Texas now has the 8th most Craft Breweries in the US

But they've always had those things. The only difference between 2013 and 2003 is that craft beer is trendy now. In spite of that we're talking - what? - half a dozen beer bars and a couple of breweries for the entire Panhandle? At most? Yeah I think they've got a ways to go before West TX is officially decommissioned as a craft beer Siberia (Si-beer-ia?)

 

"Most of the world" constitutes third world countries and dictatorships. That doesn't really mean anything. Here in the US I doubt if there are many similarly populated conurbations that have it demonstrably worse than the Panhandle re: craft beer, which is the only sensible barometer for this particular conversation. It's probably worth mentioning also that the Panhandle is just a small fraction of what constitutes West TX, so even if the craft beer scenes in Amarillo and Lubbock were to experience unprecedented growth - I'm not holding my breath - that would still leave a pretty good chunk of the state's population stuck in Si-beer-ia, thus continuing to dilute our per capita brewery numbers at an only slightly lessened rate... which was the origin of this particular sidebar in the first place.

 

Well, you're still talking half the state, so there's over 500k in the Panhandle altogether, another 800k in the El Paso metro, couple hundred thou in the Midland/Odessa area... Add in literally hundreds of small towns and there has to be a bare minimum of 2-3 mil, which would constitute a good 1/10 or more of the state's population. A minority, sure, but not a statistically insignificant one.

 

Here is a good article about the old head brewer from Live Oak, on his new project. Big Bend Brewing Company is open. I know some people have already talked about this, but seems fitting to add this to the discussion on West Texas breweries. This will be a great addition out west if they can keep Live Oak's quality.

I am very interested in the beer he made that won gold at GABF back in the day, saying "“It might have been the first commercially brewed sour ale in America.”

http://bigbendnow.com/2012/06/big-bend-brewery-begins-beer-making-in-alpine/

 

One of my cousins is starting a brewpub in Uvalde, TX... which y'all would probably consider "the middle of nowhere" (about 70 miles southeast of San Antonio towards Laredo.

I believe there's a pent up demand in rural areas for local beer. People in Texas, even in rural areas, are very interested in local products, especially since our "specialty" craft distribution doesn't extend that far out. People are just very underexposed to the product, but people understand and appreciate a good beer when they try it.

 

Name of brewpub? I'll be heading through Uvalde to Langtry this August to work at te deer lease. I'd stop by for a pint and some grub.

 

I'll let ya know when it's finalized, they're still planning.

It's a cool location... My uncle (who passed away a few years back) owned the an airstrip used for mostly for crop dusting (he was a long time crop duster himself) that was left to her & her husband. The brewery is going to be in one of the hangars. It's still being used as an airport as far as I know. They actually moved from San Francisco to open it.

We actually do quite a bit of hunting in Uvalde. If I know my family, the bar will probably incorporate skeet shooting, lol.

 

Now that sounds like fun. I can see it now. Welcome to Hanger Brewing. Where our beers are cold and the skeet is hot. Join the Hanger Club. Every 10 box of shells purchased gets ya a free pint. 8 gauge IPA. 12 gauge Dipa and 20 gauge Boom! triple IPA. Lol.

 

LOL. I'm passing on these ideas.

 

I think Brewpubs definitely have a place in more sparsely populated areas for this exact reason. While a lot of the people who live out there may not seek out craft or quality foreign beers all the time, they typically are loyal to locally owned/produced goods. So while there probably aren't enough people in these areas to support a packaging brewery, a brewpub with a restaurant would do great I would imagine (as long as the food and beer are good)

 

Bud Light proves the beer doesn't even have to be good.

Well for the masses anyways...

 

Umm, Be careful with the name? And good luck to your cousin.
http://www.hangar24brewery.com/

 

Hangar 18 would be kewler!

 

Hanger 51. Alien Wit now on tap!

 

Hangar 18 is in Area 51.

 

Sorry. Blonde moment. Slowly backing away.

 

Awww man thats awesome! My hometown is 30 minutes from Uvalde! I would love to visit!

Eagle Pass, TX REPRESENT!