery or liquor stores yet, he said.

The long gestating project to open Fire Ant began in 2015 with an ordinance request to the Tomball City Council that would allow a brewery to open in downtown.

Although the opening was anticipated in fall 2017 after construction began in 2016, Kissinger said the delays in permitting and construction schedules have delayed it.

Due to timelines being pushed back, announcing the opening has built up a lot of anticipation and some frustration from the public.

“(I) probably wouldn’t project so many openings. You think you’re going to be open at certain points and then there’s construction hold ups, so obviously you can’t get open. On the other hand, it’s really developed an awesome following. People have been patient, but now they’re just ready,” he said.

As work continues on some of interior parts of the pub, the booths have already been installed while tables and chairs are stacked up and ready to be placed in the restaurant area.

The outdoor concrete bar and upstairs patio are ready, while live music will also be featured once it opens.

While the brew pub won’t be offering tours, it will have a large viewing window so that visitors can see the beer being made from the dining area.

Kissinger said he hoped the brew pub would be opened by July 4, but delays pushed the date back again. Now, he expects it will open in August.

“We need to be open for at least football season,” Kissinger said.

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