Our little town of Dripping Springs might as well be called Drinking Springs thanks to all the breweries and distilleries in the area.
If you’re headed to the Hill Country for the weekend here is my brewery tour guide. I’ll list out highlights below (good for families, food situation, etc.) for each brewery but I recommend you use The Stacy Strategy to guide your day:
Start at Fitzhugh Brewing because they have a full kitchen on site (menu here), so you can have lunch and build a base for your day of beer tasting. Other places will have food trucks but that can be unreliable. You don’t want to get hangry when you’re trying to enjoy a day of responsible drinking.
End your day with Ghost Note Brewery then hit Salt Lick BBQ for dinner. Salt Lick is BYOB so throw a cooler in your car, buy your favorite canned brews to-go from all the stops, then relive your favorites over classic Texas BBQ to wrap an epic Hill Country day.
Stop 1: Fitzhugh Brewing
- Large indoor and outdoor space (some covered with heaters)
- Full Kitchen on site for food (kid friendly options are available!)
- They rotate their selection of beers often but my favorites are the Wee Scot and the Imperial Stout
- They have other booze options than beer if you need a variety for your group
- Bathrooms are super nice
- They have a rockin’ playground, so it’s popular for families. If you’re not into kids you can sit outside far from the playground (or inside)
- Shout out to Fitzhugh for being a woman-owned business!
Stop 2. – Family Business Beer Company
- Wide variety of high quality brews, I suggest starting with a tasting flight and have the staff choose (1) for you
- I really REALLY love their Dunkel but the Cabo Sabro is going to be my jam in the warmer months
- Wide open spaces of picnic tables under live oak trees, but indoor or covered space is limited
- They have basic apps and pizza available to order
- Wine is available for your non-beer drinkers that came along for the outing
- They have a playground with a fence around it, so better for parents worried about wandering toddlers
Stop 3: Fox 12 Beer Co.
- Stellar playground for kids 5 years old and up, awesome spot for families to hang
- Non-kid crew, you can still enjoy your space at picnic tables on the opposite side of the property
- The McGregor Irish Red is my favorite brew at the moment
- Limited covered seating but lots of fire pits are lit when it’s cold to stay warm by
- They have a wide variety of beverages available including wine, sparkling water, and juice boxes
- Food trucks are on site
- They have a stellar Oktoberfest event so watch out for it on social
- Fox 12 is Veteran-Owned, go support a Vet!
Stop 4: Acopon Brewing Company
- Traditional English Ales are their speciality so Acopon is a unique spot in the Hill Country
- Located on Downtown Mercer Street so you could hit some shops while you’re here (Vintage Soul and Juniper Tree Market are my faves). If you’re doing a couples outing some people can hang at the pub and watch a game while the others go wander the shops.
- Their Stouts are incredibly good, the Hans Trapp especially, and I also love the Homunculus (Mild -Dark)
- Their food truck “Sauce it Up Pizza” is delish but can sell out early in the day
- Moderately sized patio for outdoor seating and a large indoor pub space
Stop 5: Ghost Note Brewing
- Fantastic outdoor space with loads of lawn games and different seating types
- I LOVE their Texas Sun Saison which is an award winning brew
- Rotating food trucks and live music (check their social for updates)
- They have a unique playground set up that spaced away from other gathering areas, so great for everyone to enjoy their own vibe
- The brewery is all outdoors so if the weather is bad they may not be open (again, check social for updates)
- Owned by some of the nicest people on the planet, Kenny and Thelma, who are always out on the grounds saying ‘hi’ to visitors
The Stacy Strategy 