6 minute read
Brewing Up the Hill Country
Brewers, distilleries also shine in region’s offerings.
The Hill Country isn’t just about wine. The area is home to several craft breweries and distilleries.
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For the most up-to-date information, call, visit the business’s website or social media accounts.
Altstadt
Fredericksburg’s biggest brewery is about Old-World German Charm Deep in the Heart of Texas. The brewery opened in 2017 and features one-of-a-kind destination and home to authentic, awardwinning German beer.
The European-style structure features a tasting room, restaurant, authentic Biergarten, event banquet hall, multi-level patio and a private garden and cellar.
To attain Old-World flavors, the owners of Altstadt Brewery imported Pre-World War II Kasper Schultz copper kettles from Germany. They adjust water minerality to beer type and abide by the German Purity Laws of 1516 when brewing the beer.
In addition to offering a variety of beers, the brewery also sells homemade pretzels, schnitzel, steak and more.
Azeo Distillery
Azeo Distillery opened in 2018 in conjunction with Horn Winery and offers fruit-based spirits. Currently, Azeo offers vodkas, brandy, moonshine and whiskey.
Two tasting options are offered: For $15, guests can try four clear spirits, which includes two vodkas, a rum and moonshine. For $25, guests can try dark spirits, which includes a black label brandy, a peach brandy, a whiskey and moonshine.
Reservations are requested for groups of six or more.
Fredericksburg Brewing Company
Fredericksburg Brewing Company is known for its Gemütlichkeit (friendliness). That good-time spirit began when Dick and Rosemary Estenson opened Fredericksburg Brewing Company in 1994; today it’s the oldest brewpub in Texas and celebrating 27 years.
Visitors can sit at the bar and watch the brewers at work, or take beer to go and stroll the shops on Main Street.
The brewers at Fredericksburg Brewing Company brew more than 20 different varieties throughout the year, rotating staple brews as well as seasonal selections.
Brewmaster Rick Green and company have claimed many awards and the brewery maintains its reputation for quality, fresh beer in addition to being “the granddaddy” of brewpubs.
The brewery sits in a restored 1890s-era building. In addition to its main room, the brewery has a large, air-conditioned biergarten. The second floor of the building provides “Bed & Brew” facilities, 12 rooms (one on ground level) with baths, each decorated in a different theme.
The brewery’s restaurant also features a variety of freshly prepared foods, from burgers and pizza, to German food, Scotch eggs, and more.
Elk Store
This boutique distillery, nestled in the heart of Main Street, offers cocktails using their signature, house-made whiskey, moonshine, rum and gins. Bottles to-go may be purchased.
The establishment also offers a selection of wines and beers.
Hye Cider Co.
Specializing in cyser — apple and honey fermented into a high ABV drink, Hye Cider’s styles range from light, dry, and prosecco-like to deeper, rich styles infusing fig and toasted peppercorns.
Flavors include “Hye Note,” “Hye Hops,”, “Hye Stylin’,” and “Hye Bay.” “Hye Heaven,” is also available year-round and “Hye Season,” is a seasonal Rosé that is available in the tasting room only.
Hang out beneath the hanging drum set among the vinyl records or relax outside under the oak trees.
Garrison Brothers
Garrison Brothers offers an oldfashioned, time-consuming production process to produce one of the nation’s finest artisan bourbons.
Garrison Brothers’ Cowboy Bourbon was named American Micro Whisky of the Year in the “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.”
It has specialty bourbons which have also rated high marks among appreciative bourbon connoisseurs.
Garrison Brothers offers a $10 “Sit & Sip” tour on Wednesdays through Sundays (Saturdays are $20) at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (No children or smoking allowed.)
Tastings are normally available from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.
The distillery is located just east of the Gillespie County line. The facility also has a gift shop.
HYE Rum
Founded in 2016, Ruminate Distilling, the parent company to HYE Rum and Island Getaway Rum has been operating its small craft distillery and tasting room in Hye, right in the heart of the 290 Wine Road.
Their craft line of rums falls under the HYE brand and features copper pot distilled rums made traditionally from molasses.
Their flagship rums Dark, White and Spiced can be found throughout Texas.
Their newest line, Island Getaway Rums offer a variety of 80 proof naturally flavored rums. The first releases are Coconut and Pineapple and can be found in the distillery and select spots across the state.
Iron Goat Distillery
Iron Goat Distillery offers a variety of rums that can be found at local bars and liquor stores in the Hill Country.
Opened in the fall of 2016, the first Iron Goat product was released in 2017.
The rum is aged for six months to a year in Garrison Brothers barrels. Three rums are offered from the distillery.
Iron Goat also offers two spirits, the Agave Spirit and Honey Spirit are made alongside the rums in the distillery. Its Amber Rum won a silver medal at the 2020 American Distilling Institute spirits competition.
Products can be purchased locally at Judy’s Liquors, or regionally at Total Wines, Twin Liquors and some Spec’s.
Dietz Distillery
Opening in November, Dietz Distillery will be the newest spirits player on the scene. Dietz Fischer held an internship at Garrison Bros., then traveled to Austria to study small-scale distilleries, eventually earning his Diploma in Distilling from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in Scotland. Dietz brings that vision of highquality, small-batch spirits out of his family farm to his vision. Peach and pear brandies will be among his varieties. Cocktails, samples and tours available. >
Luckenbach Road Whiskey
A descendant of one of Gillespie County’s early settlers and founder of the Buckhorn Saloon has joined the area’s spirits scene. Luckenbach Road Whiskey Distillery brings a sophisticated vision and a 27,000-square-foot facility to the county, after founder Stewart Skloss found success with his Pura Vida Tequila line in the liquor industry. Luckenbach Road Whiskey founders and distillers have worked with the Texas A&M University Department of Soil and Crop Sciences to maximize and develop crops specific to this region’s climate and growing conditions. An assortment of different corn grains, along with wheat, barley and rye are used in the distillery’s recipes.
Salvation Spirits
Salvation-spirits.com 10091 US 290 East
Fredericksburg, TX
Taking a cue from St. Michael, the patron saint of German people, Salvation Spirits is under construction and will donate 10% of net profits to charities that serve the poor, powerless and hungry. Its 10,000-square-foot facility will feature a six-barrell brewing system with a maximum capacity of 1,500 barrels. The distillery’s primary focus will be on premium craft vodka, gin and brandy, infused with organically grown fruit from its own acreage. Beer and wine will also be produced for onsite consumption and limited distribution.
