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OUR STORY

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Rüeggenbach Brewing Co., LLC is owned and operated by Shana and Texas Rüegg.

 

Shana is a native Texan from Fort Worth who works as Co-chief CRNA at Longview Regional Hospital. When not working she can be found volunteering with the Cub Scouts  and other service organizations or crafting in her she-shed. She is majority owner making Rüeggenbach Brewing Co one of very few breweries designated as a woman owned business. 

 

Dr. Texas Rüegg was born in Marshall and has worked in higher education for 20 years.  Texas is a Lieutenant and board member of the Nesbitt Fire Department as well as serving on the Visit Marshall Board and the Greater Marshall Chamber of Commerce Board.  Dr. Rüegg is a native of Marshall, an Eagle Scout, and award winning public speaker, cyclist, and musician. 

Dr. Rüegg grew up at Trinity Episcopal Church in Marshall, but the Rüeggs currently attend Cyprus Valley in Marshall.  ...of course once an Episcopalian always an Episcopalian as the saying goes.

Shana and I are passionate about supporting our community. When we moved back to East Texas we bought an old Victorian house out in the country to raise our children. On the property was an old dog-run house that we began restoring to make a concert stage to host local musicians and bring the Nesbitt and Harleton community together through music (see blog page).  We jokingly began calling our property Rüeggenbach as a play on our last name and the historic Luckenbach music venue. It turns out that Rüeggenbach is actually the name of the small creek that runs down the mountain in Switzerland next to the Rüegg family castle outside of Bauma. 

I had been homebrewing for over 13 years and dreaming of opening a brewery from the first batch, but the plans always seemed to fall through (you would not believe how expensive it is to start a brewery!).

One evening while dining at our favorite Italian Restaurant, Pazzeria by Pietros in Marshall, my good friend and restaurant owner Joseph (aka Signore Giuseppe) convinced me to try again, but this time on the historic downtown square in Marshall. We found the perfect location and I began crunching the numbers and writing the business plan. The rest as they say ...is history.

Our mission at Rüeggenbach is multifold. First to create a destination experience like no other, with a mix of well crafted traditional beers along with a selection of creative new modern and experimental styles. Second is to create a family friendly brewery environment where the entire family can enjoy an evening of locally crafted beer, craft food, live music, and community (a true Public House).  A  public house was designed as a place where the common man could enjoy the local community and get a drink (https://www.britannica.com/topic/public-house). 

 

Finally, we want to be part of reviving the beautiful historic Marshall downtown.  We designed the rooftop deck to highlight the historic courthouse and promote a downtown nightlife experience filled with entertainment, shopping, craft beer, and local dining all around the walkable brick paved historic courthouse square. 

On the square in Marshall, TX there is something for everyone so come and spend an evening or a weekend exploring all that we have to offer.  ...and don't forget to grab a six pack or two to go.

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Rüegg, Hackney, and Rains Family

This painting of my grandfather V.H. (Vivian Howard) Hackney hung in Marshall National Bank where he served as President. He began his career in education and served as Superintendent of Marshall schools in the 60s and 70s before being ask by his wife’s family to run the bank.

 

His wife Mary Rains Hackney was the granddaughter of Maj. Mercer Rains who was the founding member of Marshall National Bank and was married to Nancy Texas Rains (for whom I am named). Mercer was the son of George Washington Rains (a confederate soldier)who was the founder of Rains & Talley Funeral Home.

The Rüegg family originates from Altlandenberg Switzerland (a territory right up the mountain from Bauma where the remains of the family castle still sit). Rev. Robert Rüegg immigrated to the USA during the Swiss reformation and began several German Evangelical Churches in Nebraska. His wife Rosina Schwab Rüegg was also from Switzerland, but was living in England and working as the tutoress for Charles Dicken's daughters.

 

Their youngest son Samuel Albert Rüegg bought land in South Texas as part of the 1908 train and land deal and began farming and raising mules for the cavalry.  Family lore is that he planted cotton and grain having never seen it before and would go into the fields every day just to see what it looked like.

 

My father Sam E. Rüegg Jr was working as a County Agent for the Extension Office in Jefferson when he met my mother Alice Hackney (former Miss Marshall) and the two married. 

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cowboy polo (grandfather Rüegg in ball cap)
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