Trailer Premiere Celebrates the Story Behind Texas Craft Beer Revolution

AUSTIN, Texas — On Friday, July 17th, Celis Brewery will be hosting the public premiere of the trailer for On Premise: A Texas Beer Story, a forthcoming documentary exploring the origins of the Texas craft beer movement.

The documentary tells the story of Billy Forrester, known for establishments including Texas Showdown Saloon, Crown & Anchor, Dog & Duck, and Waterloo Brewing, and brewer Steve Anderson. Together, the pair challenged Texas law in an effort to open the state’s first brewpub, helping lay the foundation for what would become the thriving Texas craft beer industry.

The trailer premiere will take place from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Celis Brewery, 10001 Metric Boulevard, Austin. Admission is free, with donations encouraged to help support completion of the documentary. The event will feature live performances by local bands; Wild Seeds, The American People, Shoulders and DJ Matt Sonzala.

Organizers say Celis Brewery was a natural choice to host the event, given its longstanding role in Austin’s craft beer community and its place in the history of Texas brewing.

The documentary aims to preserve the story of the individuals whose determination helped reshape Texas beer culture and paved the way for today’s hundreds of independent breweries across the state.

Organizers encourage anyone interested in craft beer, Austin’s cultural history, live music, or documentary filmmaking to attend the free community event and support the film’s completion through voluntary donations.