New Braunfels = Beer

Around 1850, New Braunfels resident Julius Rennert began brewing yeast-fermented malt flavored with hops. He is widely credited with producing the first beer in Texas.

Rennert’s legacy lives on in several area breweries that don’t limit themselves to standard German Pilsners.

According to no finer source than New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce, New Braunfels is the gateway to explore the Texas Hill Country. But more about that at the end of this article.

Here are are some of the best local places to quaff all kinds of trendy beer, nature’s antidote to the glaring Texas heat:

Faust Hotel & Brew Pub,240 S Seguin Ave., New Braunfels – The Faust Hotel opened in 1929 as “The Traveler’s Hotel.” By 1920’s standards, the Faust was modern in its design and became an instant success, gaining a reputation as a fashionable tourist destination. The property was remodeled in the late 90’s to feature an updated bar, complete with brewing equipment. Today, the Faust Hotel & Brewing Company features 1920’s luxury and grandeur but incorporates modern amenities and comfort with newly designed guest rooms and suites.

Don’t miss Alex Meixner Polka Pils during Wurstfest. Other favorites include Walter’s Ghostly Pale Ale, Mocha Stout, and Oktober Faust. Faust experiments different recipes all the time.

New Braunfels Brewing Company, 180 W. Mill St Suite 100, New Braunfels – Around 1915 or so, the New Braunfels Brewing Company (NBBCo) picked up the brewing torch and mashed its first batch of local brew. Even through Prohibition, NBBCo still brewed the good stuff and bootlegged it. But 1925 brought down the local brewery when authorities raided them and found the illegal brew.

The reincarnation of New Braunfels Brewing Company started as a dream in 2010. Today, it brews primarily wheat beer with a few sours thrown in. This nano-brewery in historic downtown New Braunfels is popular for several great reasons — it reflects community, refresh  palettes and be a heck of a lot of fun.  Visit for a tour or a tasting during one of “Hoppy Hours” in the Das Lokal tap room.

Guadalupe Brewing Company, 103 Gattuso Rd., New Braunfels – Owners say they birthed their brewery plan back in 2009 over a few home-brewed beers, then studied at and graduated from Siebel Institute, a brewing consultancy, before setting up shop in Texas. Guadalupe Brewing makes full-flavored, well-balanced, “approachable” craft beer using natural ingredients.

The majority of their beers are high-gravity meaning high alcohol and loads of flavor. Beers range from milder creations like Texas Honey Ale to deep, dark chocolate stouts aged in bourbon barrels.

Rugged Man Brewing Company, 7600 S. Old Bastrop Highway, New Braunfels – This seven-barrel craft brewery is owned and operated by three Marine Corps veterans, hence its name and slogan, “Drink the Damn Beer.”

The Marines sell a wide variety of high quality beers in their on-site taproom, constantly rotating a wide range of beer styles to please everyone’s palate. “Tell us how you like the damn beer!” is an order. Here’s how they describe MachineGun Stout: “When your head brewer is a former Marine Corps Infantry Machinegunner a beer this big and powerful was bound to happen. It is a balance of dark roasted malts with traditional English hops that pours very dark with a creamy tan head. At first you will taste the powerful hop presence, then roasted and chocolate malts, a slight alcohol sweetness, and finally a dry finish. Would pair well with any grilled red meat or pizza.”

If these micro-breweries don’t sate your thirst, New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce promotes a Hill Country Craft Beer Trail featuring six different “cruises.” Trail options range from close-by to as far away as Fredericksburg. Drink while enjoying the Hill Country’s most notable scenic attractions, such as legendary Luckenbach, TX, and the rolling hills of the “Devil’s Backbone” on historic – and supposedly haunted – FM32.

“Once you make your way home to New Braunfels, enjoy an evening at one our three breweries and watch the sun set over the Comal River with a fresh, local beer.”