These beers were made by walking

Colorado beer and nature festival brews Southwestern debut in Hill Country

Beerburg Brewing participated in a program to learn about nature and create a custom beer to represent its Hill Country findings.

Photo courtesy of Beerburg Brewing

We all know the Hill Country has good wine. But what else? Good views, cool architecture, and, many may not realize, great beer.

Austin-based Beerburg Brewing is making sure the area gets its brewing laurels at Texas' inaugural Beers Made by Walking Festival on November 11. The event, expanded from an existing festival in Colorado Springs, brings together 13 Central Texas breweries and four local nonprofits that will benefit from ticket sales, bringing both beers and environmental consciousness to the table — or the bar top.

As part of the festival's development program, Beerburg has been working for nearly a year with the nonprofits to figure out how beer and local environmentalism can fit together. Brewers went on guided nature walks, learned about native and plants, and dove into the area's environmental issues like "water scarcity, protecting wildlife habitats, and land preservation," according to a release.

The result of all this study is a new beer to be launched at the festival. Beerburg has not released a name or description of the beer, so for now it's an eco-friendly mystery.

Beerburg Brewing Beers Made by Walking hike A participant makes a discovery on the Hill Country walk.Photo by Lisa Hause

"I’ve always been inspired by what [festival founder Eric Steen] created, and the intention behind Beers Made by Walking was one of the drivers behind our ethos at Beerburg,” said Beerburg founder Trevor Nearburg in the release.

“We’re excited and honored to bring this truly important program to Texas for the first time," he added. "The goal is to not only learn about native plants growing around us, but [to] gain a real understanding and respect for these ingredients, and an awareness for how we can engage and give back to our natural environment to ensure it thrives for the future.”

Other breweries participating in the festival include:

Back Unturned Brewing (San Antonio)
Batch Brewing
Black Star Co-Op
Brewtorium
Central Machine Works
Frontyard Brewing
Ghost Note
Hold Out
Middleton (San Marcos)
Red Horn
Roughhouse
Vector Brewing (Dallas)
Vista Brewing

In Colorado, Beers Made by Walking intended to get people more involved in their natural surroundings, and since 2011, it has engaged more 200 breweries nationally. For its Austin debut — which is also its first time being hosted in the Southwest — it adds the Shield Ranch Foundation, the Watershed Association, Colorado River Land Trust, and the Nature Conservancy to its rolodex of benefactors.

All four nonprofits and the festival founder will be onsite to share information and opportunities to get involved. That also includes presentations by Sacred Journey School of Herbalism, Community Cultures, and Mike the Beekeeper, as well as a local craft market and food vendors.

Tickets ($40-65) to the inaugural Beers Made by Walking at Beerburg Brewing (13476 Fitzhugh Rd.) are available at beerburgbrewing.com. The festival will be held on November 11 from 1-5 pm. All tickets include a 12-sample pour tasting card and a commemorative glass; VIP tickets tack on early entry at noon and a festival T-shirt. Attendees must be at least 21 years old.

beer breweries central texas hill country festivals

a family friendly destination

New Hill Country distillery pours its first whiskey flights this month

Photo by Hayden Walker

The distillery aims to make all visitors feel welcome.

A new family-owned distillery is joining the vast landscape of breweries, wineries, and other spirit-makers in the Texas Hill Country. Briggs Distilling Co. will start serving cocktails, mocktails, and more at its spacious facility at 121 Brownson Ln. in Driftwood on Saturday, October 17.

The 9,000-square-foot distillery is owned and operated by the Briggs family. It was founded by R.S. Briggs with longtime family friend Davis Tucker serving as its president. Master distiller Colton Weinstein is in charge of production and distilling operations.

The distillery has developed three expressions for whiskey drinkers to try neat or in a cocktail. Each is made with Texas rainwater and bottled on-site. From a press release, look out for the following flavor profiles:

Straight Rye Whiskey: spice and bright herbs with lingering sherry notes to finish
Heritage Reserve Bourbon: caramel, candy, and leather notes with hints of spice and cherry and a medium finish
Wheated Bourbon: described as "sweet and fruity, with tobacco notes that coat the mouth and a medium-short finish"

Briggs Distilling Co. whiskey and bourbon products Patrons can buy a bottle of Briggs whiskey or bourbon on-site to take home. The Wheated Bourbon is $44.99, the Straight Rye is $49.99, and the Heritage Reserve is $55.99. Photo by Hayden Walker

The spirits will be available to try in individual tastings ($10 each) and flights ($15), as well as draft, frozen, and house cocktails priced from $10-$14 each.

Briggs Distilling will also serve mocktails, a frozen Texas Two-Step (lime, orange, and house cane syrup with a choice of strawberry, mango, coconut, or passion fruit), and other non-alcoholic options like soda, ginger beer, and coffee from neighboring Driftwood café Sonder Coffee Lounge.

Beyond the whiskey-making operations and the tasting room, the property will feature a treehouse-inspired children's area, family- and dog-friendly amenities, and an on-site food truck. Live music from local musicians will also be a regular occurrence on Fridays and Saturdays.

Above all, the Hill Country distillery is envisioned as a "community gathering place" that aims to make all visitors feel at home.

"For generations, this part of Texas has brought people together around good food and conversation under wide-open skies," R.S. Briggs said in the release. "We wanted Briggs Distilling to carry that spirit forward while adding one crucial component: good whiskey."

Briggs Distilling Co. interior The distillery was designed by Texas-based M. Elliott Studio with contemporary furniture that visitors can rearrange as they see fit for their gatherings.Photo by Hayden Walker

Briggs Distilling will host community events throughout the year, engage in sustainability initiatives such as recycling bottles through local businesses, and pursue additional giveback opportunities to demonstrate a commitment to the Hill Country area.

Bailey Briggs, R.S.'s daughter and vice president of marketing, said the land the distillery stands on has been in their family for generations, and their "family-first philosophy" is the heart of their business.

"Briggs Distilling was born from family and built for families," Bailey said in a release. "For more than twenty years, our family has called the Texas Hill Country home, spending holidays, birthdays, and long summer days on the river together. Those memories shaped our lives and inspired us to create a place where other families could make their own."

Following the grand opening on October 17, Briggs Distilling Co. will be open from 4-10 pm Wednesdays through Thursdays, 11 am to 10 pm Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 am to 7 pm Sundays. Happy hour will run from 3-6 pm Wednesdays through Fridays. Kid-friendly specials will also be offered on Sundays.

Photo by Hayden Walker

The distillery aims to make all visitors feel welcome.

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