As residential development continues to encroach on the Texas Hill Country, one Austin brewer has taken a big step to preserve a piece of its natural beauty.
On May 10, Jester King co-owner Jeffrey Stuffings announced in a blog post that the lauded beer maker has purchased the remainder of the Ceres Park Ranch where the brewery is located. The 107 acres of land includes an onsite events center and Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza.
“We have a responsibility to preserve its natural beauty and keep it a green space for visitors to enjoy,” wrote Stuffings. “We also have a wonderful opportunity to create a system of land, agriculture, and people that's respectful of our surroundings and creates thoughtful, enjoyable experiences based on food, drink, fermentation, farming, and community.”
Stuffings promised that the land, now totaling 165 acres, would not be further developed except for agricultural projects. The team also does not plan to do much tinkering with the two businesses they acquired with the land.
According to Stuffings, the only immediate change at Stanley’s will be that the pizzeria will finally be able to sell the brewery’s award-winning farmhouse ales, but he did allude to some future tweaks. “Over time, it will be natural for Stanley's to slowly evolve to better fit our philosophy and approach,” he said. “We're excited about making the kitchen an extension of our land and farm, and achieving greater symmetry between their food and our beer.”
The barnlike Ceres Park Ranch Event Center will be open for bookings later in the year. Stuffings noted that the brewery often gets requests for weddings and special events but has been unable to accommodate them due to space.
As previously reported, Jester King is also developing a restaurant and vineyard on a neighboring plot of land purchased in 2016.
Stanley's Farmhouse Pizza will now offer Jester King beers.
