Uncle Billy's Brew & Que

Uncle Billy's Brew & QueUncle Billy's Brew & Que
Uncle Billy's Brew & QueUncle Billy's Brew & Que
Brewery, Bar, Eatery, Beer-to-go

1530 Barton Springs Rd.
Austin, Texas, 78704
United States

// CLOSED //
BEER STATS
Average:
3.67
Beers:
84
Ratings:
389
PLACE STATS
Average:
3.91
Reviews:
36
Ratings:
61
pDev:
11.25%
View: Beers | Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by zonker17:
Photo of zonker17
Reviewed by zonker17 from Texas

4.2/5  rDev +7.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 3 | food: 4
Stopped here for dinner and a beer. Found true Texas style BBQ, a small but very well rounded selection of brews, and some of the most down-to-earth guys behind the bar that exemplified hospitality.

I lean toward Belgian styles and IPAs, which were both available and brewed in-house. The dark strong holiday Belgian at 10% carried the types of charateristics one might find in a N'Ice Chouffe. The Hop Zombie IPA delivered what one would expect. A full flavored hopped-up beer. If I brewed either one myself, I'd be quite proud.

Whether you are looking for a beer or some good ole BBQ, consider this a best of both world's stop.
Jan 18, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 3.64 by RiceOwls27 from Texas

Feb 04, 2020
 
Rated: 4.06 by sohearn from Alabama

Apr 05, 2019
Photo of WillieThreebiers
Reviewed by WillieThreebiers from Connecticut

4.03/5  rDev +3.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3.75 | food: 4.25
Sprawling brewpub/ Bbq joint. 2 bars inside, 1 out on the huge patio.plenty of seating. A dozen beers on tap, the one I had was solid. Friendly server. Tasty bbq, on the pricey side.
Mar 18, 2019
 
Rated: 3.95 by The_Epopt from Texas

Feb 15, 2017
Photo of ChuletaTX512
Rated by ChuletaTX512 from Texas

4.26/5  rDev +9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4.75
Great fun place for people watching and the beer is pretty darn swell too.
Jun 06, 2016
Photo of DoctorZombies
Reviewed by DoctorZombies from Florida

4.18/5  rDev +6.9%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4
Very good brewed on site draft beer. Canned limited release beer to buy and take home. Growlers too. Friendly bar staff and neighborhood pub vibe. Great location along restaurant row on Austin's south side. Didn't try the food having eaten next door...maybe next time!
May 04, 2016
 
Rated: 3.19 by Junichi from Texas

Feb 16, 2016
Photo of NealioATX
Reviewed by NealioATX from Texas

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
I've come here a few times over the years including their first year being open. The beers are A-OK. The vibe is what you'd expect in that area of the city. The BBQ is meh. That said, it's still probably better than Green Mesquite down the road. Double meh.
Jan 05, 2016
 
Rated: 3.1 by BGsWo22 from Texas

Oct 20, 2015
Photo of Jugs_McGhee
Reviewed by Jugs_McGhee from Colorado

2.65/5  rDev -32.2%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 2.25 | service: 2.75 | selection: 2.75 | food: 3.5
Notes from 2014:

11 taps. 7 are house beers; 4 are guests (Live Oak schwarz, Live Oak hefe, and some Real Ale offerings when I was there).

Average barbecue by Texas standards, which is to say it's pretty good.

4 oz samplers are offered: 5 for $8, 6 for $10, 7 for $12.

Grumbler refills are $8. Growler refills are $15.
Oct 02, 2015
 
Rated: 4.35 by gilgar from Texas

Aug 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.4 by mig100 from Texas

Apr 12, 2015
 
Rated: 3.38 by Karibourgeois from Texas

Apr 08, 2015
Photo of JamLand
Rated by JamLand from District of Columbia

3.38/5  rDev -13.6%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3 | food: 3.25
Only their house brews on tap, which are all average to below average. Below average BBQ. You're in Austin for Christ's sake, don't eat BBQ here!
Mar 31, 2015
 
Rated: 3.94 by Fabiand from Texas

Feb 23, 2015
 
Rated: 3.78 by Dicers from California

Feb 13, 2015
 
Rated: 3.29 by LXIXME from New Mexico

Dec 30, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by ColSanders from Texas

Nov 30, 2014
Photo of Realbeerguy
Rated by Realbeerguy from Oklahoma

2.5/5  rDev -36.1%
BBQ is nasty but the beer is ok it's hit or miss
Oct 15, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Texasfan549 from Texas

Sep 06, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by nneighb33 from Texas

Jul 29, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by SAdams0192 from California

Jun 23, 2014
Photo of JDV
Reviewed by JDV from Texas

3.83/5  rDev -2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 3.75 | food: 3.75
Uncle Billy's used to be my favorite brewpub in town when it opened, but it has definitely experienced a change since its first days. The head brewer leaving was a strike against it, even though the current brewer does a good job and makes some great beers, it was a step down compared to what it was. The food though has taken the biggest hit, as the menu and quality has changed for the worse. Don't get me wrong; it's not a terrible place, but I loved their chili cheese fries, and while the bbq wasn't anywhere near the best in town, it still was pretty tasty and went great with the beers here.

It's got a great location and patio on Barton Springs Road and is a nice place to hang out and grab some beers. Still definitely worth a visit.
Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Jame515 from Texas

May 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by greenspointexas from Texas

Apr 30, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by TxHopHead4 from Texas

Apr 22, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by Getalegup from Texas

Mar 18, 2014
 
Rated: 3.5 by javlin624 from Texas

Mar 01, 2014
 
Rated: 4 by kjkinsey from Texas

Jan 24, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Gagnonsux from Texas

Oct 22, 2013
Photo of psujmatt
Reviewed by psujmatt from Texas

2.7/5  rDev -30.9%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 2.5 | selection: 2.5 | food: 1.5
Definitely go to Uncle Billy's for the Brew, not the Que, and or head to the lake for the View. They have some nice brews of their own, which are also a good value. Look for the special brews more than their standards, as some of the specialties really shine.

I been about 5 times for food and beer, and 2-3 other times just for beer. If you need something solid to go with your food, aim for the fried food. Fried pickles or fried okra are definitely tasty, and the potato chips out at the lake location were great too (not sure if they are offered at Barton Spring Road location or not).

For a place with 'Que in the name, I would expect much better. Definitely skip the brisket--the worst I ever had. The pulled pork should be skipped, too. Pork ribs were very disappointing. The sausage...well, its sausage! Try it fried.
Apr 06, 2011
Photo of StoneBrewFanatic
Reviewed by StoneBrewFanatic from Virginia

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
Stopped in for some lunch with my buddy the other day and some beers of course! Not really a huge selection, however I did really enjoy Hop Zombie, and it pains me to say so but their version of HB660 was way better then my favorite brewing company down here in San Antonio. They also had a few selections from Real Ale, and Live Oak, which are always excellent offerings! For a slow Saturday afternoon the service was not really as attentive as it could have been, however I will say that out food came out extremely fast which was really nice! I thought the BBQ was very good and especially enjoyed the sauces that were provided. So all in all, really good beer and food, can't go wrong with that combination!
Mar 20, 2011
Photo of thatlongname
Reviewed by thatlongname from Texas

3.9/5  rDev -0.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3.5
Decent barbecue. They have a few good beers here which they apparently brew themselves. The combination of beer and bbq is probably what makes me like this place. I can't remember how great the beer was but when combined with bbq it's most certainly better. The portions could probably be a bit larger for a Texas bbq place.

They have their brewing equipment viewable from the dining area. It's behind a glass. I wish I could see them using it. It's strange just watching it sit there. Overall a pretty good place if you're looking to try some new draft beers and eat bbq.
Mar 14, 2011
Photo of dragonWhale
Reviewed by dragonWhale from New York

3.93/5  rDev +0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4.5
A little hard to say what the true atmosphere of this place is having been here at 11 in the morning for a bit of brisket and beer, but it is a cool little place with a nice patio. Had some 6 or so of their own beers on tap and a few others including the Live Oak Hefeweizen. Chatted with the bartender about the HB 660 law that is being debated about TX brewpubs self-distributing. The IPA was good, their agave wheat was pretty tasty as well. Actually went with a pint of it over the pint of the Live Oak. The brisket rueben thing was excellent. Would've liked a few more beer choices on the menu but their brew space didn't look that big so capacity may be an issue. All in all, a very enjoyable experience that kicked the day off right.
Mar 11, 2011
Photo of EgadBananas
Reviewed by EgadBananas from Louisiana

4.13/5  rDev +5.6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | food: 3
The first thing you notice about the place is the atmosphere, which is awesome! It was a nice 70 degrees, the cool garage doors surrounding the place were open letting in the sites and sounds of the area. The layout was appealing, as was the bar setup and outside patio area. Overall, an exceptionally welcoming place. Maybe being from Louisiana is making be over-appreciate things, but oh well!

No complaints about the service. Was politely tended to quickly and my cup never ran dry.

Selection was good too. Majority was house brews, but the guest taps they had were great stuff such as Live Oak and Real Ale. The house brews were no slouches either; all were solid and enjoyable (had the sampler).

The food was the only average thing about the visit. Nothing was bad at all...but it's definitely not the food that is going to bring me back...at least not the burger. lol

Food prices were right there with most every other place with comparable options, but the beer was very well priced. Again, expensive Louisiana bars may be skewing my thoughts a bit, but <$5 for a big tasty local pour is awesome.

Overall, awesome place and a must if visiting Austin! I know I'll be back...
Feb 01, 2011
Photo of champ103
Reviewed by champ103 from Texas

4.1/5  rDev +4.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3
I really enjoyed my time here. As you walk in there is a large Icehouse like patio/deck outside. Wood tables and some covered seating from the trees coming through the deck. There is an outside bar as well. Inside is a large room with high and low top tables scattered around. The main bar is a made of wood, and the tanks can be seen at the far end. When the weather is nice, all the doors are open, which is awesome. A great breeze was blowing through, and it was just a great relaxing time.

The bar staff is well informed, and passionate about their beer. It was funny listening to them talk about the new Black Star Co Op Brewpub. Nothing bad, but they just have a different perspective than some other people it seems. The quality of everything was fine as well. All the taps were very clean and fresh. The food left something to be desired. I was not expecting world class BBQ, but it really was not all that good.

The beer they have is very good. Mostly simple styles, but all are enjoyable and well crafted. Styles rang from a Kolsch to an imperial stout. My favorites are the Kolsch (very flavorful) and the pale ale. They also have several other local beers on tap. Live Oak, and Franconia. Very nice.

Overall and excellent place to relax and have a beer. I could have stayed here all day.
Jan 29, 2011
Photo of SSW117
Reviewed by SSW117 from Texas

4.3/5  rDev +10%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
I like the place and often go out of my way to take people there that have never been. They have had their parking garage finished for some time, so disregard the other stuff about having to park blocks away. They have great BBQ at a good price (the ribs can get expensive, but i don't really know of any cheap rib joints) and best of all the brew their own beer. Not only do I think their beer is good, but the judges at GABF in 2009 gave them a GOLD medal for their Hell in Keller, which is similar to a pilsner, but falls in the kellerbier/zwickelbier category. My personal favorites are the Insomniac Coffee Stout and Hop Zombie IPA. They do growler fills and keg fills on their house brews only (some weird liquor law because they also sell the hard stuff) but they have a handful of other Texas brewed beers on tap for on-premise consumption. They have a good wide bar top, so you can eat at the bar and not feel like everything is going to fall in your lap. They have a rediculously hot hot sauce that is not for the faint of heart. You cant miss it, its the bottle with the skull and cross bones. Go check this place out and drink something they make.
Jan 09, 2011
Photo of RedBeardBrewing
Reviewed by RedBeardBrewing from Texas

4.5/5  rDev +15.1%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
Uncle Billy's has a nice, open environment with good bar-be-que and a good selection of beers brewed on premisis. They've also got some selections from local breweries on tap (Spoetzl, Real Ale, Live Oak, 512).

Nice outside area and bar with live music some nights. The inside area has good views of passers-by and looks like it could also be opened up if the weather allows.

Beerwise, for $10 I got a sampler of all 6 of their beers. Today it was a Pale Ale, Coffee Stout, Agave Wit, an Amber, Blonde Ale and an IPA. None of the beers were bad, liked the Coffee Stout the most (left with a growler), Agave Wit the least. Don't think you're going to go wrong with this one, give it shot.
Sep 05, 2010
Photo of rtepiak
Reviewed by rtepiak from Poland

4.15/5  rDev +6.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
a well to do place on a nice block of barton springs just off the river near the zucker park pools. clean look doesn't feel like a chili's but a brew pub. the beers here are a treat. they have a health selection to choose from. usually 5 or so of theirs and about a half dozen local austin beers that hit they're current theme. it was pilsner week, it being the hottest month of the year. for a place where i actually heard "i'm going to be honest with you... i'd just like a nice hoppy american beer" i give my respects for having such an event... especially seeing as they had 5 great ones on tap. live oak, trumer, real han's, their unfiltered pils, and the last slips my mind... oh and i wanted to also add... all the beers are relatively unfiltered. which means they tend to turn pretty quickly. usually they go through a 150 gallon tank in about 2 weeks. so something new and interesting is around pretty regularly. the food is just solid. nothing special. i fell for the fried orka but otherwise quite typical but good bar food. days are full of older more mature drinkers that are loyal followers. night its all sorts.

come on tuesday if you can 2 or 2.50 for pints can't be beat with this quality.

great place. great beers. great environment of talk with muted televisions.
Aug 17, 2010
Uncle Billy's Brew & Que in Austin, TX
Brewery rating: 3.67 out of 5 with 389 ratings