Microbrewery is on tap for Marble Falls Business and Technology Park
MARBLE FALLS — An Irving-based company plans to open a beer microbrewery in the Business and Technology Park, possibly bringing distribution jobs and attracting tourism.
Owners of Save the World Brewing Co. expect to break ground within the next several months on a 10,000-square-foot building on property they purchased from the Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation for about $28,000. The facility will be located in the Marble Falls Business and Technology Park.
The husband-and-wife team of David and Quynh Rathkamp, both medical doctors, signed the contract with EDC leaders Jan. 4 for the purchase of the land near the entryway of the park, which is located on the north edge of town off U.S. 281.
PHOTO 1: The husband-and-wife team of David and Quynh Rathkamp (left) sign a contract Jan. 4 for a lot in the Marble Falls Business and Technology Park as Economic Development Corporation President John Packer watches. The couple expects to break ground on a 10,000-square-foot microbrewery in the next several months. Staff photos by Connie Swinney
PHOTO 2: Marble Falls Economic Development Corporation’s Jane Marie Hurst (left) receives a sample of a microbrewed beer Jan. 4 from Save the World Brewing Co. owners David and Quynh Rathkamp. The couple expects to launch their microbrewery and distribution operation in Marble Falls sometime in the fall.
“We hope to have a positive impact. Our aim is to save the world,” Quynh Rathkamp said. “We’re giving all our proceeds away to charity, short of covering our operating expenses.”
Possible charities include Food for the Hungry, Compassion International or other agencies which address childhood poverty, the owners said.
The couple will hire a brew master and possibly open sometime in the fall.
“We hope to bring some jobs to the community, some fun well-paying jobs,” David Rathkamp said. “We thought this would be a great place to live one day, so we thought sooner than later.”
Real Ale, based in Blanco, is the closet microbrewery to the area that also distributes products.
“Ultimately, besides brewing staff, we’ll definitely need delivery individuals, sales, marketing (and) all the regular staff you normally see with companies. But we will definitely need muscle for the heavy labor component,” Quynh Rathkamp said. “Bottling is a big part of it. We’ll have a bottling line; a smaller set-up at first, then, hopefully, as we expand, we’ll be able to afford a larger bottling line and go from there.”
The company will specialize in Belgian-style ale but also will offer some creative concoctions like a “double milk chocolate stout with mint,” considered best with dessert.
“(A microbrewery) produces better beers than the macro guys,” David Rathkamp said.
“It’s more innovative, too,” Quynh Rathkamp said. “It’s a lot more originality, a willingness to try new things, and there’s the quality.”
The brand’s label will read “Brewed in Marble Falls, Texas.”
“Good jobs, and, one of the biggest things, it’s another little piece in the marketing of Marble Falls,” EDC President John Packer said. “It’s a positive advertising for our city.”
connie@thepicayune.com