Local Craft Breweries near Salado, TX (6)

The Barrow Brewing Company owners Graydon and KD Hill hold fast to three principles in running their brewery. These are quality, sustainability, and community. The brewery’s popularity is a testament to the quality of their beers. To underscore their sustainability practices, the couple reused discarded knotty pine planks to decorate the brewery's walls. Before the building was converted into a brewery, the planks were used to store tons of grain at the granary. Salado is a small town of about 2,000 people. It has a “rich, diverse community of veterans, hippies, golfers, artists, saints, and free spirits". The Hills realized, however, that the town couldn't have its own craft brewery because of existing laws. With the community's support, they petitioned to have local laws changed. In honor of the people who supported them, the brewery created the 784 Belgian Style White Ale, representing the number of people who voted in their favor.

Bold Republic Brewing Company opened in mid-2018 and took the title of first craft brewery in Belton. Established by husband and wife Patrick and Adriane Hodges, the brewery serves a selection of craft beers. They will also serve pizza, bratwurst, hot sandwiches, and oven-baked pretzels, among others. The brewery and restaurant is purposefully small – a nano-brewery by today’s definition. The Hodges hope they can expand later. The brewery has a special beer named after Adriane’s father, Capt. Jack Edwards, said to be the first officer killed in the 1991 Gulf War. Upon learning of an ongoing fund drive to create the $40 million Desert Storm Memorial in Washington, D.C., the couple in his honor created Captain Jack lager. Last July 4, 2019, Bold Republic and the Belton Chamber of Commerce hosted a street party to help raise money for the war memorial fund. The Hodges are sharing the recipe with other breweries who wish to donate their proceeds towards the war memorial.

Granger City Brewing Company is the city’s first brewery. Established in 2015, it’s a “labor of love” for its owners Peter and Elle Maurisak. They describe their brewery and taproom as “boutique style”, meaning they intentionally keep it “small and selective” for now. According to its owners, the brewery has been “a labor of love” which included suffering through three Texas summers without air-conditioning. Besides the in-house brews, the taproom also serves a rotating selection of beers and ciders from other breweries. Open from Friday to Sunday, the brewery is known for its excellent pizza, which uses spent grains and beer wort. They are actually also open on Thursdays but serve only their pizzas (no alcohol). Tips for visiting: Accepts cash only (there’s an ATM onsite). The kitchen closes an hour before published closing hours.

Focusing on German style beers, RentSch Brewery is a craft brewery in Georgetown Texas that was founded by father and son David and Andrew Rentschler. The inspiration for opening a brewery began in Europe where Andrew was studying German. Their facility is run entirely on “wind and solar power,” making their production 100% renewable. Their selection of brews is a mix of both old and new world styles with something for everyone like “Hefeweizen, Weizenbock, Blonde, IPA and Special Releases.” High demand for beer quickly exceeded their production capacity leading to an expansion of what you see today. They have doubled the brewery’s size, increased production capacity tenfold and added a state of the art canning line to bring Rentsch to you. If you’re in the neighborhood, swing by their taproom and beergarden to get a real taste of the beergarden life.

Strange Land Brewery takes inspiration from “authentic and historical brewing styles” to produce “delicious, high-quality beer”. The Austin-based brewery is currently in a partnership with Rentsch Brewery and uses Rentsch’s state of the art facility. Their lineup includes five flagship beers and five “small batch reserves”. Founders Adam Blumenshein and Tim Klatt follow “a traditional approach” when brewing their beers. This approach includes “keg conditioning” their beer, a more natural process of adding carbonation. This method makes the beers more flavorful and friendlier to people with gluten sensitivity. Despite its respect for traditions, however, the brewery doesn’t hesitate to go into “unexplored horizons”. The past, the founders say, directs them in their journey to create superior craft beers.

Established in 2017, Barking Armadillo Brewing is a family owned and operated brewpub, committed to brewing quality beer using “carefully selected ingredients” to bring you fresh and tasty pours. The team started as “homebrewers” in 2013, experimenting with different beer styles, malts and hops until they have evolved their craft over the years. Their offerings include their staple brews as well as rotating guest taps, hand-selected wines, and non-alcoholic beverages. Their taproom is a “local neighborhood gathering space for all” and they look forward to bringing the community together through taproom events and plan to support local members of the community in any way they can.