At the end of a strip center occupied by pizza, phone companies, and nail salons, Growler Express stands as evidence of the burgeoning craft beer scene in Buda.


Owner Roberto Garcia opened the growler fill station with his brother, Joseph, in April 2018 out of their love for craft beers and Texas breweries.

Garcia has been homebrewing since 2005 and introduced his brother to the hobby a few years later. The brothers have now visited nearly 100 breweries.
“I love the creativity in beer,” Garcia said. “You can come here to get specialized beer you can’t find in the supermarket.”
As Growler Express boasts a taproom and a fill station, visitors can taste test beers, order a flight or pint, or fill up a reusable growler jug to take home.
The 24 taps rotate frequently, typically featuring a variety of Texan beers along with a few national selections. Garcia said they also keep a couple of beers from Buda’s Two Wheels Brewing Company on tap. The taproom offers bottled and canned beers as well as wine, including one rotating wine tap and refillable wine bottles.
“We want to teach people what they can do with beer,” Garcia said. “There’s a lot of complexity to it and potential food pairings; it’s more than just a summer drink.”
Guests are welcome to bring their own snacks as Growler Express does not sell food, and the taproom also regularly hosts events showcasing food pairings.
“Brewers get to showcase what they can do,” Garcia said. “We want people to be able to take home these really rare beer
s.”
Though they specialize in “beer to go,” Growler Express invites customers to stay and enjoy their drinks while playing a selection of board games, participating in the occasional “paints and sips” event, or watching sports events.
“We want people to hang out here,” Garcia said. “We want this to be an experience.”