Guadalupe Brewing Co. got its start as many small breweries do, making beer in a pieced together system in a leased warehouse space. Bordered by farmland and a massive limestone quarry and cement plant on the southwestern edge of New Braunfels, Keith and Anna Kilker have spent years moving away from the warehouse and tasting-room vibe to create a destination.
The decade-old brewery now sits on several acres of former farmland next door to where it all started. The cement plant, which can be seen from I-35 glowing at night is still there, but at Guadalupe it seems a world away.
There are surprises around every corner. The first encounters coming from the parking lot are a stage for music, a large, covered patio and an artisanal pizza kitchen with several house taps. The building housing the brewery has a long bar with numerous taps and opens onto a beer garden that is surrounded by multiple gardens with flowering shrubs and vegetable and herb plants that find their way into the pizzas.
A taco hut and the Brewhaus Kitchen round out the culinary offerings. The cedar-walled Solms Hall provides a cave-like escape from summer heat and warm hug of a space on chilly nights. This also is the place to find many of the rare specialty beers crafted by the brewing staff.
The beer, however, speaks for itself and would draw legions of fans even if were served in a warehouse under a flickering fluorescent light. Guadalupe has garnered a stellar reputation for its bold and creative stouts such as German chocolate cake and S’more’s stouts (served with a flame-toasted marshmallow on the rim).
Not to be overlooked, however, are solid interpretations of classic lagers such as Kolsch and Pilsner and American ales with several IPA variations.
From Guadalupe, take the back roads into downtown New Braunfels to find New Braunfels Brewing Co. You’ll know you found it when you see the giant rubber ducky on the toy store next door.
New Braunfels Brewing Co., founded in 2010, was sold by founders Kelly and Lindsey Meyer during the pandemic, but there are still spontaneously fermented sour beers for those who love the tart or funky mixed-culture flavors that the brewery was built on.
The new owners Brian and Jacklyn Hebert, decided to go a more conventional route on new beers with classic German lagers, American originals and a fan-favorite Irish red ale.
The hefeweizen and stiff weizenbock from head brewer David Jones shine. An English dark mild, a much-underrepresented brew on the American craft beer scene, comes with a nutty twist in Pecan Proper.
If you’ve been to NBBCo in the past, expect a new look with more seating inside and outside. The tasting room staff is knowledgeable and can make recommendations for any palate from the older beer portfolio (mostly barrel- aged sour brews) and the new creations.
Note: Boerne has developed into a beer destination in recent years, but residents are great explorers of all the Lone Star State has to offer. Beer Road Trip is the first in an occasional series from By the Pint featuring nearby beer destinations.
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