Brewer Davy Pasternak decided he’d waited long enough to “tap” into the trendy world of craft beer making.
The University of Texas mechanical engineering grad, after years spent in research and development, decided it was time to dive headlong into a passion he’d had since he was an adolescent. So, come this Saturday, he and his wife Alex will officially open Roughhouse Brewing, a dream of his since the day he opened his first home brewing kit as a teenager.
Located at 680 Oakwood Loop, a beautiful two-story, 5000 square foot barn type structure, sits on five acres of his family’s 50-acre spread, located just off Ranch Road 12 west of San Marcos.
The new brewpub had a soft opening shortly before Christmas, producing four craft beers. But it’s not your typical craft product.
“We brew all farmhouse style beer,” Pasternak said. “It’s a rustic beer, old world style which typically has a very dry characteristic.”
He said all their focus is on yeast health and on the massive 900-gallon oak foudres, (oak tanks) guest can see from the second story loft.
“It’s perfect for the fermentation process,” he said of the storage containers.
He said farmhouse style beer was historically brewed for farmhands who work in the fields.
“It was often brewed in winter to keep farmers satiated in the summer while at work,” Pasternak said. “Our two beers most reflective of that technique are called Treeform and Rare Merit.”
Inside the rustic brewpub, the couple show off their brews (from left) Rare Merit, Treeform, Ona and Sordid Nature.
Rare Merit, considered a table beer, is a crisp low alcohol (3.3 percent ABV), an everyday ale made with raw wheat from Barton Springs Mill in Dripping Springs.
Treeform is an IPA, (6.0 ABV) that embraces its wild yeast character with a rustic mix of floral and spicy aromas.
“We use predominately Texas growers for our raw ingredients grains,” he said. “The wheat we’re using is an heirloom variety grain, good for brewing.”
He said it’s a relatively difficult beer to make.
“There’s a lot of thought and heart that go into it,” he said. “But we think it yields a better product.”
He said he considers beer to be a social beverage.
“I like that it’s a beverage people can enjoy together. Craft beer is an art form, an expression of what you think a beer could or should be. I’ll have a beer to enjoy — not to get drunk from it. That’s really what craft beer should be.”
Pasternak began his career in the brewing industry working part-time at Jester King, not as a brewer, but utilizing his engineering skills. After a 9-month stint, he went to Blue Owl Brewing in Austin where he worked for three years and eventually became head brewer.
He said his engineering background came in handy when dealing with pumps, heat exchangers and fluid flows; and on the fermentation side, dealing a lot with chemistry and biology.
“People are opinionated about craft beer. When they say they like your beer, or it’s the best they’ve tasted…it’s awesome,” he said. “It’s like they are seeing what you were going for.”
Patrons who get hungry while visiting can order from the menu of Steve DeLeon, owner of S Baker Kitchen. The menu contains a variety of options from sumptuous silky smooth queso, to slow smoked pulled pork sandwiches.
Alex Pasternak said it’s “exciting.”
“Roughhouse represents the playful and loving familial aspect of our lives coupled with the old, rustic qualities of our home and our history,” she said. “We hope customers find it enjoyable, too.”
The rough-hewn appearance of the brewpub fits to a “T” with the Pasternaks’ decision to brew “farmhouse style” beer.
On Tap:
- Rare Merit: Table beer – 3.3 percent ABV with notes of lemon imparted by the yeast character, this beer is light in color and body.
- Treeform: Farmhouse IPA – 6.0 percent ABV. IPA embraces its wild yeast character with a rustic mix of floral and spicy aromas complemented by a dry, grassy, and lightly hoppy flavor.
- Ona: Farmhouse Amber – 6.3 percent ABV. Meaning “she” in Polish, Ona is named after Great Grandma Mary Pasternak, a hardworking immigrant from Poland who raised nine ornery children. Has a malty, caramel body, the beer is completely dry with hints of cherry – a nod to those that Mary used to grow in her garden.
- Sordid Nature Dark Saison – 8.2 percent ABV. This dark saison was brewed with all English malts to provide a rich body with subtle roast aroma and a warm finish.
