New Brews {Hi-Sign Brewing}
Words byHannah J. Phillips & Sam LauronPhotos byShelby Bella
Mark Philippe’s mission at Hi-Sign Brewing is simple: “Make great beer and sell great beer.”
Since opening near Austin Bergstrom Airport in 2017, the mission hasn’t changed, though Mark tweaks the formula from time to time. “Our approach is not to be satisfied with where things are. We’re always striving to make high quality beer, source the best possible ingredients, and develop the best recipes we can. It’s absolutely a passion play.”
Mark traces that passion to the banks of the Blackfoot River, where his family has had a cabin on Hi-Sign Road in Lincoln, Montana. He remembers flying into Missoula and stopping at Kettlehouse Brewery to fill growlers for a week on the river. Those expeditions were his first foray into craft beer, later fostering both the name and the ambiance for his East Austin brewery.
The idea really took root in 2007, after Mark met “two guys that started a couple of vodka companies” – Tito’s Handmade Vodka and Clayton Christopher, the man behind Sweet Leaf Tea and Deep Eddy Vodka.
“They seemed to personify this entrepreneurial spirit,” he recalls, “and the people who worked with them embodied this idea that you can make a living doing what you love.”
Meanwhile, serving in the Marines, Mark immersed himself in the science and trade of craft beer. Stationed in California, he took weekend brewing classes, completed a Boots to Business course for military veterans, and studied at Portland State University’s Business of Craft Brewing program. From there, he drafted a business plan and started looking at spaces in East Austin. Juggling the tasks of raising money, finding a brewer, securing a bank loan, he finally signed the lease in 2015.
East Austin was always part of Mark’s plan for Hi-Sign, and always will be. “I love the community, and it’s what I consider home – I wouldn’t entertain anything else. We’ve had offers from developers to relocate north or south, but I don’t have any desire to change who we are just to go chasing dollar signs.” That said, Mark did hint at a possible relocation within East Austin.
Nonetheless, the beer keeps customers coming back, with a menu named after people you might find in Mark’s favorite Wes Anderson films, like “Violet, the Blueberry Blonde.” By far their best-seller, the approachable blonde was a happy accident after a storm allowed his brewers to experiment with a small batch.
“We had two batches of beer and weren’t sure if the second would be consistent enough to sell, so we set it aside and played around with some blueberries just for fun.” The beer quickly became one of their signature drinks. The anecdote proves Hi-Sign’s dedication to consistency and quality, which Mark attributes to his team.
Tasting Notes
Where better to sample a flight than a venue with flights landing directly overhead? Go for a full color spectrum with Violet the Blueberry Blonde, Hi-C IPA, Mellow Johnny shop lager, and a Belgian Dubbel (barrel-aged in Garrison Brothers whiskey barrels).
No Signs to Hi-Sign
TxDot restricts additional signage for the turn to Bastrop Highway, but the brewery’s website includes specific instructions to navigate without needing to loop around. (Just don’t miss that crucial turn right after P.Terry’s on 71.)
Highlights
Watch the fireflies flicker at twilight in the gorgeous outdoor space, and pair a flight with food from Lunar Pizza and Regal Ravioli or ice cream from Lick. Formerly a South First favorite, the food truck moved to Hi-Sign earlier this year.
Contact
hisignbrewing.com
1201 Bastrop Hwy.
