Circle Brewing Co. - Austin Beer Guide

BREWER’S BRAIN
From the Mind of
Brian ‘Swifty’ Peters . . .
AS I SIT IN FRONT OF THE KEYBOARD
contemplating the subject for this edition of
Brewer’s Brain, I laugh to myself because
this brewer’s brain is older and wiser, but
definitely not as responsive as it was in
its prime. And then I realize that time is
the one thing we all have in common (and
our love for good beer). With each passing
second, we have more history and less time
on earth. This is not a Woody Allen inspired
“fear of death” monologue but rather the
realization that the craft beer renaissance
in Texas is a generation old.
It really sunk in recently when I looked
at the old Waterloo Brewing Company
equipment and determined it was made
about 20 years ago. Weird but it just doesn’t
seem that long ago when we were all
enjoying the wonderful creations of Steve
Anderson, the first brew pub brewer in the
state of Texas.
Back in 1992, the Dog & Duck was
the epicenter of my beer drinking world.
Chip McElroy (Live Oak) and I met there at
a Zealots homebrew meeting. We quaffed
many pints with Billy Forrester and Steve,
discussing the start-up plans for both
Waterloo Brewing and Live Oak. Since that
time, we helped birth the Austin craft brew
scene, nurture it through its “terrible twos”
and console it with each dying brewery.
During that time, Steve has been the
cornerstone of the Austin brew scene.
The list of Steve’s distinctions is
as impressive as any brewer I know. As
mentioned earlier, he is the state’s first
brew pub brewer. His brewing skills were
rewarded with multiple GABF medals
during his Waterloo Brewing tenure. He
commercially brewed the first of many
styles in the state, including the great Guy
Town IPA and the legendary One Ton Stout.
He has the distinction of being the longest
continuous craft brewer in the state. This
is not to be taken lightly. This industry is
both volatile and physically grueling. Having
the skills and stamina to survive that long
is astonishing. But as he has always said,
in his self-deprecating way, “It’s the only
thing I know how to do. What else would I
be doing?”
I had mixed emotions when Steve
told me about his new venture, Big Bend
Brewery. (He will be the head brewer for
this start-up production brewery in Alpine,
Texas.) I don’t want him to leave but he has
always dreamt of living out west and this
is a golden opportunity. He was like a kid
talking about Christmas as he described
the new brewing equipment he will pilot.
The sparkle in his eye was there. It was
exciting, like 1992 all over again.
With that, I would like everyone to
raise their pint glass and toast the legend
Steve Anderson. To Steve I say, “Thank you
for being my friend for twenty years. I know
this is what you want. Crush it out in Alpine.
Visit often. You will be missed.”
Swifty is brewmaster at Uncle Billy’s (Lake Travis)
and sits on the Board of Directors for the Texas Craft
Brewers Guild.