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The Road to Abilene Leads to Grain Theory

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 Grain Theory Brewery Craft beer has been taking the world by storm, and Texas is no exception. With over 300 breweries scattered throughout the state, it takes a lot to stand out in the crowd. However, Grain Theory Brewery in Abilene, Texas has managed to do just that. Not only do they produce quality beer, but they also have a unique management story that has contributed to their success. In this post, we'll take a closer look at Grain Theory Brewery and their journey on the Road to Abilene. Grain Theory Brewery was founded in 2016 by three friends - David Kasselman, Brandon Hays, and John Laprarie. The trio had a passion for craft beer and wanted to create something special in their hometown of Abilene. They started small, brewing beer in a garage and selling it at local events. As their popularity grew, they decided to take the next step and open a brewery. However, opening a brewery is no easy feat. It requires a significant investment of time, money, and resources. The three ...
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Houndsong Brewery: A Hidden Gem in Columbus, Texas

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  Nestled in the charming town of Columbus, Texas lies a hidden gem for beer enthusiasts - Houndsong Brewery. Founded in 2017 by a group of friends with a passion for brewing, Houndsong Brewery has quickly become a popular destination for locals and visitors alike. The brewery boasts a spacious taproom with a rustic ambiance that perfectly complements their carefully crafted beers. The taproom's walls are adorned with local artwork and the brewery's logo, adding to the overall charm of the establishment. Houndsong Brewery takes pride in using only the finest ingredients, sourcing their hops and grains from local farmers whenever possible. This commitment to quality is evident in every sip of their beer. From their flagship IPA, "Houndsong Howl," to their seasonal offerings like the "Pumpkin Patch Ale," each beer is crafted with care and attention to detail. One of the unique features of Houndsong Brewery is their dog-friendly policy. The owners are avid dog ...
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Chip Tate Whiskey Genius Emeritus

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  (Photo credit Waco Tribune) Back in 2011, I discovered Balcones whiskey (or whisky as Balcones called it).  I was in Texas, Balcones was a Texas distillery.  The whole concept of a distillery making whiskey in Texas was new to me; it was an exciting enterprise, and an exciting time.  The frontman for Balcones was its colorful founder, Chip Tate.  Tate was a transplanted Texan, as were so many, but he had embraced the maverick culture, of which, Texans are so proud.  Tate was from Virginia, with detours to Germany, and Indiana.  Tate’s father was a nuclear engineer and his mother a nurse.  Tate went to college at William and Mary.  At William and Mary, Tate studied physics and philosophy.  While in Richmond, VA, Tate turned his homebrewing hobby into a passion.  But after graduation, Tate went to the cubicle and worked several white collar jobs, often following his wife, a professor, to her different assignments.  That’s how T...
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Destination Seguin Texas

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For some reason, a few friends and I have fancied that Seguin, Tx might be on the verge of becoming a destination city.  Undoubtedly some of your thinking was influenced by the buzz centered around Burnt Bean .  T he genius behind Burnt Bean is Ernest Servantes.  Ernest is the BBQ savant and the co-owner of Burnt Bean.  It’s a destination for barbecue enthusiasts.  But there was more than just barbecue.   Seguin has a brewery, Seguin Brewing , the brewery has been around for almost ten years.  It was founded by a couple of T exas Lutheran University   graduates, Brian Wallace and Shawn Washington.  The brewery evolved from a homebrewing operation to a business in late 2014 or early 2015.  The brewery is within walking distance of Burnt Bean. Just as a side note, we received the impression the Seguin Brewery has changed ownership sometime in the last year and a half, but I can not confirm that from any public reporting from the area. The...
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Locked Out --New Platforms/No Rules

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The way we interact with the world has changed.  We communicate with friends and others through social networks such as Facebook.  We share news and opinions instantly through Twitter, videos of our latest activity on Snapchat and pictures on Instagram.  These apps help keep us connected to the world, our colleagues, friends, and family. Need a ride across town - we use Uber, need to buy some supplies, do a one-click on Amazon, how about a place to stay next month in NYC, just use Airbnb.  These services make our day-to-day existence much simpler and we take them for granted. Increasingly, most of us are engaging with these privately owned platforms that are mostly unregulated.  They have through their platforms disrupted traditional industries. Most offer a superior business model and then couple that with lower costs.  These lower costs are often because these platforms avoid the regulatory burdens and the infrastructure of the legacy industrie...
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A New Legend of a Shepherd Boy, a Giant, and 5 Stones

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This past weekend the folks at Run in Texas held an event at 5 Stones Artisan Brewery .  I was unfamiliar with 5 Stones, which is located southwest of New Braunfels, Texas on FM 1863.  If, like me, you use a navigation program to guide you to your destinations, a caution, for 5 Stones double check the address.  It seems Google and other devices are still listing the brewery's prior address in Cibolo, Texas. That caused some of our colleagues to take a bit of a detour to the closed location. Traveling along FM 1863, it’s easy to miss 5 Stones, and believe me you do not want to miss this brewery.  For 5 Stones, 2017 was a big year. They opened at their new location in November of that year. Also, in 2017, 5 Stones started working with Garrett Crowell, best known for his tenure as head brewer at Jester King Brewery. The brewery sits on 19 acres, about an eighth of a mile off the main road down a rough gravel path. The brewery is a picturesque limestone build...
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Roughhouse Farmhouse Brewery ---Roughhousing is Good for You.

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The new Roughhouse Brewing is located about 10 miles down Highway 12 from San Marcos, close to Wimberly, Tx. San Marcos is a college town dominated by Texas State University . Before its renaming in 2003, the university was named Southwest Texas State University. The university's main claim to fame is that Lyndon Johnson was an alumnus. Texas State is a large college. Its undergraduate enrollment is more than 34,000; that’s greater than Indiana University, or the University of Alabama. But even with all those students, San Marcos is not a craft beer mecca. Only two breweries can be found in town. Aqua Brew an upscale brewpub and The Root Cellar a restaurant, that brews some beer. Yet just 10 miles away near Wimberly Texas three breweries are within 3 miles of each other. Roughhouse is the newest of the three. Roughhouse is located at 612 Oakwood Loop. The brewery is located on part of the Pasternak Ranch. The brewery opened January 19, 2019, and is operated by Davy and Alex Pastern...
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