(This post was updated at 9:30 p.m. on April 4, 2022)
by CJ Vetter
Dripping Springs – On March 26, 11 local breweries across Central Texas gathered to hold the first annual Dripping Springs Brewer’s Festival in the historic district of Dripping Springs. The event, which was highly anticipated, sold out within 24 hours, and ended with over 350 people having attended.
The price for admission began at $25 for a wrist band that offered eight beer tastings; however, visitors could upgrade their band, to $35 for unlimited beer tastings. The beers themselves came from across Central Texas, although many of them came directly from Austin or Dripping Springs itself, with notable breweries such as the Family Business, Twisted X, and Suds Monkey Brewing all attending and offering samples of their beer.
The festival was created by a combination of Pam Owens, President and CEO of the Dripping Springs Visitors Bureau, and Acopon Brewing Company. Debbie Cerda, an organizer of the event and representative of the Jester King Brewing Company, helped oversee the operations of the event.
“We definitely could have sold more tickets. We went ahead and capped it at 350 people simply, so we didn’t overwhelm the area,” Cerda said. “Keep in mind this is sort of a off shoot of the Dripping Springs Taste Festival, which was wine, food with some beer, but this is inaugural beer festival.”
The beers on tap were a myriad of different IPAs, pale ales, lagers, and other assorted types, ranging from the convenience store station-available Mcconauhaze IPA to the Hamilton Pale. In addition to beers, there was also live music, food provided by the Hill Country Tavern & Ranch catering company, and coffee by local Weathered Hands Coffee Farmhouse.
“I think it was great, everybody out here had a great time, I know everyone working here had a great time,” Connor Parker, a Twisted X stand worker said.
The event started at noon on Saturday, and ended at five in the afternoon, with the beer having mostly run out around four. While there has not been an official announcement for next year’s festival, more information about this year’s event can be found at DestinationDrippingSprings.com.
