It’s a very well-known fact that Fredericksburg, Texas has become the central hub of the wine country region of Texas over the last fifty years. The popularity for Texas-grown wine has been on a steep incline for some time, but there’s another industry that’s on the rise in the Hill Country, and it has been quietly unfolding within the shadows of the giant enterprise of the Lone Star State’s wine production. For the wine-lover, Fredericksburg has been the perfect spot to spend a weekend drifting from one winery to the next, but new changes are on the horizon in the heart of the Hill Country, and these changes have provided new options for those who might not prefer the wine glass but rather the pilsner filled to the brim with a seasonal craft. Continue to read to learn more about the Breweries of Fredericksburg, Texas.
The Breweries of Fredericksburg, Texas
The oldest brewpub in the state of Texas is nestled right here in Fredericksburg. Once the laws changed in 1994, the Fredericksburg Brewing Company was quick to open their doors. They specialize in old-world German-style beers and the company is located on Main Street in the heart of the town. The brewery boasts an air-conditioned Biergarten that is the perfect temperature at all times of the year.
Recently introduced to the Fredericksburg area is the Belly Up Brew Pub. Belly Up opened in 2024 and is new to the brewery scene in the Hill Country. They offer five house-brewed beers as well as an array of other options from around the Hill Country
Farther Down the Texas Wine Trail
Another one of the Breweries of Fredericksburg farther down the Wine Trail is the Fat Ass Ranch & Brewery. With a hilarious tongue-in-cheek title based on the family’s over-eating mule who got a bit pudgy on the back side, the brewery weaves the humorous theme through the naming of many of their beers, such as the Dumb Ass Blonde and the Lucky Arse Irish Red Ale, as well many items that one can purchase inside the gift shop.
Just a short drive from Fredericksburg is the Alstadt Brewery. The brewery opened in 2018 after releasing their first beers in 2017 for retail distribution. Alstadt offers a variety of popular German-style beers such as their Kolch, Lager (Helles) and the Hefenweizen. Housed in a Bavarian-inspired atmosphere, Alstadt Brewery hosts an outdoor Biergarten and multiple indoor rooms where guests can enjoy their favorite beer. There is also a tractor museum on-site that displays historical pieces from America’s past times.
Finally, a brand-new brewery that has recently opened in the Fredericksburg area is the Bear King Brewing Company. Bear King Brewing Company comes originally from the Marble Falls area and the entity is named for a mythical creature believed to have lurked around the area of LBJ Lake. It opened in 2019
and is owned by the four Guidry siblings. Beers are brewed on-site at the Marble Falls location and some of the options available during different times of the year are the Wandering Blonde Ale, Foggy Eyes New England IPA and Webster’s Dilemma – American Pale Ale.
While several breweries brew their own beer that they serve on-site at the same premises, there are several stops along the way that import many of the wonderful craft beers that are made in the heart of Texas. The Altdorf Biergarten, Silver Creek Beer Garden and Grille, Yee Haw Saloon, the Ausländer and Hill and Vine are just a few of the venues around the Fredericksburg area that offer great selections of beer produced at many of the Breweries of Fredericksburg.
Visit Arch Ray Resort and discover one of Fredericksburg’s top Breweries
One of the rising star breweries in the Fredericksburg area is the Ogle Brewery. Located on the premises of Arch Ray Resort just a few miles outside of town on the 290-Wine Trail, the brewery is quickly becoming a Fredericksburg favorite. The Ogle Brewery is as legendary as the West Texas rancher for which it was named. Ray Ogle, who was Sally Baxter’s (joint-owner of Arch Ray Resort) beloved grandfather was a jack-of-all trades who was born just before the start of The Great Depression. Even though Ray was a man of few words, he was known to have a twinkle in his eye and sense of quick wit that would cause even the toughest cowboy to crack a toothy grin.
The production team, guided by Jerry Elliot and Dustin Kramer, focuses on creative craft beers that are released seasonally, sixteen labels at a time (Eight of which are for members only). Some of the top fan favorites are the Yaloo (American Light ), the Broken Trees Black Lager (Schwarzbier), the Rabbit Eye Saison (Farmhouse Ale) and the infamous Oktoberfest. Some of the more eccentric brews at the Ogle Brewery are the Wig Out Pineapple (IPA), Peanut Butter Bock (Hell/Maibock/Lentebock), the Honey Hibiscus (Spiced/Herbed Beer) and the Peach Kolch, which just recently won second place at the Fredericksburg Wine and Beer Festival.
In the last decade, Fredericksburg has become more than just the wine-hub of Texas as many brewers begin to set their roots down in Central Texas. When visiting Gillespie County, Arch Ray Resort is the perfect one-stop destination for everyone. At Arch Ray, the Ogle Brewery is joined by the Arch Ray Winery, Paul Bee Distillery, 1894 Ranch-to-Table Restaurant that serves incredible food, including Baxter Beef-a wagyu-angus mix. Next time you come to Fredericksburg, be sure to stop by Arch Ray and enjoy all that our establishment has to offer and become a part of our story!