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Two more local breweries — one opening crazy soon
This is insane but in such a good way. New micros and craft breweries are springing up in these here parts like mushrooms after a week’s rain.
But there’s one that’s succeeded in keeping a low profile for quite awhile: Thirsty Planet Brewing, owned by Oklahoma transplants Brian and Tammy Smittle. They’ve done such a good job of keeping things quiet that they’re maybe three weeks away from brewing their first batches, with getting beer out the door in maybe six. Expect a draft-only operation for the first 60-90 days, with bottles to follow. The first beers to roll out with be Yellow Armadillo Wheat, Buckethead IPA and Thirsty Goat Amber.
Are you thinking what I’m thinking, that those don’t sound terribly adventurous — and adventurous is exactly what we need more of? I asked them about that. Brian notes that the IPA will have 75 International Bittering Units, enough to satisfy any hophead, his wife included. “I like IPAs that take the enamel off my teeth,” Tammy says. Brian also has intriguing ideas about brewing with chipotles and Hatch chiles.
Moreover, they’ll have a 25-gallon system to brew test batches, which they’ll offer to folks who stop by the tasting room, which is right in the front door. (The main system in the brewhouse is 30 barrels.) They’ve also got plans for a patio-biergarten, live music and, courtesy of a gas hookup, maybe even barbecues. They’ve built a first-rate facility from the ground up, pouring the slab on Brian’s 40th birthday last July 28. They’ve got two stories and 10,000 square feet on a little more than five acres in Southwest Austin right by the Austin Zoo.
Brian’s love of good beer goes back to his days of studying British politics in England. Classes were conducted in a 17th Century manor house with a pub in the basement. Continental, that. He started home brewing and, after graduating from a Missouri college in 1991 with a degree in business administration, took a year off to ski around Vail, Colo. While there he went to a beer festival and met a guy who brewed at a pub in Vail. The guy said, “I ski in the morning and brew beer at night.”
“Well, there you go,” Brian said he replied. “That sounds like a scam and I want in on it.”
From Vail he moved on to what’s now Coach’s in that world-renowned beer Mecca, Norman, Okla. It was in Oklahoma that he met Tammy on a blind date. One of the first gifts he gave her was a book by beer guru Michael Jackson. On their first date he talked about opening a brewery. One, two: Awwwww…
So now here they are. Tammy is working another job full time but this has been Brian’s calling since they came to down in 2008. And Tammy has another project going: The Smittles are expecting their first child, a son, in about three weeks — exactly the time Brian expects to start brewing.
“I’ll be adding the strike water when her water breaks,” Brian said. (To explain that very good joke, strike water is the initial water that goes into the grain in brewing.)
They raised in the neighborhood of $1 million in a private offering to family and friends to finance this little adventure. A good chunk of it their own, so yes, they’re serious.
This is good news, people. Smittle will be the brewer, and he has the brewing chops, the business acumen and the ability to drive a forklift. No reason on paper why the beer won’t be great and the business a hit.
Then there’s Barbed Wire Brewing Company, which is still in the site location and fundraising stage and plans to brew beers twist in the Jonestown area.
“There’s a lot of craft brew buzz around Austin right now and the maj are doing traditional beers. We’re going to focus on Tex-Mex beer,” said Shane Bordeau, one of the venture’s partners. “We’re going go for the taste and marketing side of some of the Mexican beers.” They’re planning on initially rolling out beers in the style of Corona, an amber (Tecate-ish, maybe?) and Negra Modelo. More news on that when they commit it.
(American-Statesman photo by Patrick Beach)
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By Bill - Jefferson City, MO
March 5, 2010 4:52 PM | Link to this
I’ve tasted Brewmaster Brian Smittle’s beer in Oklahoma. GREAT BEER ESPECIALLY THE IPA! Looking forward to traveling to the WEIRD AUSTIN area.
By Bill - Jefferson City, MO
March 5, 2010 5:36 PM | Link to this
Brewmaster Brian: Tasted your beer in Oklahoma. Can’t wait to get to “WEIRD AUSTIN” to have a pint of the “Buckethead IPA” or more! Glad to find your new location