Real Ale Brewing Company - Axis

Axis IPA is named after the axis deer of South Asia, evoking an offering more exotic than the commonplace IPAs on the market. We get a clear golden-orange hue on the pour, with a dense white head that lingers and drops streaks of lacing as it recedes. The aroma leaps forward with pungent notes of grapefruit zest, resinous pine, white grape juice, and ripe tropical fruits conjuring mango and papaya, balanced by subtle hints of malt sweetness and a touch of floral spice. On the palate, Axis delivers a clean yet assertive bitterness that builds steadily, layered with flavors of candied citrus peel, pine, and passionfruit, supported by a dry, cracker-like malt backbone that provides structure without overwhelming the hops. Medium-bodied with crisp carbonation, the finish lingers with some brisk bitterness, inviting another sip. For pairing options, the brewery recommends roasted pork carnitas, spicy braised tofu, or fried cheese curds, to which we’d add buffalo wings, Thai green curry, or spicy fish tacos. A snack of sharp cheddar or aged gouda should complement this IPA nicely, as well. Cheers!

Real Ale Brewing Company was founded in 1996 by Phillip and Diane Conner in the basement of an antiques store in downtown Blanco – a small town in Texas’s Hill Country to the north of San Antonio and west of Austin. Their initial beers consisted of a brown ale and a pale rye ale, both of which were hand-bottled in 22-oz bombers. The next year, Brad Farbstein, who had been homebrewing for years at that point, discovered the brewery and began trekking out from Austin on the weekends to help with the operation. In 1998, Phillip decided to leave the business, so Brad and his wife Gabriel Gregerman threw their savings into buying the fledgling operation, fulfilling the dream of owning a brewery. It was a struggle at first, and Brad didn’t take a paycheck for the first five years, but slowly the business began to pick up steam.

After 11 years of brewing in their cramped basement brewery and reaching 5500 barrels of annual production – a crazy amount for such a space, and a big jump from the 300 produced in 1998 – the team constructed a new brewery just outside the city limits, which they moved into in 2007. Over the years, production has increased dramatically, and they’ve expanded with a tap room and beer garden to host thirsty locals and visitors alike. Having been at the forefront of the brewing revolution in Texas, they’ve grown to become one of the state’s craft beer icons. Real Ale won its first gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2010, the first of many GABF medals to come. They’ve collaborated with such notable breweries as Three Floyds and Surly, and expanded into whiskey and gin distilling with the launch of Real Spirits in 2017.

The name “Real Ale” is a British term for traditionally made cask- and bottle-conditioned ales that are naturally carbonated in the vessel from which they are served, and to this day the brewery embraces this ethos by producing only unfiltered and unpasteurized beers, with no preservatives. Additionally, they distribute solely in the state of Texas with no plans to expand. According to Brad, “We focus on making the best beer and not the most beer.” To learn more about the brewery, their Tap Room, tours, and upcoming events, visit them at realalebrewing.com.