A passion for craft beer, as well as an inventive gift from his father-in-law, was how Marc Woffenden began paving the road toward opening his own brewery.
All of his dreams came true Friday when the community joined Woffenden and his family in officially opening Two Wheel Brewing.
Woffenden said his path began in 2007 or 2008 when he received a home brewing kit from his father-in-law as a Christmas gift.
The gift, Woffenden said, was most likely inspired by the father-son bonding moments the two of them shared over a few beers. During those moments, the two discussed different types and flavors of their favorite beers.
“We were able to have those bonding moments over beer, which was really fun,” Woffenden said.
Woffenden started small, making five gallons of beer at a time. However, he was amazed at the flavors he produced and quickly turned his new hobby into his new obsession.
“I was amazed that beer could taste so good that you made at home,” Woffenden said, “It turned into an obsession, I was constantly reading books and watching videos and wanted to get into the cellular level of making beer.”
For Woffenden, the next step was to go to the American Brewers Guild in Vermont to learn more about the craft. When he returned he and his wife started working on creating and opening their own brewery.
They decided to look for a place for the brewery in communities other than Austin, where there was a desire and a need for a brewery. The two eventually discovered Buda.
Woffenden said he and his wife, Alexis, met with city staff. Before they even finished their pitch, they had at least three staffers nodding their heads in approval.
Once they got the go-ahead from the city, construction on the brewery began in December 2015 and continued to completion in December 2016. Brewing at Two Wheel began in January.
Woffenden, along with New York native and fellow brew master Dennis Howell, built the entire inner workings of the brewery, and brew and keg all of the beer made at Two Wheel.
Woffenden said the brewery had a soft opening during spring break. Originally they were only open on Friday nights.
Once they started opening the business on the weekends, Woffenden felt it was time to open the doors.
Woffenden said the brewery runs on a 20-barrel system that can produce a drinkable brew from start to finish.
An ale can take about two and a half weeks to brew, while a lager takes about a month and a half.
Woffenden attributes the brewery’s success to the unique styles Howell and himself bring. Woffenden said Howell brings an “East Coast” brewing style to compliment his “West Coast.”
But Woffenden said the success of the brewery could not be possible without the support of the Buda community.
“It’s a great community and we’re very happy to be here,” Woffenden said.
