Texas Craft Beer, Wine and Spirits

Consider this: Texas boasts a rich beer-making heritage inspired by early generations of Czech and German immigrants. Today, more than 40 breweries are active in the state. The Houston Beer Fest in June is an ideal atmosphere for sampling what each of these breweries are experimenting with, as is a trip to San Antonio.

San Antonio’s brewing industry is in the midst of a renaissance. Several craft breweries are coming on the scene and the 19th-century Pearl Brewery has been repurposed as a food-centric urban neighborhood. The Pearl, as locals now call it, features restaurants along the lines of Southerleigh Fine Food and Brewery, which serves upscale Southern fare and in-house brewed beers in a cozy, rustic space. Relax in a welcoming atmosphere while sampling a rotating selection of seasonal dishes and innovative brews.

After a scenic hour’s drive north from San Antonio, you’ll come to Fredericksburg in the heart of Texas Wine Country. Explore more than two dozen wineries here with a trip down Fredericksburg’s Wine Road 290, where you can enjoy tastings and tours. Opt for a Texas Tempranillo (red) or a Viognier (white), the region’s standout varietals. You might not know that Texas is the fifth largest wine producer in the U.S., with more than 200 wineries statewide and a centuries-old tradition of cultivating vines. To sample the diversity of Texas wines, pick up the Grapevine Wine Trail near Dallas-Fort Worth and tour Lubbock’s renowned wineries. These include Llano Estacado Winery, McPherson Cellars and La Diosa Cellars, which serves Spanish-style tapas in an onsite bistro.

For a nip of Texas spirits, ask any bartender or restaurant server what they’re pouring — more than 30 distilleries are now operating in the state. Balcones Distillery whiskeys offer a hand-crafted, authentic taste of Texas (if it’s available, request Balcones’ Rumble, a specialty spirit made with Texas wildflower honey, mission figs and turbinado sugar). In San Antonio? Take your tasting one step further with a tour of Rebecca Creek Distillery. Afterward, relax in the tasting room for samples and cocktails crafted with the distillery’s impeccably smooth Enchanted Rock Vodka.