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It may be remote out here in West Texas , but it ' s far from barren . And the following brewers , roasters , and farmers are proving it . This is an arts publication , and we believe these men and women are practicing an art form of the highest level by creating some of the best food and drink in the Big Bend Region .
1 / BIG BEND BREWING CO .
West Texans have always been known for doing things our own way , and the beer from out here is no exception .
In 2012 , Brewmaster Steve Anderson and a small team founded Big Bend Brewing Co . with a vision to develop beers inspired by the people , climate and spirit of West Texas . Steve , considered a founding father of Texas Craft beer , was soon joined by Germantrained Brewmaster Henryk Orlik . They are supported by a dynamic collection of crafts-men and -women who take extraordinary care in making sure no detail is missed , pouring decades of knowledge , skill and the West Texas way of life into each and every can .
Big Bend Brewing Co . has etched five year-round flavors from the Trans Pecos landscape . Tejas Lager , Terlingua Gold , Big Bend Hefeweizen , La Frontera IPA and # 22 Porter are not just fun names , they tell the stories of this region . These beers are true to classic styles while highlighting individual characteristics that make Big Bend Brewing ’ s offerings unique , like the people who sparked their creation .
When visiting West Texas , be sure to pack your sense of adventure . Stop by the brewery , taste a little liquid Texas , and say hello to Anderson and crew . The brewery hosts tours year-round , Wednesday through Saturday , and an
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Open House on the first Saturday of each month . Visit bigbendbrewing . com for tour times , special events , and a list of area retailers and holes-in-the-wall where you can find the beer from out here . 2 / MESA VINEYARDS
Mesa Vineyards is located 30 miles east of Fort Stockton in the Escondido Valley , which has a surprisingly ideal grape-growing climate . The vineyard ' s founders planted their first vines in 1981 . Today they have over 500 acres and are the largest vineyard in Texas .
Their success is partly due to the temperate climate . The bright West Texas sun nourishes the vines by day , and the gentle drop in temperature at night enables the grapes to mature at a slower-than-normal rate and produces a greater variety of flavors to achieve an exquisite balance .
The vineyard also benefits from the mineral-rich topsoil and excellent drainage . These natural features allow the wine makers to precisely measure the water intake of individual vines , which increases the quality and abundance of grapes they produce .
Visit Mesa Vineyards ' tasting room at The Grey Mule Saloon in Fort Stockton . The historic saloon at 101 E . Callaghan is open Wednesday - Saturday from 1:30 pm to 7 pm . For information and appointments , call ( 432 ) 336-9463 or visit SteGenWines . com .
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3 / BIG BEND COFFEE Joe Williams , founder of Big Bend Coffee Roasters , likes his coffee smooth . " I don ' t want my espressos bitter ," he says . That ' s why the company manually roasts their beans to have low acidity for a smooth , flavorful cup .
Big Bend Coffee Roasters ' advertising is almost exclusively word-of-mouth between satisfied customers . If you ' re a coffee drinker , it ' s impossible to live in the Big Bend area and not have a cup brewed with beans from BBCR . Their 100 % organic and fair-trade coffee can be found at almost any retailer in the region .
It didn ' t take long for their beans to impress more than just locals . " Marfa is the best exposure ," explained Williams . Visitors from all over the country filter through Marfa and the surrounding area every year , taste the coffee , and want to take it back with them .
Even though Big Bend Coffee Roasters ships beans around the country , they are heavily involved in their own community through their give-back programs . The staff selects different types of coffee and donates a percentage of its sales to a variety of community organizations .
Big Bend Coffee Roasters is bound to impress you with their exceptional coffee . Arrange for a tour of their Marfa roasting facility , or visit bigbendcoffee . com for shipping and wholesale information .
4 / DAVIS MOUNTAINS NUT COMPANY
Gus and David Billing started the Davis Mountains Nut Company in their home kitchen over 18 years ago . Today , they ' re still hand-making what they claim to be the best-tasting pecans in the world ( they ' ll send you samples to prove it ).
The Billing ' s pecans are unique . Marinating the pecans in different syrups before any roasting occurs creates a delicious flavor you won ' t find anywhere else . After roasting , the brothers lightly coat small batches of pecans with their
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signature toppings . This process of moderation prevents the nuts from being drowned in excessive flavoring and preserves the taste and texture of the original nut .
Cinnamon , Chocolate , Key-Lime , and their original Vanilla-Almond are just some of the addicting varieties . Visit their website at allpecans . com or enjoy free samples at their retail store in Fort Davis , open Monday - Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm .
5 / MARFA MAID DAIRY
Several years ago Malinda Beeman and Allan McClane started the Marfa Maid Dairy and began producing delicious goat cheese . All the milk comes from goats they raise themselves to make aged and semi-soft cheeses .
Cheese-making classes are available at the dairy . In a day-long class , you could learn to make several types of cheese from different kinds of milk . After your hard work , there ' s a cheese tasting .
Marfa Maid Dairy offers a one-hour tour on Tuesdays or Saturdays at 2 p . m . Visitors have an opportunity to sample fresh goat cheese , meet the dairy goats and do a little milking . Go to bookeo . com / marfamaid for reservations .
For information or a schedule of upcoming classes , email marfamaid . dairy @ gmail . com , visit marfamaid . com , or call ( 432 ) 729-3987 .
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