The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

Just off the Hill Country Mile in Boerne sits a brewhaus that has been a staple in town for 20 years. The brewery has seen the community grow and hopes to keep going another 20 years. On Monday, August 1, Dodging Duck Brewhaus will celebrate 20 years of operation in Boerne.

"It's been an incredible experience. It's still a lot of fun and sometimes people ask me when am I going to retire and what am I going to do?" said Dodging Duck owner Keith Moore. "I tell them, 'this is what I wanted to do."'

The idea for the brewery came after Moore worked at a Swiss manufacturer Orbisphere Laboratories as VP of sales and marketing. But he's lived in Boerne for the past 23 years. Moore began his brewing career in the '80s.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

One motivating factor to start the Dodging Duck was when he traveled all over the world for work, he wanted to not feel uncomfortable while sitting alone.

"There is nothing worse than being on a business trip, going out to dinner and sitting at a table for four by yourself," Moore said with a laugh. "It is not a great feeling, so having that welcoming atmosphere for a single person or couples passing through was key."

Before the Dodging Duck got its name, Moore had about two pages of possible bar names. One day during construction, Moore was working on the front deck when he heard a car slam down on its breaks to avoid hitting a duck that was crossing the road. That's when the name was chosen.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

"I thought we should just call the place the Dodging Duck," Moore said. "I told my wife about it and she said, 'yeah, that's perfect."

Stepping into the Dodging Duck feels like you've just stepped into your best friend's home. The brewhaus is actually an early 1900s home that was remodeled as a brewery, according to Moore. The cozy house is filled with helpful employees and friendly strangers who are all trying out different craft brews and eats. There are custom glass pints for frequent and past customers that fill the walls of the bar area.

Dodging Duck Brewhaus is right across the street from River Road Park at 402 River Road, Boerne, TX 78006.

The small "Spam Museum" showcases different varieties of the beloved gelatinous meat. A retired head of Spam divison of Hormel gave all the cans to the brewery and is a regular customer. One of the cans was given at the premiere of the Broadway play, "Spamalot."

Over the past 20 years, the bar has made changes here and there, but not as big a change until COVID-19 forced the bar to get creative and build a backyard beer garden, Moore said. Guests can wait grab a beer while waiting for a table to open up for food.

"One of the wonderful things that we've experienced over the years is as much as I love our beer," Moore said. "We have we have a ton of customers that don't drink beer and in many cases don't drink alcohol at all. They come for the the restaurant."

The Dodging Duck is kid and dog friendly, he said he liked to think the brewery played a part in getting the city to have an ordinance to allow dogs in outdoor dining spaces.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

The menu consist of sausage, salads, appetizers, burgers, tacos, hot dogs, and so much more to pair along with its beers. The beer selection varies from IPAs, ales, lagers, and more.

The beer sampler from the Dodging Duck Brewhaus.

Since 2002, new residents have told Moore that the Dodging Duck was the first place they stopped into after moving to Boerne.

"We were their first stop. To me, that is a really cool thing," Moore said.

Over the years, Moore has met a number of people that have lived in the home and one woman that was born in the house. Moore hopes the community understands what Boerne means to him and the Dodging Duck.

"I'd like to think we had a permanent impact on the community. [Boerne] is a very welcoming place. It's a town that likes the whole diversity of the world," Moore said. "Hopefully we're trailblazers in making the area in a brewing area."

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

Starting on Monday, August 1, Dodging Duck will have a special craft beer on tap, a nine-month bourbon-aged pecan brown ale with coconut and vanilla for the 20th anniversary. He added that a few special brews will be making a comeback for guests that want to travel back to 2002.

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food. 

"That's going to be a good one," Moore said. "We are also going to have some of the original beers we had on tap back in 2002. We are also going to have a band that plays regularly for us and we are going to have a good time."

The Dodging Duck Brewhaus in Boerne celebrates 20 years serving up craft beers and food.