Halloween was a busy time for Haunted Attraction Review so while most of our fellow haunters were getting in their last scares, Karl and I headed to the Texas hill country for some much needed r & r . While the region is best known for its many wineries (which I also enjoyed) there are some great places for beer lovers here also. Friday afternoon we made our way to the tasting room of Pedernales Brewery, named for the hill country region where it is located.
It a small tasting room more similar to a winery than most brewery tours but don't let that stop you. We were greeted warmly at the door. You quickly feel like you entered someone's living room rather than a business. The brewery is open Friday afternoon from 3 to 5 and Saturdays from 1 to 5. For $10 guest get a tasting glass and 5 wooden tokens redeemable for samples. There are five permanent brews: Lobo, Lobo Lito, Lobo Negro, a Classic Hefe-Weizen and an English-Style IPA. In addition to these, there were two seasonal offerings: Octoberfest and my favorite, a Spiced Porter.
There was some brewery merchandise available and a few small tables. Don't go expecting food and entertainment like some other brewery tours but what the lack in the extras they more than make up for in hospitality and the quality of the beer. Lobo negro is a dark smooth dunkel with a slight spiciness. On the opposite side of the spectrum the hefe-weizen is a light golden frothy ale with hints of citrus. The spiced porter was dark and toasty smooth but the spices were not too overwhelming.
The best thing about the tasting room and tour was the personal experience. The tasting room facilitated conversations with other travelers and beer lovers and I can truly say that I met some of the nicest and most interesting people. The staff made sure that everyone got a personal tour of the facility. The president and CEO of the Pedernales, Lee Hereford gave our small group of four an up close look at the brewing process and explained how quickly the brewery is growing. Even though the tasting hours were over when we finished the tour, we were not rushed out but offered another beer and given tips on where to drink and dine in town. Pedernales has had smart marketing and is continuing to expand their distribution and you can truly tell they are passionate about beer. We can't wait to visit again and share a beer among friends.
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