Why Moonlight Tower?

As mentioned elsewhere, it all started on a run. But why did the name "Moonlight Tower" stick like whole hops rubbed through your hands? Well…I’ve always noticed the Moonlight Tower in Zilker Park, especially when they light it up during the holiday season. And I noticed a few others around town. But I never realized how many we had here in Austin and never really knew the history behind them.

Hopstory

(Yes I try to put hops in everything…even words.) The Moonlight Towers are really a reflection on what makes Austin unique and weird. You might even say they "illuminate" a unique part of Austin’s history. You see kids (reaching for my corncob pipe) one story is that back in the early 1890’s crime in these here parts was rampant. The law could only do so much. The people of Austin were furious and scared. They demanded a solution and turned to the city council for an answer. The council determined that if the city was illuminated throughout the night that would curb crime. So the city proposed Austin purchase these illuminating towers and have them erected throughout the city. Other cities around the country and world were already using them. So the city of Austin bought 31 of these towers from Detroit and they were all installed within a couple years after the purchase.

Critics feared the constant light throughout the night would cause their gardens to grow out of control. They’d need to cut their grass with an axe. Their roosters would crow all night.

Fortunately, none of those concerns came to life.

But over time, traditional street lights began to replace the towers. They were becoming no longer necessary. In the early 1990’s time had taken its toll on the towers and they were becoming dilapidated. The good people of Austin stepped in to save these towers because they reflected a piece of Austin’s unique past they wanted preserved. Enough money was raised and the towers were given a complete make over down to each and every bolt. They are now historical landmarks around the city. Seventeen towers still exist in Austin (the others were either damaged or dismantled to make way for construction). These towers are fully functional and are maintained by the Illumination Division within Austin Energy. Part of their job is to make sure that at least four of the the six lights on the towers are working. Austin remains the only city in the world that still operates these towers.

What’s the Pint?

The whole point here is that it wasn’t necessary to keep the towers, but Austin residents decided it was the right thing to do. And while it is not necessary to use organic ingredients to make beer, we feel using 100% organic ingredients is the right thing to do. Organic ingredients are better for you (more on that later) and they just taste better. 100% organic supports the farmers who spend more time, energy, and money in their fields growing crops without GMOs and pesticides. For us, being 100% organic is really a return to the land and a return to the traditional method of farming. Organic beer is not some new fad. All beer was once organic and Moonlight Tower Brewing Company plans to reunite the beer drinker with history.

So the next time you see a Moonlight Tower, raise a pint of organic ale (don’t do it while driving) to these unique Austin landmarks and reflect on history!

Photo by Diane S Murphy.

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