Beer Tasting at Altstadt Brewery in Fredericksburg, Texas

Fredericksburg is a wonderful little Texas town north of San Antonio that is in the heart of the Hill Country wine region. But despite the many wineries that are nearby (and worth visiting), this town has German origins and which means that it has beer in its blood. If you happen to be venturing through the shops on the main strip, then Fredericksburg Brewing Company or the Altdorf Biergarten are certainly worth stopping in for a beer and a bite. But just outside of town is the Altstadt Brewery, and beer lovers will certainly want to visit that place while in the area.

This brewery started in 2018, producing beer that was just for retail sale, but later opened its German castle-inspired location off of 290 which includes a full restaurant. The beers they produce follow the German Purity Law of 1516 and they put nothing but hops, barley, yeast, and water into their core brews. They even mimic the mineral composition of the artesian spring water of Germany to get their product as close to that of the old country as possible. I have visited Altstadt Brewery on multiple occasions, and following is a rundown of the beers I sampled on my most recent visit:

German Style India Pale Ale: This IPA has some notes of fruit but not to the point that it is too fruity. It also does not go overboard on the hops like some IPAs do. It has some bitterness, but it is still quite smooth and goes down rather well. It is balanced enough that an IPA drinker should enjoy it, but it is still approachable to those less enamored with this style. The alcohol content is 5% which is on the low side for an IPA.

Hallowed Ground Imperial Helles: This seasonal ale is very rich with some bitterness with maybe some hints of cherry. Agave nectar is added to the brew which brings some sweetness and it has a notable taste of grapefruit in the background. It is definitely a strong beer at 7.8% alcohol content, but it goes down quite smooth.

Rye Maintenance Pale Ale: This seasonal ale is smooth and rather rich with a nice touch of sweetness. It is not too bitter or too heavy on the hops and there is just a hint of spice in there as well. It comes in at 5.9% on the alcohol content which is about standard for a pale ale and it delivers a full-bodied beer.

Maibock: This is another seasonal and it is honey forward with some bitterness in there as well. It is a strong brew and rather rich, but not overpowering. It delivers some maltiness as well and this is a crisp brew that goes down quite well. It comes in at 7.5% alcohol which makes it another of their stronger beers.  I would say either this or the Helles was my favorite this time around.

Pilsner: This is lite, crisp, and refreshing, just like a pilsner should be. It has a little bitterness and a touch of sweet, but there is plenty of flavor coming from this brew. Those who are more familiar with the watered-down American-style versions of this beer should give this a try to understand what a pilsner should taste like. Its alcohol content is 5.1% which I believe is a little bit high for this style.

Of course, with all these beers, you will likely want to pair them up with some food, and Altstadt has you covered there. If you are just looking for something to snack on, the pretzel or the sausage on a stick or the peach bruschetta (Fredericksburg is peach country) are definitely good options. They also make a great Reuben sandwich and their sausage plate is certainly worth a try. On my most recent visit, I got the Classic Chicken Schnitzel and that was every bit as good as you would expect from a German eatery.

So whether you are just going by to sample some beers or if you want a full meal, Altstadt is definitely a good stopping point in the Fredericksburg area. Plan your trip accordingly, though, because they are not open on Monday or Tuesday. But if you happen to be in the area on Saturday or Sunday, they are open for brunch. And starting off the day with beer and brunch sounds like a darn good idea to me!

Altstadt Brewery is located at 6120 East US-290 in Fredericksburg, TX and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.