In the summer of 2010, Brian Smittle opened Thirsty Planet’s first brewery at 11160 Circle Drive in Southwest Austin. The 10,000-square-foot production brewery introduced Central Texas to Yellow Armadillo, Buckethead IPA and Thirsty Goat Amber Ale—the beer that quickly became the brand’s signature.
Brian’s path to brewing started in England, where he developed a lasting appreciation for traditional beer and pub culture. After college, he moved to Vail, Colorado, where a conversation with a local brewer led to his first job in the brewhouse. He began at the ground level—sweeping floors, cleaning equipment and learning every part of the process. By 1991, he was brewing professionally and later helped operate brewpubs before coming to Austin to build a production brewery of his own.
His philosophy has always been straightforward: make flavorful beer people genuinely want to drink. Under Brian’s direction, Thirsty Planet became known for beers that are approachable, distinctive and consistently well made—especially Thirsty Goat, a smooth, full-bodied amber ale with rich caramel malt character and a balanced finish. It grew into a fixture on tap walls across Central Texas and helped define the identity of the brewery.
As demand increased, Thirsty Planet expanded into a larger South Congress facility, giving the team room to scale up production, packaging and support for other local beverage brands, all while staying focused on the beers that built its reputation.
Through every stage of that growth, Brian has remained a working brewer. He develops recipes, oversees production and protects beer quality as Thirsty Planet continues to evolve. His expertise comes from decades of hands-on brewing—refining recipes, solving real-world production challenges and ensuring every batch meets the standards set from day one.
Today, Thirsty Planet brews in a 20,000-square-foot facility in San Marcos, near the San Marcos Square, with full production and packaging capabilities and a tasting room where guests can enjoy Thirsty Goat and the broader Thirsty Planet lineup just steps from where it’s made. Brian still runs the brewhouse, carrying forward the same practical, quality-first brewing philosophy that shaped the company’s early years.
The setting has changed, but the commitment has not: Thirsty Planet remains a Central Texas craft brewery built on experience, consistency and beer people are proud to pour, sell and drink.
