On a stretch of Hill Country land just off Ranch Road 12, guests settle in at picnic tables under a canopy of oaks, their dogs curled at their feet, their kids playing in the open space as live music becomes part of the afternoon soundtrack. The setting is comfortable, unhurried, and feels lived-in.
At Ghost Note Brewing, that sense of ease is intentional. Five years ago, owners Kenny and Thelma Coleman set out to create a place that felt casual, welcoming, and familiar. It helps that they live on the property themselves, shaping the brewery around the rhythms of daily life.
Combining home and business, Kenny and Thelma are quick to laugh about the unique arrangement. “It’s a short commute,” they admit. “We just put our shoes on and walk out here.”
For much of their lives, the Colemans lived in suburban neighborhoods, but they knew they wanted something different. Years of visiting Kenny’s mother in Wimberley drew them to the Hill Country, where they eventually took over a former wedding venue and transformed it into what is now Ghost Note Brewing.
The house on the property has stood since the 1970s and carries decades of Hill Country stories. Guests share memories of their grandparents living in the house, of sleeping in the bunkhouse, or of getting married at the wedding venue. “It has a lot of history,” Kenny says. “People are connected to it.”
As for Kenny and Thelma, they hadn’t originally planned to live there; the house was meant to be a temporary home while they built out the brewery. But then they never left. “If we didn’t have a business here, this is still where we would want to be,” Kenny says.
Making their home at the brewery, nestled into five wide-open acres, allows the Colemans to fully experience its natural beauty. “Every morning, I open all the doors, and I love to see the sun rising,” Kenny shares. Their dog, Xena, roams freely, while cats Charlie and Mickey lounge beneath the trees.
Evenings are just as magical. “The sky is so vast out here. We light up the fire pits and watch the stars,” Thelma adds.
That peaceful backdrop supports a busy operation. Open Thursday through Sunday, with live music nearly every weekend, Ghost Note offers six core porch-style beers complemented by a rotating lineup of thoughtfully crafted seasonal brews, along with house-made hard seltzer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Food is just as easygoing and tasty, with a mix of local food trucks and pop-ups that keep the menu fresh. The brewery also features a dedicated event space, perfect for wedding groups, reunions, and more, and hosts special celebrations like Oktoberfest.
Along with a small but mighty team, Kenny and Thelma handle nearly every aspect of the business themselves, from maintenance and bookkeeping to social media. Head brewer Tyrell Elliott oversees all beer production, while general manager James Schneider runs the bar and taproom, supported by a handful of dedicated bartenders. “We’re knee-deep in the operation,” Kenny and Thelma say. “We wear a lot of hats, but we couldn’t do it without this team.”
Though living where you work might sound exhausting, for the Colemans, the brewery and their home are fully intertwined. “It’s a labor of love,” Thelma says. “We’re here all the time, but that’s the way we like it.”
Kenny adds, “This is where all our energy goes. We’re happily invested in this place.”
By tackling behind-the-scenes work earlier in the week, they’re able to be fully present during brewery hours, experiencing Ghost Note alongside their guests.
Music is at the heart of that experience. “When the band plays, we’re always out here,” they say. “We just enjoy sharing the music with people. I think that’s the best part of Ghost Note for both of us.”
Those shared moments naturally lead to connection. “People are really happy when they come to a brewery,” Kenny says. “We’ve made some really good friends here that feel more like family.”
From the beginning, that sense of belonging was the intention. “Our goal was always to have a neighborhood backyard out here, where people could just come and hang out with their friends, bring their families, have beer, listen to music,” says Kenny. “That was the vibe we were looking for.”
While Ghost Note continues to grow, so does the Coleman family, as both of their children recently welcomed babies. As new grandparents, Kenny admits, “We do have grandbabies pulling at us.”
And with that, their home takes on a new dimension. Looking around the property, Thelma says, “Right now we’re imagining all these trees with tire swings, and the kids riding their bikes on the sidewalks. We’re looking forward to having them out here.”
For the Colemans, living and working in the same place feels natural, with home and brewery woven together through landscape, music, beer, and the community they’ve built around them.
“We can’t remember life before this place,” Kenny says. “This is home.”
And they’ve invited all of us over.
GhostNoteBrewing.com | @ghostnotebrewing
“Our goal was always to have a neighborhood backyard out here, where people could just come and hang out with their friends, bring their families, have beer, listen to music.”