Meet the Team

Austin Schumacher

Co-Founder TexMalt

Hometown: Houston, TX
College attended and graduation year(s): Texas Tech University, 2013
How long have you been working at TexMalt: Owner/ Business Relations Director, 6 years
Favorite beer: Deep Ellum, Neato Bandito
Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Tahwahkaro, Rye Whiskey
Favorite pastime: Anything outdoors, everything from professional sporting events to hunting and fishing to just floating a river with friends and family. I am also continually expanding my knowledge of beer and spirits. The history that is the foundation behind it all fascinates me. I am hopeful that it helps me refine my personal impact on quality inside the malt house.
Favorite activity at the malt house: Curing cycle on the kiln. There is nothing better than getting up to the malt house on a cold winter morning when the malt is curing in the kiln. It warms the whole room up and feels nice and toasty. The warm smell of toasted barley accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee is hard to beat. Great way to start your day.
Least favorite activity at the malt house: Cleaning grain. It’s hot, it’s itchy, and you have to wear a respiratory mask the whole time. It just plain sucks.

Chase Leftwich

Co-Founder TexMalt

Hometown: Lubbock, TX
College attended and graduation year(s): Texas Tech University, 2011
How long have you been working at TexMalt: Owner/ Operations Director, 6 years
Favorite beer: Pilsner Urquell
Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Ironroot Promethean Bourbon
Favorite pastime: Relaxing at home with my wife, baby girl, Labrador Retriever and Dachshund.  Nothing is sweeter than spending time with family!
Favorite activity at the malt house: Hanging out with the team over some good beer or whiskey after a hard day in the malt house.  Physical days can be rough at the malt house and by the end of the day there is nothing better than some comradery and fresh cold beer alongside a pour of Texas whiskey.
Least favorite activity at the malt house: It is tough to say because almost every activity at TexMalt is rewarding in some way.  However, just like a professional brewer, a maltster is a glorified janitor.  All of the malt production processes create a mess so it is never ending!

Martin McQueen

Hometown: San Antonio, TX
What do you do at TexMalt: Production Manager

Martin graduated from Texas Christian University in 2019 with his master’s in biology. We often refer to Martin as “the batman” because he spent time in grad school studying bats. Martin has been working at TexMalt since September 2019. He enjoys the outdoors and is an adamant rock climber. Martin manages all of the processes in the malt house so malt is ready for it’s destination.

Favorite beer: Ayinger Bavarian Pilsner
Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Acre Rye Whiskey
Favorite pastime: Trying new whiskeys and traveling.
Favorite activity at the malt house:Brewing with the extra fresh and local malt.
Least favorite activity at the malt house:Seed cleaning.

Jase Charbonnet 

Hometown: Granbury, TX
What do you do at TexMalt: Assistant Maltster

Jase, AKA J-Man, started at TexMalt in August of 2019.  Maltster by day and whisky connoisseur by night.  We may have been able to teach J-man a few things about malting but he was dropped the knowledge hammer on us about single malt whiskey. 

Favorite beer: Martin House Bockslider
Favorite Whiskey/bourbon: Springbank 12 Cask Strength
Favorite pastime: water skiing and guitar playing
Favorite activity at the malt house: unloading the kiln
Least favorite activity at the malt house: Cleaning out the Saladin box