Location Spotlight: Fredericksburg
Originally published 10/12/25. Please fill out our survey!
Guten Tag! That’s all the German I know. Oh, and Prost! Nein?
I imagine that nearly everyone reading this article has been to Fredericksburg at least once, as it’s a popular destination for culture, food, wine, and granite mountains. But did you know, beer?? Yes, as we often do at Craft Beer Austin (dot com), we’re here to inform and enlighten you about all the top destinations in Central Texas so you can impress all your Untappd friends. Buckle your seat-belts, because here comes the list of the best places to get a beer in and around Fredericksburg, TX.
Fat Ass Ranch & Brewery
The best thing about putting this article in order from east to west is that we get to start with Fat Ass Ranch & Brewery. You’re hooked already, aren’t you? Wait ’til I tell you about the 20 ft tall statue out front.
…There’s a 20 ft tall fiberglass Howard Huge statue out front, made in 1960, and purchased by Fat Ass in 2017. He’s been modified with a stein in one hand (ooh another German word!), can in the other, and Fat Ass logo on the hat. Once you’re done ogling the tall man, you can enter the large, retro-inspired taproom that aligns with Huge’s theme: old car memorabilia lines the walls, invoking a ’50s automobile shop vibe. If this is the first time you’ve heard of this place, you might be seeing more of them soon: the brand is expanding into distribution, and even a second taproom… in Cisco, east of Abilene. Didn’t see that one coming? Neither did we, but we wish them the best of luck with their North Texas expansion!
In the meantime, come check out the original location at the eastern limit of Fredericksburg – just keep in mind that the winery and brewery are in two separate buildings. You’ll pass the winery first, and you’ll know you’re at the brewery when you see Howie.
Witcher Craft Brewing Company
Continuing west, we arrive at the newest brewery along Old 290. Witcher Brewing, owned by Daniel Witcher and his family, delivers the casual brewpub experience that was needed along this stretch of the highway. Giant pretzels, several TVs, and a turf covered playground for the kids; this is the perfect stop heading in either direction to chill out for a while. They’ve got eight tank-to-tap lines pouring a variety of styles, with a large window behind the bar to watch the fermenters condensate away. It’s the classic brewpub experience that contradicts the eclectic theme of “fancy winery, but wait there’s beer too” that you’ll find a lot of up to this point. Not that there’s anything wrong with that of course – as I mentioned in the previous article, many of them are making great beer – but it’s nice to munch on a huge pretzel in a distinctly beer-themed taproom, too.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DK22G2upiVw/
Altstadt Brewery
I was careful to refer to Witcher as a “casual brewpub”, so that I can easily make the comparison here that Altstadt is a MANSION. Open since 2018, the manor has a taproom, restaurant, biergarten, rathskeller, grand hall, and tractor museum. That’s just what the website says; but I’ve been there twice, and I still don’t have a lay of the land. The front door leads to the taproom if you’re just stopping in for a quick taste. To the left, you’ll see the massive brewery, and tours may be available depending on the time and day. To the right is the restaurant if you’re hungry. Further back is the outdoor patio and biergarten, with fountains, flowers, and other fine German decorations. And if you’re here for a party, you may be able to check out the upstairs, downstairs, or grand hall as well. You’ve certainly tried their widely distributed beers here in Austin, but they always have a few taproom exclusives – and for a brewery that is sometimes considered the best German-style brewery in the US (a title they’re casually competing with Live Oak for), there’s no surprises about what you’re going to be drinking here.
Ogle Brewery
We now return to the “winery that also makes beer” gang, but guess what? These fellows are aiming to take over the world. This is Arch Ray Resort & Winery, Paul Bee Distillery, 1894 Ranch to Table Restaurant, and Ogle Brewery… and RV Park, Wedding Venue, and Hotel. I can write a whole bunch here, but I recommend just watching the hype video on the front page of their website, sound on.
But yeah, flights in a big taproom if you’re just here for the beer. They have eight beers, and you can choose the Cowboy Flight for the top four or the Outlaw Flight for the bottom four. Bring a big party so you can do both, along with a spirit flight, and all three wine flights. And a ribeye. And fudge brownie sundae. You gotta.
Fredericksburg Brewing Company
It’s currently October, which in Austin is when we celebrate Legacy Business Month, an annual event run by Preservation Austin. Businesses that have been open for at least 20 years are eligible to be highlighted; you can pick up a passport at Zilker Brewing, check them all out, collect stamps, and redeem for raffle tickets at the closing party next month.
I bring this up here, despite Fredericksburg Brewing Company being too far from Austin to be included, because they’ve been open since 1994 – 31 years! Maybe an extended passport next year? If you take a look at the hyperlink I just included, you’ll notice that their website is yourbrewery.com, a hilariously generic URL for this longstanding brewpub in downtown Fredericksburg, and something only a spot as old as they are can claim to have ownership of. You can take their beers for a walk down Main Street, or you can book one of their 12 B&B style rooms and call it a night. Great food menu, cheap flights, lots of flags that you don’t recognize lining the ceiling; it’s a perfect place to finish the long trip into town before calling it for the day.
Belly Up Brew Pub
Good morning! Our last brewery on the impossibly dense trip into the peach capital of Texas lands us at a relatively new spot, Belly Up Brew Pub. The best word to describe this place is “cute!” It’s small, but with a nice food menu, and homebrew-sized brewing equipment right behind the bar, generating some fresh Peach Wheat beer for the town to enjoy. While Witcher Brewing is the classic “large, spacious” brewpub, Belly Up fits the classic “downtown, restricted” brewpub vibe, with their successful location right in the heart of Fredericksburg.
And more!
Normally in these articles, I will mention other bars and taprooms with a great selection beyond breweries… but these last two articles have had so many breweries that there just wasn’t room. Plus, I haven’t been able to personally check out these extra places considering how far out from Austin they are. Here are some potential choices when you and the gang are ready to mix it up – though you should expect German-style beers while in FBG.
- The Auslander
- Altdorf Biergarten
- Hondo’s on Main
- Der Daiwel
- Six Shooters Cellars (Huge mead selection)
(Notable omission: Wildseed Farms claims mysteriously to produce their own beer – but it’s actually Rentsch. Not sure why they’re being sneaky about it. Still worth a visit though!)
Finally, some of you may have been aware of a secret third Bear King Brewing Co. tasting room inside Grand Central at Milam. I’m sorry to tell you that it closed a few weeks ago. I was able to visit though when it was open – it was a counter in the center of the shopping area, with six taps and a couple of cans. Nice to have if you’re already visiting Grand Central, but not a must see – and it’s survived by Iron Goat Distillery’s bar about 10 feet away. I imagine the beer bar will reopen with a more general selection in the near future, and overall this is a fun little shopping center to check out (with an enormous backyard and patio), so keep an eye out when you’re on your way back from Enchanted Rock.
