image credits: Facebook/HellorHighWaterBrewing used with permission
About 20 minutes west of Georgetown is a brewery that welcomes both families and the bar crowd seven days a week.
Running a brewery didn’t exactly start as a calling for Brian Holmes. “I started brewing as I wasn’t 21 and it was an easy way to get beer,” he says with a laugh while recalling his time making beer in college. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he and accomplished fellow home brewer David Meyer joined forces on a brewery business plan. Their plan, however, didn’t get off the ground for a long time thanks to rejections by banks wary of loaning money to a couple of guys with no money or professional brewing experience.
For 22 years he saved money to combine with investors to open a brewery—a decision that paid off during COVID. “Many breweries are heavily leveraged, and during the pandemic they sadly didn’t survive. We didn’t have that issue; there’s no bank with a gun to our heads,” Brian says.
WHATEVER IT TAKES
Drawn to Liberty Hill by data from the Brewers Association indicating similar communities had been growth markets for craft, the Holmes family brought investors to check out Hell or High Water Brewery’s new home in 2018. What they found was a town in its early rebirth. “When we were building the brewery, there was hardly a car passing by,” son Harrison says.
“This might not be a good idea,” Brian thought. “But as soon as we opened, it was game on.”
With a vibe that is less Sixth Street and more Fredericksburg, Hell or High Water features live music on Fridays and Saturdays as well as local sports on TVs, which makes for a community gathering place for high school sports. Traditional beers flow as do guest taps from other area breweries, wineries, and distilleries so “there’s a little bit of something for everyone.” That includes pub fare like fish-n-chips, wings, burgers, fries, salads, and seafood, as well as signature pulled pork nachos and southwest style chicken Alfredo.
BUILDING ON SUCCESS
Although the partners were originally just looking for an easy way to get beer, the brewery has become much more. Brian says he now genuinely enjoys the process—after adapting his five-gallon production at his home in Leander to 310 gallons at the brewery. And they’ve gotten pretty good at it, if the four-and-a-half star reviews online are any indication. “It’s a bit of an ego trip when someone says, ‘This is one of the best beers I’ve ever tasted,’ ” he says.
For their part, Hell or High Water’s customers enjoy the friendly service, down-to-earth atmosphere, and great beer and food, all of which drew Mike Larson during his search for a cool little brewpub near his home in Georgetown. One meal in particular won him over. “I traveled the world and tasted the wings everywhere and searched for the best wings,” he says. “This place has the best.” That and the chicken Alfredo he enjoyed on a recent Tuesday night.
A few barstools down, Cedar Park fire sergeant Jeremy House echoed Mike’s enthusiasm for the dish. After teaching a class at the Liberty Hill Fire Department and being urged to check out the brewery, he visited Hell or High Water a couple times before trying the dish that’s kept him coming back ever since. “That chicken Alfredo sold me,” he says, adding that the staff are friendly and helpful in explaining the beers to those unfamiliar with the beverages.
KEEPING IT LOCAL
Overall, the brewery team is glad they’ve been able to create a food and beer destination that keeps central Texans from having to travel far for a brewpub experience. “We don’t want people to drive downtown to Austin to get a craft beer or a decent glass of wine with their meal,” Brian says. He remembers when former Mayor Rick Hall told them when Hell or High Water opened its doors, “Everyone is so happy they don’t have to drive far to get a meal with a craft beer, craft cocktail, or wine.”
“The community was ready, and we were too,” Brian says.
Visit their website to see what’s on the menu or visit them at 931 TX-332 Loop in Liberty Hill.