In that time, however, Georgetown has added a second brewery in Barking Armadillo, Salado has Barrow Brewing, there’s Hedgehog Brewing in Cedar Park, Bluebonnet Beer Company in Round Rock and the list goes on.
“I think craft beer as an industry, in general, is definitely beginning to boom,” said Rentsch Brewery Taproom Manager Matt Davis. “We've now got Barking Armadillo around the corner and we've got a great relationship with them. We love that community and we love the kind of camaraderie between the two. So we'll go over and hang out there on days we're closed and they're open, and they'll do the same over here.”
The Rentsch Taproom at 2500 NE Inner Loop, Georgetown, is large, with the tap wall anchoring one end, adjacent to the brewing operation where Rentsch and its sister label, Strange Land Brewery, are produced and canned.
Just outside of the taproom is a covered patio twice the size of the indoor space and beyond that a beer garden with more space and a stage where assistant manager, Will Hickman, periodically books live music.
“We've gone through a couple of expansions,” said Davis, who is in his third year as manager. “But I’d like to expand it again, I’m just not sure exactly how or where.”
In the meantime, he’ll have to settle for Rentsch opening a second taproom.
Austin-based ThunderCloud Subs, which currently occupies the entirety of 814 S. Main Street, just south of the Downtown Square, will be making room on one side of its dining room for a satellite Rentsch Taproom, and, according to Davis, hopefully for an opening this Spring.
“Once we have all the permits, we can start the build-out process,” Davis said. “So we're hoping that that's gonna be ready by (April 22-24) for the Red Poppy Festival. I'm really looking forward to it.”
Back at the original taproom, Rentsch is serving its beer as well as that of Strange Land Brewery, which left its original space on Bee Cave Road three years ago. A quick scan of the taproom’s merch area also reveals logos for both breweries.
On tap are a selection of Rentsch’s five core beers: Texas Lager, Blonde, Hefeweizen, Weizenbock and its IPA. But it also features Strange Land varieties on draft, including its Austinite Pilz.
Specialty beers also rotate on and off the menu from the two breweries. Recent additions have included Strange Land’s Grapefruit IPA and Headless Gentleman, a pumpkin ale, as well as Rentsch’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Prussian Imperial Stout and Peach Hefeweizen.
“Having both breweries on tap creates that conversation with customers like, ‘What is Strange Land?’ And it instigates us saying, ‘It's our sister company,’ We’re essentially two breweries in one.’”
Rentsch Taproom
2500 NE Inner Loop, Georgetown
https://rentschbrewery.com
Hours: Mon.-Tue., closed; Wed. Fri., 4-10 p.m.; Sat., Noon-10 p.m.; Sun., Noon-8 p.m.
FOOD PAIRINGS
General Manager Matt Davis attributes much of the success at the Rentsch Tap Room to the large contingent of local food trucks that rotate through most nights.
To find the most up-to-date list of food trucks visit: https://rentschbrewery.com.
