Meet Mike Brian Royo, the owner of what will soon be the third microbrewery in the Houston area, No Label Brewing Co.
Royo, 32, and his wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Gilberto and Melanie, have leased space in an old warehouse in Katy and are expecting their federal license to arrive within a couple of months. In the meantime, he said, he’s shopping for a 15-barrel brewhouse and some fermenting tanks to replace the “glorified homebrew system” he’s relying on as he fine-tunes No Label’s initial lineup.
No Label plans to start with a hefeweizen, El Hefe!, and either Pale Horse pale ale or Ridgeback Ale, an American amber with a distinct chocolate finish.
“I lean toward the maltier beers,” Royo said.
He said he’ll also put out a lighter blonde ale, Silo, before moving into the higher-alcohol stuff, IPAs and stouts, for example.
Royo’s dad is a native of Panama, where he met his wife, whose family was stationed there. He’s also a geologist who’s always had a taste for good beer, Brian said. The family eventually settled in Katy, where Brian went to junior high and high school before heading to Texas A&M to study construction science.
After transferring to the University of Houston, he discovered the Flying Saucer, visited the Saint Arnold brewery and started making beer as a hobby.
“Next thing you know, I’m spending all my extra money on homebrewing supplies,” he said.
Brock Wagner, the owner of Saint Arnold’s, always used to joke when he gave the brewery tours that “this is what happens when your home-brewing hobby gets out of hand”. Now you know what he means. No Label joins them and Conroe’s Southern Star in the craft beer-making business. I wish them the best, and look forward to sampling their wares some day.
UPDATE: Correction made per comments.
You have the owner of No Label’s name wrong. His name is Brian Royo, not Mike. Thanks!