The Texas Craft Brewer’s Festival has been on hiatus for quite some time until this year’s triumphant return at the historic Fiesta Gardens on September 24th. The non-profit outdoor festival was produced by the Young Men’s Business League, benefiting the Austin YMBL Sunshine Camps, and sponsored by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild among others. The event not only showcased brewers from across the state, but brewery employees and a majority of brewmasters were on hand to discuss their offerings and plans for the future. This event fully represented the new resurgence in, and excitement about, craft beer happening in Texas. “New breweries are opening all over the state and established craft breweries are expanding. This is a perfect time for the resurgence of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival. The festival brings all of this variety together in one venue. Come on out and see what Texas brewing has to offer.” Tim Schwartz, Director of Brewery Operations at Real Ale Brewing Company in Blanco, TX and President of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.
The event featured over 18 brewers and 75 plus beers from across the state of Texas as well as local food and beer related vendors/merchandise. Several brewers chose to try out some new beer, such as Jester King’s Das Wunderkind and Austin Beer Works‘ Battle Axe, while other’s brought special beers, such as Ranger Creek’s Brett-Barrel La Bestia Aimable, Real Ale’s Empire and Morgul, and Jester King’s Whiskey-Cubed Black Metal Imperial Stout. In addition to these special options there were a ton of other exiting and tasty beers available for anyone from a novice taster to beer snob.
Amazing Texas beers were not the only items available throughout the day. A festive lineup of local musicians was keeping crowds entertained in the pavilion while food from Red’s Porch, Uncle Billy’s, and Chi’lantro BBQ were also being served up as tasty accompaniments. John Antonelli, from Antonelli’s Cheese Shop, and Chef Evan Morgan, from the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, shared several educational food and beer pairing sessions. For those that believe wine is the only beverage that can be successfully and tastily paired with numerous foods.
With the resurgence in craft beer and beer appreciation in the Austin area there was a huge possibility for this event to be a catastrophe, but it was FAR from that and one of the most exiting beer events in Austin to date. The Texas Craft Brewer’s Festival has set the bar for events of its kind and we’ll be counting the days until next year.
Visit the TCBF website at http://www.texascraftbrewersfestival.org/ or on twitter at @TxCraftBeer – Follow me on Twitter for beer news and maximum snark at @ahaley. As always, @BeerTownAustin for all of your #ATX beer related news.