Talyard Brewing Co. Breaks Ground in Imperial

Talyard Brewing Co. has broken ground on a more than 15,000-square-foot production and tap room facility in Imperial. 

On a 3.5-acre site in the Sugar Land community, Owning Principals Keith Teague and Chuck Laughter project the facility to open early 2024. The brewery will feature a 20-barrel brewhouse with an annual production capacity of 10,000 barrels. Floor space will be reserved for foeders and an eventual barrel aging program. Guests will be able to sample the brews at a family- and pet-friendly beer garden that comprises over an acre of shaded seating, pickle ball courts, a playground, backyard games and a stage for live entertainment.

Teague says Talyard’s brewing focus will be producing bold American beer.

“We want to push the boundaries of style and tradition by combining old practices and new,” he said.

The menu will feature Texas comfort food made from scratch with fresh, local produce and ingredients.

“We are very excited to welcome Talyard Brewing Co. to Imperial,” said Jerry Ulke, Vice President and General Manager of Imperial. “This fully fits into our vision for Imperial beyond residential, which is to create an entertainment destination for the Sugar Land area.”

Teague and Laughter say Talyard Brewing Co. will fill a void in Sugar Land’s entertainment offerings.

“We’ve recently begun pilot brewing operations in a 2,500-square-foot warehouse space nearby, and it will be interesting to see how our Brew Master’s West Coast brewing background has been influenced by the Old World styles from his studies in Munich,” said Laughter, who is currently Vice President of Operations at green hydrogen fuel company Plug Power. “During construction of the production facility and tap room, we’ll spend the next 12 months pilot brewing on a barrel-and-a-half system to perfect our recipes and get ready for the public opening in early 2024. 

Sean Maloney is Talyard’s Brew Master. He began his brewing career in downtown Houston before relocating to the Pacific Northwest, known for its brewing creativity. Maloney recently completed the World Brewing Academy’s Master Brewer Program, administered by the Siebel Institute in Chicago and the Doemens Academy in Munich.

Chef Brad Pitre will oversee Talyard’s culinary operations. He has nearly 20 years of executive chef and restaurant management experience in the Houston area and most recently worked at Texas Biergarten in Missouri City.

Jason McCain will serve as the Tap Room General Manager. He has worked in and around the Houston restaurant scene for more than 30 years, starting in Pappas family restaurants while in high school and holding general manager roles at the Tasting Room in Uptown Park and most recently Brandani’s Restaurant Group in Missouri City.

Chris Kalinec, Vice President of Operations and Development, will have executive responsibility for production and tap room operations, as well as business development and distribution. Kalinec boasts more than 20 years of engineering innovation and business leadership across several industries, including motorsports, aerospace, energy and construction.

Laughter, Teague, Maloney and Pitre are all Sugar Land-area natives, with Laughter and Teague next door neighbors for more than 20 years and a business development career spanning more than 30 years.

“As I’m sure is the case for many ventures like ours, the idea of starting a craft brewery was hatched over beers in the backyard,” Teague said. “Sean attended high school with Chuck’s son, and over the years, we’d see him at family gatherings during the holidays when he was visiting from the West Coast. Those backyard beer sessions turned into area brewery tours together, and eventually the idea of sharing our passion here locally was born.”

He said the pandemic and slow business cycle in 2020 allowed them the opportunity to scout real estate options.

“We were pleased to come across this property next to Constellation Field,” said Teague, who recently retired early as Chief Operating Officer of natural gas developer Tellurian. “Imperial is a beautiful mixed-use development with a great combination of high-density living and single-family homes. We are super excited to be this neighborhood’s first retail operation.

“We’ve spent nearly two years in architectural design, zoning and permitting, and it is gratifying to see our vision finally begin to take form on the ground.”

Located at the site of the historic Imperial Sugar Company along Oyster Creek near Highway 6 and Highway 90 Alt, Imperial offers a coveted location near shopping and entertainment. The weekly Imperial Farmers Market is nearby and baseball and other events at Constellation Field are on-site. The Fort Bend Children’s Discovery Center and the Sugar Land Heritage Foundation are also in Imperial.

For more information on the brewery, visit www.talyardbrewing.com.