Roughhouse Brewing hosts family-friendly Trail of Lights

The air at Roughhouse Brewery feels crisp and smells of woodsmoke. Located on the outskirts of San Marcos, Roughhouse has the feeling of being in the country, where the stars at night seem brighter and the space around it is free from the downtown hustle.

It’s an ideal place for relaxing, listening to live music and having a beer. This year, it’s also home to the Roughhouse Trail of Lights where the kids can run and play.

“It’s kid-friendly,” said Naz Pasternak, marketing director for Roughhouse Brewing. “A lot of breweries overlook that. But when we were thinking about our plan for Roughhouse, I thought, ‘I want some place where my kids can have fun, be safe, and stay occupied. For us, it’s all about our family.”

The Trail of Lights is an easy-to-walk loop with creative brewery-inspired light displays, including a toy train, a giant reindeer feeder and a keg tree.

Back in January 2019, when Roughhouse Brewing opened its doors, the Pasternak family began with a drive to do meaningful work that brought them closer to their land, their community and their family. The brewery is located on the family’s 50-acre ranch in San Marcos, minutes up the road on Ranch Road 12 toward Wimberley. The Pasternak siblings — Davey, Alex and Andy — say that “Roughhouse represents the playful and loving familial aspect of our lives coupled with the old, rustic qualities of home and our history.”

That mission statement guides every aspect of their development as they move forward, not only in the creation of their ales, lagers and beers, but also in the way they manage their property.

“We want to be good stewards of the land and respect our environment,” Naz said. “The property participates in a wildlife management program, providing deer and turkey feeders, beehives, and bird and owl houses.”

Roughhouse partners with Texas State Universi ty in its land management, and with local businesses and farmers for its beer and menu.

“We have a full kitchen with pretzels, nachos, salads,” Naz said. “We get most of our food from 3-6 General. They’re wonderful. We get our pretzels, bread and cookies from Sour Duck in Austin.”

In fact, the yeast the Pasternak first cultured for their beer was harvested from the land itself. They use vegetables and herbs grown on property, and they employ Texas State agricultural students who participate in the process of developing their beers. “We have some really cool staff,” Naz said.

With dedication to family and community guiding their growth, the Pasternaks sought to provide a dog and family-friendly holiday experience that is a little closer to home than Austin or San Antonio.

”We have ornament kits and a soccer field where kids can play,” Pasternak said. “And it’s a really romantic spot, too.”

The open-air oak grove adjacent to the brewery’s main building, stone firepit and Lantana Stage are perfect for evening outdoor gatherings. The Roughhouse Trail of Lights will be open from 5 to 7 p.m. for the next two weekends between now and Jan. 2, 2022.