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Oct 07, 2016

Brewery Celebrates All Saints (and Sinners) Day with a Blessing

The Rev. Sean Steele and members of the St. Isidore Episcopal Community in northeast Houston will gather in a former Pentecostal church turned brewery — Back Pew Brewing — on Sunday, November 6 at 4 p.m. to bless the brewery and the water used to brew the beer. The special event, which is open to the public, will feature bluegrass music by Highway 75. It also celebrates All Saints Day and a new, limited-edition beer that is both “a saint and a sinner” according to Bobby Harl, brewmaster.

 

“Our whole branding schtick is based on the fact that we brew in an old church building,” Harl said. “And though we may not be a bunch of altar boys, we’re inspired by the themes and iconography found within religion.”

 

Steele was quick to make sure people knew the gathering is for the entire community, whether religious or not. “While this is an Episcopal service, we welcome people of all or no faith, and that includes skeptics,” he said. “I’ll even take your questions over a beer!,” Steele added.

 

The event begins at 4 p.m. and following the blessing, taps will open, food trucks will begin serving and “Highway 75 will jam out as the sun goes down,” Harl said.

 

“The craft beer culture is like religion in a lot of ways, it’s all about bringing people of different types and tastes together, and that’s our goal with this event,” he added.

 

Back Pew Brewing is set off the road, surrounded by stands of pine trees, located at 26452 Sorters McClennan Road in Porter, Texas, just north of Humble. A Houston native, Harl earned an MBA and a PhD at Vanderbilt before returning home to wage his artistry. His beers are for saints and sinners alike, according to the company’s website, and include Hopostle IPA, Sweet Salvation Brown Ale and Black Habit. RSVP on Facebook.