Green, but not sustainable
Outdoorsy Austin brewery known for foraged ingredients closing after 4 years
Beerburg Brewing founder Trevor Nearburg explained on Instagram that Beerburg's size and location were too ambitious, among other issues.
UPDATE: Beerburg Brewing has announced that its closing party will take place on January 20, with "discounts, games, prizes, etc." Check Instagram for more information.
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Surely all some Texans will want after this weekend of potential power outages is a relaxing beer. Sadly, they'll soon have one fewer place to grab one, as Beerburg Brewing prepares to hang up its hat. The brewery plans to close on its four-year anniversary, January 20.
The brewery announced its intent in an Instagram post on January 12. It was signed by Beerburg founder Trevor Nearburg.
The accompanying photo is a poignant shot of brewers walking away down a Hill Country trail, presumably shot during Beerburg's participation in the Beers Made by Walking Festival. In November of 2023, the Colorado-based festival made its Texas debut. Brewers took a local nature walk and learned about how to incorporate some of the ingredients they found into brews.
Nature was always part of Beerburg's identity. Nearburg mentions his love of nature in his biography on the website, and there are mission statements or resources all over the various pages explaining the company's goals in land stewardship. Beerburg's extensive beer selection included many foraged, local ingredients. Unfortunately, environmental sustainability did not equate to financial sustainability.
"There is not a single issue we can point to," Nearburg writes in the Instagram post, "but rather a confluence of social, cultural, and economic changes that, combined with our size and location, led to Beerburg becoming an unsustainable business."
Beerburg is located on the southwest edge of Austin on the famous Fitzhugh Road, leading drivers into the Hill Country. "Drivers" is the key word, since this location was almost certainly not getting foot traffic. It also was just half a mile down the road from Jester King Brewery, one of Austin's most established beer spots. (Jester King has an equal rating to Beerburg on Google Maps, but from nearly ten times the number of reviewers.)
In addition to Beerburg's vulnerable position — literally — it also continues a trend of closing breweries. However, it could just be that the beer industry is feeling the same pressures the rest of Austin hospitality is. News of closings is never far off in Austin.
"We are very grateful for all of the support we have received over the years and ask that you please come out on or before our last day to toast farewell and support our staff as we all move on to what’s next," says Nearburg's post.
It also teases a closing party and special tappings, but does not provide any hard details as of this article's publication.
