By Greg Morago
As owners of Round Top’s sole nanobrewery, the Michies brought the spirited craft beer culture to a town apparently thirsty for it.Since opening in October 2021, Round Top Brewing has blossomed into a true gathering place – a taproom, restaurant and live music venue in one cheery, welcoming enterprise.
Like other Round Top businesspeople, the Michies have multiple investments: they also own Lollitop Sweetshop and Brooke’s boutique beauty outpost, Lyric Salon, both in Henkel Square. But it is the brewery – the sudsy baby they nurtured – that represents their shared dreams and passions as skilled beer makers (OK, nerds), enthusiastic foodies, and dedicated hospitality professionals.
“We wanted to create joy – something in our lives that we can share and enjoy,” Brooke said.
While the taproom boasts a lineup of great entertainment(area musicians specializing in country, jazz and classic rock) and an inviting, from-scratch menu (everything from queso, chili dogs and deviled eggs to wagyu burgers, duck confit tacos and bratwurst with sauerkraut), it is the house brews that are the foamy heart of operations. Selections from the constantly changing and evolving brewing operations include craft beers such asJuicy Boots (a hazy IPA), Ghost Town brown (a traditional Texas brown ale),Palomino (a pre-Prohibition-style American pilsner), Hwy 237 (a light lager),and 6 Point Bock (a traditional German-style bock).
For the Michies, who had their first date in a brew pub while fine arts undergrads at the University of Texas at Austin, the brewery represents a full-circle journey. After different career paths in Austin(Brooke has more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry; Paul is a culinary and hospitality veteran who worked for 10 years with Alamo Drafthouse), the couple moved to Round Top in 2019 with the intentions of turning their interest in beer and home brewing into a full time brewery business.Doing all the work themselves, the Michies finally got Round Top Brewery open in October 2021 when the pandemic was still the great disruptor.
“It was an exercise in faith,” Brooke recalls.
And in history. The brewery restored a historical sense of order to Round Top.
“In any German town in the 1800s there was always going to be a blacksmith, a butcher, a dance and rifle hall, and a brewery,” Brooke said.
About a year after opening (they began by offering Texas craft beers), the brewery began pouring its own brews at the 12-tap bar. Their five-barrel brewing system now consistently turns out engaging, high-quality varieties that have caught the attention of area craft beer enthusiasts.Thinking ahead, the couple “invested every penny we had” in canning equipment that would expand the brewery’s reach and profile, Paul said.
“We’re at a pivotal point where we want to increase the quality of beer, ramp up production and capitalize on distribution,” Paul said.To that end, they’re hoping to get into select retail stores with their own packaged products that will boost visibility both for the family-friendly brewery and the town.
“We didn’t set out to become millionaires opening a nanobrewery,” Paul said. But their decision to trade a busy, hectic city life in Austin for the country charms of Round Top has paid off handsomely in other ways, he added.
Their two boys – Milo, 15, and 12-year-old Donovan – have taken to rural life and thrived in it. “Since we moved here our kids have become more creative,” Paul said. “They’ve flourished as individuals and creative spirits.”
Part of that flourishing has to do with the magical, folksy nature of Round Top, which Paul describes as part “The Truman Show,” part fairytale.
“Life is very different here,” he said, “There’s a real sense of community. It’s pretty cool.”
Spoken like a true people person.
By Greg Morago
As owners of Round Top’s sole nanobrewery, the Michies brought the spirited craft beer culture to a town apparently thirsty for it.Since opening in October 2021, Round Top Brewing has blossomed into a true gathering place – a taproom, restaurant and live music venue in one cheery, welcoming enterprise.
Like other Round Top businesspeople, the Michies have multiple investments: they also own Lollitop Sweetshop and Brooke’s boutique beauty outpost, Lyric Salon, both in Henkel Square. But it is the brewery – the sudsy baby they nurtured – that represents their shared dreams and passions as skilled beer makers (OK, nerds), enthusiastic foodies, and dedicated hospitality professionals.
“We wanted to create joy – something in our lives that we can share and enjoy,” Brooke said.
While the taproom boasts a lineup of great entertainment(area musicians specializing in country, jazz and classic rock) and an inviting, from-scratch menu (everything from queso, chili dogs and deviled eggs to wagyu burgers, duck confit tacos and bratwurst with sauerkraut), it is the house brews that are the foamy heart of operations. Selections from the constantly changing and evolving brewing operations include craft beers such asJuicy Boots (a hazy IPA), Ghost Town brown (a traditional Texas brown ale),Palomino (a pre-Prohibition-style American pilsner), Hwy 237 (a light lager),and 6 Point Bock (a traditional German-style bock).
For the Michies, who had their first date in a brew pub while fine arts undergrads at the University of Texas at Austin, the brewery represents a full-circle journey. After different career paths in Austin(Brooke has more than two decades of experience in the beauty industry; Paul is a culinary and hospitality veteran who worked for 10 years with Alamo Drafthouse), the couple moved to Round Top in 2019 with the intentions of turning their interest in beer and home brewing into a full time brewery business.Doing all the work themselves, the Michies finally got Round Top Brewery open in October 2021 when the pandemic was still the great disruptor.
“It was an exercise in faith,” Brooke recalls.
And in history. The brewery restored a historical sense of order to Round Top.
“In any German town in the 1800s there was always going to be a blacksmith, a butcher, a dance and rifle hall, and a brewery,” Brooke said.
About a year after opening (they began by offering Texas craft beers), the brewery began pouring its own brews at the 12-tap bar. Their five-barrel brewing system now consistently turns out engaging, high-quality varieties that have caught the attention of area craft beer enthusiasts.Thinking ahead, the couple “invested every penny we had” in canning equipment that would expand the brewery’s reach and profile, Paul said.
“We’re at a pivotal point where we want to increase the quality of beer, ramp up production and capitalize on distribution,” Paul said.To that end, they’re hoping to get into select retail stores with their own packaged products that will boost visibility both for the family-friendly brewery and the town.
“We didn’t set out to become millionaires opening a nanobrewery,” Paul said. But their decision to trade a busy, hectic city life in Austin for the country charms of Round Top has paid off handsomely in other ways, he added.
Their two boys – Milo, 15, and 12-year-old Donovan – have taken to rural life and thrived in it. “Since we moved here our kids have become more creative,” Paul said. “They’ve flourished as individuals and creative spirits.”
Part of that flourishing has to do with the magical, folksy nature of Round Top, which Paul describes as part “The Truman Show,” part fairytale.
“Life is very different here,” he said, “There’s a real sense of community. It’s pretty cool.”
Spoken like a true people person.
