Here’s a little factoid that might come as a surprise to local craft beer fans. Hops – those greenish yellow pods essential for making beer – don’t grow in Texas. That’s right, your favorite local beer has some out-of-state flavor in it. While there are some greenhouses around the Hill Country attempting to grow hops indoors, most hops that find their way into beer come from more moderate climates, such as in the Pacific Northwest. So why all this talk about hops?
Well, this conundrum is at the center of Trevor Nearburg’s work at Beerburg Brewing (13476 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin Texas). Trevor is a Texas native and while he may not be able to incorporate Lone Star hops into his brew, his beer is full of state flavor. That’s because everything else that finds its way into a pint of beer at Beerburg is sourced from local plants and ingredients around the state. And with more than a decade of brewing under his belt, Trevor is turning out some pretty delicious beers.
Classic and Bold New Flavors
Beerburg is part watering hole and part science lab. The brewery sources a large part of the native plants it incorporates into its brews from 15 acres in the Hill Country, with an awareness of sustainability. Because the change of seasons dictates which ingredients can be used, Beerburg offers a range of both year-round and seasonal brews that customers can look forward to.
Year-round beers include classics like an IPA, milk stout, and pale ale. These are the beers that Beerburg says are brews that are “damn good and tough to beat.”
Meanwhile, some popular summer beers include Peach Wit, made with organic peaches from a farm near Fredericksburg, and the Juniper IPA.
Craft beer fans looking for something a bit more on the wild side will want to grab a pint of the Wildcraft series. With names such as the Horehound Golden Ale, Mugwort ESB, and Grape Vine Porter, these beers deliver pure Texas flavor. These are small-batch brews made with locally foraged plants and herbs.
Live Music and Good Eats
Nothing goes better with good beer than good food and good music, and you’ll find both at Beerburg. The brewery is also the home of Taqueria La Violeta, which also draws upon the mission of using fresh local ingredients to create dishes bursting with flavor.
The menu presented by Chef Ricardo Gutierrez draws upon his roots and life growing up on a cattle ranch in Southern Texas. Guests can dine on scratch-made fare such as tacos al pastor, quesadillas, guacamole and queso.
While the beer in great food is reason enough to make a visit to Beerburg Brewing, you’ll also find live music happening every weekend. Featuring a range of genres from local and regional artists, following Beerburg on social media is the best way to stay up-to-date on who’s on the calendar.
One of the best things about Dripping Springs is its proximity to places like Beerburg and everything else Austin has to offer. If you’d like to find a home here, reach out to the Caliterra team to learn more about this wonderful community.
*Image from Beerburg Brewing Facebook.
