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| "Heart and passion lead to great taste... Independence's beer menu ran from dark to pale, the love of the brewmasters could be tasted in every sip. Of all of the breweries and brewmasters I visited, the Cartwrights and their brewery had the strongest Austin vibe: laid-back, intellectual and friendly." |
Beer, breweries and science
By MASON LERNER This is one of those ambitions you shouldn't pursue all at once like I did. Even if you have a designated driver. Early on in my exploration of Austin's breweries, my head was swimming, and it had nothing to do with the alcoholic content of the samples they were passing out. The brewmasters / mad scientists spoke of “beer geeks” who apparently just can’t get enough beer knowledge, but for me, knowledge was an unfortunate side effect of the tours. I just came for the beer. If you're someone who appreciates beer -- and all that goes into making it -- Austin's an excellent place to practice your geek speak. If you're someone who just wants a good brew, Austin's still an excellent place. Just focus on the foam. ... Independence Brewing Co. The husband-and-wife team showed me around the brewery and explained their beer is brewed in the American style. Just as I expected, American beer is the best, whatever the Europeans say. Let them sip on their warm pints of stale ale. I'll take mine light, cold and foamy. The Cartwrights admit tours aren't really their thing. The brewery is equipped with a bar, some tables and enough room for a few hundred people to parley on a lazy Austin afternoon. On the first Saturday of every month, Independence Brewing has an all-out beer bash that is open to the public. On Elvis’ birthday, the Cartwrights have provided the beer to a warehouse full of people in faux pompadours and rhinestones. Naturally, they host Independence Day bashes for both the United States and Texas. The art that decorates the brewery and their beer’s packaging captures scenes of Austin and Texas without relying on old stereotypes. A painting of a boy flying over a lake on a tire swing decorates the packages of their “Freestyle Wheat Beer.” An image of Angelina Eberly, the so-called savior of Austin, sitting in front of a cannon, is stuck on every bottle of pale ale. Heart and passion lead to great taste, and while Independence's beer menu ran from dark to pale, the love of the brewmasters could be tasted in every sip. Of all of the breweries and brewmasters I visited, the Cartwrights and their brewery had the strongest Austin vibe: laid-back, intellectual and friendly. |
IN THE NEWSCinco de Mayo festival celebrates rich heritage Beer, breweries and science Local brewery offers more than just beer Independence Freestyle It’s July, Drink Craft Beer! Little Brewery, Big Flavors Jasperilla Old Ale is Austin brewer's best friend Austin Brewer Gives Beer the Benefit of a Woman's Know-How Out on the Porch
Brew Notes: Austin microbrew is worth the wait
...Move over, Shiner. There's a new beer in town. Brewing a New Business in Austin |