More than 25 breweries from New Braunfels, Hill Country present the best of locally produced craft beer, wine, and cocktails
For craft beer lovers, there are more than 150 good reasons to attend the Hill Country Craft Beer Festival in New Braunfels on April 13.
That’s how many beers will be available to sample at the event, produced by more than 25 breweries from New Braunfels, the Texas Hill Country (along with locally produced wine and cocktails, too).
“The Hill Country Craft Beer Festival is an opportunity to sample dozens of different beers at one time,” said New Braunfels Mayor Neal Linnartz, a beer aficionado, and an accomplished homebrewer. “It’s also fun to hang out with friends in a beautiful setting with beautiful weather and listen to good music while drinking your favorite beers.”
The fifth annual festival takes place this year at Stelzenplatz, located on the Wurstfest Grounds along the Comal River. The festival begins at 3 p.m. and runs until 8 p.m., with exclusive 2 p.m. early admission for VIP ticket holders.
The Rotary Club of New Braunfels organizes the festival, with proceeds supporting many local non-profit organizations. “That’s one of the best reasons to attend,” said Nathan Manlove. He’s a former New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce President and founder of a marketing agency in the city, and appreciates a good stout poured with nitrogen.
“The money raised by the festival goes toward supporting local non-profit organizations,” he said. “So you can tell your spouse that yes, yes you SHOULD have one more beer because it’s making our community better.”
The festival is also an opportunity to support small, independent breweries, said New Braunfels businessman Cesar Castilleja, an IPA enthusiast.
“I’ve been fortunate to visit these breweries and have witnessed the true craft of the products and those who make it,” Castilleja said. “The breweries invited are normally within a county or two, which helps support small businesses.”
Live music will provide the soundtrack for the beer tastings, with performances by Dwayne Wilson, Knotty Grove, the Zach Walther Band (and Josh Holden from 3-Man Front in the VIP tent only).
Tickets are available online at hccbf.com/. Admission is $35 when purchased in advance (or $45 at the gate) and includes six 3-oz. samples of your choice of beers, with additional samples available for purchase for $2 each or full beers for $8 each. Food trucks will be available on site.
VIP admission is $150 and includes early entry to the festival, a special VIP parking lot, an exclusive indoor area with seating, a swag bag, buffet lunch, snacks, private restrooms and more.
Guests are welcome to bring folding chairs or picnic blankets. All attendees must be 21 and over (no children allowed). All festival purchases are cashless using an RFID wristband. Guests can connect their credit card to their wristband for easy purchase of additional beers, food truck items, event T-shirts and other souvenirs.
While there are many reasons not to miss the Hill Country Craft Beer Festival, one of the best is the chance to enjoy the best beers with other craft beer enthusiasts, whether they’re among the local volunteers serving the beer or other beer-loving festival attendees. Because as Castilleja puts it, “The best way to drink a good beer is with a good friend.”
A golden New Braunfels tradition
When German settlers first established New Braunfels in the mid-1800s, they brought their European brewing traditions with them. That passion for good beer has endured ever since, and today, the city offers several local breweries and tasting rooms that offer their own unique take on the art of brewing beer. Here are some highlights of the New Braunfels craft beer scene:
This iconic local brewery has been crafting award-winning ales in downtown New Braunfels since 1998, producing year-round selections, seasonal varieties and small-batch creations.
Guadalupe Brewing Co. and Pizza Kitchen
This brewery focuses on full-flavored, well-balanced and approachable craft beer with the use of natural ingredients, with small-batch artisanal pizza and other items made fresh on-site.
This family-owned brewery offers a refreshing respite in the city’s downtown historic district, with the goal of creating great beer in a neighborhood pub-style setting.
Surrounded by oak trees just minutes from New Braunfels, 5 Stones brews inventive beer crafted with seasonal ingredients and German influences and serves food from its on-site kitchen.
This craft beer tap room, beer garden and bottle shop serves local beer from all over the Texas Hill Country, along with a selection of ciders, mead and wine.
Artisanal beer, fun festivals and one-of-a-kind breweries make New Braunfels the perfect destination to relax with a cold one. Plan your weekend of fun #InNewBraunfels today at playinnewbraunfels.com/.
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