The Edwards family is ready for you to check out what they're brewing. Image: Lauro Rojas

Way back in June of last year, we interviewed founder and co-owner Jennifer Edwards of the reasonably hyped 4J Brewing Company. At that time, they were scheduled to open sometime in the summer, but the brewing process took longer than expected. Many months and test batches later, 4J is open for business.

Situated off 1348 Cedar Post Lane, it is in the thick of Spring Branch, in a small industrial park owned by the Edwards family. The taproom is essentially a small warehouse with three high-top tables against the wall, the bar with a flat-screen playing sports, and a cordoned-off section where three tanks, named Weezy, Boobie, and Trap, all sit. Don’t worry about claustrophobia as 4J also has a makeshift patio with picnic tables under shade, cornhole boards, and other games. You're also more than welcome to bring comfy lawn chairs while you sip on some suds, and the space is kid- and dog-friendly.

For a brewery still in its infancy, they have a heck of an initial lineup. One thing that the Edwards made sure of was that all the beers were properly balanced instead of being overly bitter or hoppy. The blonde is light and refreshing; the amber is flavorful and malty; the stout has hints of a coffee taste and is a bit heavy, but not overpowering; and the pale ale can be described as hoppy, with cascade and Amarillo hops. Something not on the beer board, which you’ll have to take a chance on, is the Larry Special and the Big Country; you won’t be disappointed in either but do pace yourself.

Larry Edwards, Jennifer's father, is the man behind the suds and explained how brewing his own beer came about.

“I liked brewing. It definitely tasted better than what you could buy at the store and after making a five-gallon batch and drinking it I’d start the process all over again,” he said. “Eventually I had four or five kegs and was making a batch a week. I never gave it a thought that I’d have a brewery.”

But a brewery he now has, and we're excited to see how the Edwards family—all born and raised in Spring Branch— will continue to contribute to the local beer scene.