Uncle Billy’s Brewery is introducing a line of distilled spirits, celebrating it’s 12th anniversary with a series of events, and is launching a crowdfunding campaign to further expand.
UNCLE BILLY’S BREWERY & SMOKEHOUSE is Now Austin’s First “Brewstillery”
AUSTIN, Texas (April 25, 2018) – Uncle Billy’s Brewery & Smokehouse, one of Austin’s oldest craft brewpubs, is launching a new line of distilled spirits. Known for its award-winning craft beers served with slow-smoked Texas barbecue in a relaxed setting on Barton Springs Road, Uncle Billy’s is transforming from brewery to Austin’s first “Brewstillery” with the introduction of Uncle Billy’s Spirits. It is launching a new menu of craft cocktails made with its spirits along with a full week of events to celebrate its 12th anniversary.
“It’s been a great year with some huge changes leading up to our 12-year anniversary,” says Bob Leggett, managing partner of Uncle Billy’s. “We’ve expanded from a small-batch brewpub into a production brewery last June, hired a new head brewer, Stephen Wagner, in November, acquired Pedernales Brewing Co. in February, and now we are releasing Uncle Billy’s Spirits. We are thrilled to make these big advances, and have even more growth planned soon. To help us take on some of these new projects, we’re also launching a crowd investment campaign with MicroVentures, an Austin-based firm.”
Introducing Uncle Billy’s Spirits
For the past 12 years, creativity has been a hallmark of the Uncle Billy’s brewing process. That creativity fostered a natural growth from brewing into distilling and the release of Uncle Billy’s Spirits. Because the Barton Springs Road location is not zoned for full-scale distilling on-site, Uncle Billy’s is sourcing high-quality bulk neutral grain spirits that are distilled elsewhere to produce its line of spirits. The unique flavor profiles during the final process of producing Uncle Billy’s Spirits is achieved by artfully blending, aging, and packaging craft spirits to create a delicious product.
The first two products in the Uncle Billy’s Spirits line are Uncle Billy’s Bourbon Whiskey and Uncle Billy’s Barton Springs Vodka. To make its whiskey, Uncle Billy’s sources the highest quality Bourbon Whiskey from Indiana. It is made with a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley that is aged 18 months in first use charred American Oak and finished at 96 Proof. Uncle Billy’s Barton Springs Vodka is made with locally-sourced, full-proof vodka made from 100% corn. The base vodka is carbon-filtered and artfully finished on site at Uncle Billy’s. Both spirits are proofed using the same pure water sourced from the Edwards Aquifer that is used to brew Uncle Billy’s beer.
Uncle Billy’s will soon take full advantage of its brewing facilities to create its own grain bill and whiskey mash that will then be distilled by a local distillery. The raw distillate will be barreled and aged on-site at Uncle Billy’s. It will also soon expand its spirits line and is in the process of developing its own proprietary gin recipe using local Texas botanicals.
In addition to the expertise of head brewer, Stephen Wagner, Uncle Billy’s has employed the talent of other spirits and cocktail experts to launch its new line of spirits and its craft cocktail program. Mark Shilling, the founder of Revolution Spirits and a distillery start-up operations expert, is leading the sourcing of spirits, packaging, and distilling equipment purchases, and overseeing both the blending and bottling of spirits. Cocktail professional, Josh Mabrey, is tapping his high-end bartending experience at No Va and kegged cocktail experience at Road Soda to develop a new menu of craft cocktails on tap at Uncle Billy’s. He creates large batches of complex cocktails that can be served quickly with great consistency. His inspiration derives from classic cocktails and incorporates creativity by introducing a local flair.
“It’s killer to have cocktails on the menu at Uncle Billy’s,” says beverage manager Josh Mabrey. “Our bartenders are serving our own Bourbon Whiskey and Vodka in handmade cocktails, and we currently have a menu of 10 craft cocktails on tap. We’ve created kegged craft cocktails that are blended and finished with fresh house-made ingredients like ginger beer for our Szechwan Whiskey Ginger, and blueberry, mint-infused simple syrup for our Blues on the Green Mint Julep. We’re having fun making great tasting cocktails with infusions like vodka-infused with fresh cucumbers for Leslie’s Cucumber Sipper, and cinnamon-infused bourbon for the Barking Springs Old-Fashioned.”
Crowdfunding with MicroVentures
To help fund the on-going development and roll out the new Uncle Billy’s Spirits, the craft cocktail program, and the soon-to-be-introduced packaged Uncle Billy’s BBQ products, Uncle Billy’s is launching a crowdfunding campaign with MicroVentures which also leverages the successful Indiegogo platform. Uncle Billy’s intends to raise $1,000,000 using the crowdfunding investment platform to expand its operations and begin distributing the distilled spirits and craft cocktails, just as it distributes its beer. The funds will also help it expand into food distribution to retail outlets throughout Texas with products like Uncle Billy’s homemade barbecue sauces, rubs, beef jerky, ribs, sausage, and root beer.
This crowdfunding campaign gives investors the opportunity to invest in Uncle Billy’s success with a revenue sharing agreement which gives investors 10% of the company’s gross revenue, up to the repayment amount of 1.5x of their investment. Investors will also receive perks as a “thank you” gift from Uncle Billy’s for investments starting at $250 with levels going up to $50,000. Additional information is available at: https://unclebillys.com/invest/.
Uncle Billy’s 12th Anniversary Festivities
The launch of Uncle Billy’s Spirits and the MicroVentures crowdfunding campaign coincide with Uncle Billy’s 12th Anniversary. To celebrate, Uncle Billy’s is hosting a full week of events featuring the new Uncle Billy’s spirits, specialty hand-crafted cocktails, beverages, food, music, and games from Monday, April 23 through Sunday, April 29, 2018. The line-up of the 12th Year Anniversary Edition festivities includes:
Monday, April 23: Trivia Night from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. with prizes for the winners
Tuesday, April 24: Pint Night with $4 beers all day long
Wednesday, April 25: Mug Club Wednesday
Thursday, April 26: Honky Tonk Happy Hour featuring music by Weldon Henson
Friday, April 27: Friday Firkin featuring specialty casks of beer paired with food specials
Saturday, April 28: The MicroVentures/Indiegogo Crowdfunding Investment Launch Event, an all-day party featuring a crawfish boil, specials on cocktails, live music by Jamie Thomas Band from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m., and a raffle with prizes
Sunday, April 29: Sunday Funday with Graham Wilkinson & Friends with live music from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m. followed by music from DJ Cam Rodgers from 3:30 to 8:00 p.m. Party on the patio all day y’all!
About Uncle Billy’s Brewery & Smokehouse:
Founded in 2006, Uncle Billy’s Brewery & Smokehouse is located in the heart of Austin’s funkiest restaurant row on Barton Spring’s Road and is inspired by William “Uncle Billy” Barton, whose 1830’s tract included the renowned springs. Uncle Billy’s offers the perfect combination of award-winning, craft beers, distilled spirits, hand-crafted cocktails, and delicious, slow-smoked Texas barbecue. Learn more at: http://www.unclebillys.com/ and connect with Uncle Billy’s Brewery on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
