Local Craft Breweries near the Thrall, Texas 76578 Area (4)

Texas Beer Company is one of those success stories that really took off because of the community. Founded by J.D. Gins and Ian Davis, this Taylor-based brewery counts a gold medal win at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival for their Pecos Amber Lager among their many achievements. Both have J.D.’s ex-girlfriend to thank for J.D.’s first homebrewing kit, which prompted his passion for brewing. J.D. is the company’s brewmaster. The two friends were community organizers who met during Obama’s presidential campaign. Launched in May 2016, the brewery came to be with support from various sectors. Prior to launch, they got a leg up when Davis’ friend bought the building they’re located in. Meanwhile, the two were conducting tastings rent-free and getting valuable inputs from locals. With economic development incentives from the city council, a successful initial funding campaign, and a follow-up fund campaign for expansion, the brewery continues to benefit from the support of the community it serves.

Granger City Brewing Company is the city’s first brewery. Established in 2015, it’s a “labor of love” for its owners Peter and Elle Maurisak. They describe their brewery and taproom as “boutique style”, meaning they intentionally keep it “small and selective” for now. According to its owners, the brewery has been “a labor of love” which included suffering through three Texas summers without air-conditioning. Besides the in-house brews, the taproom also serves a rotating selection of beers and ciders from other breweries. Open from Friday to Sunday, the brewery is known for its excellent pizza, which uses spent grains and beer wort. They are actually also open on Thursdays but serve only their pizzas (no alcohol). Tips for visiting: Accepts cash only (there’s an ATM onsite). The kitchen closes an hour before published closing hours.

Bluebonnet Beer Company is a family-run brewery in Round Rock. The owners are husband and wife David and Clare Hulama. David holds a degree in Biology from the University of Texas at Austin. He acquired his brewing skills from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London, and at University of California at Davis. Clare, meanwhile, is a sales and marketing veteran of over twenty years. The brewery and taproom they established in 2013 is a dream business nearly ten years in the making. On weekends, the children might even be at the taproom helping their parents. The brewery has four core beers year round, with fifteen seasonal beers available. The brewery also has the “very limited distribution” Immortal Ten Series. Available only in Round Rock, these beers are dedicated to the ten Round Rock students and staff of Baylor University who lost their lives in a tragic 1927 accident.

Officially opened in the summer of 2019, Compadre Brewing is owned and operated by the Galvan family in Pflugerville/Round Rock. It’s a dog-friendly and family friendly brewery that started with a “Make Your Own Beer Kit” Christmas gift for Roel, the brewery’s owner and brewer. Together with his father Roy, the two set out to discover the world of craft beers, which culminated in their opening Compadre Brewing. As fate would have it, the family took over a short-lived brewery that used to exist at their present location. The brewery soft-opened with their Cinco De Cele(brew)cion last May 5, and served about 32 different craft beers on tap, including their own creations. A few months into their opening, the reviews have been great:

• “It is awesome. Friendly staff, good beers and plenty of options of other local beers”
• “Solid selection of beers”
• “They like to push flavor profiles and add depth to the beer (which is) a good thing”