Kamala Brewing / Whip In

4.15/5  rDev -1.7%

As mentioned already, Whip In, Grapevine and Central Market all have more or less the same selection. When a beer is going in or out of season you may find some left in one location but not the others, but for the most part these stores attempt to stock every type of beer you can get in Austin. For that reason they deserve a 15 but since we’re also comparing with out of state retailers one has to admit that there are better stocked beer states than Texas. The last time I drove by there had been a massive remodeling done to the exterior - the place almost looks classy now in a sideshow circus/titty bar kind of way. They also have a liquor store next door that benefitted from the remodelling as well. Not sure if the interior has been redecorated as the place wasn’t open at the time. Assuming it hasn’t, the interior is purely functional, no real ambience or vibe to speak of aside from an aging convenience store facade stocked with massive quantities of alcohol where the motor oil and toilet paper would normally be. The staff is generally friendly and of course knowledgable about their beer. This helps if you’re looking for a recommendation as you can’t always find an employee to hit up at Central Market.

 1,225 characters

4.33/5  rDev +2.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

Long time favorite Austin place. Incredible food...their version of a Frito pie is not to be missed. In-house beers are good quality and they always have an excellent tap list.

 176 characters

4.63/5  rDev +9.7%
vibe: 4.75 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4.25

Love this place - best selection of bottled beers in Austin including their cellar aged selection. Their drafts are up there with the top places in ATX, their own Kamala Brew isn't my type.... but that's fine.

 210 characters

4.56/5  rDev +8.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.75 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5

4.03/5  rDev -4.5%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4

"Kamala Brewing" ceased operations last year (2015) so this is only a restaurant, beer garden and bottle shop now. Tons of beer on tap and even more in the cooler. I loved my chicken curry but our other dish was so so. Flights available as well as growler fills. Bottle shop bottles to take home. Brewer plans on starting a new brewery - Kamala Gardens this year?

 363 characters

4.04/5  rDev -4.3%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4 | food: 4

Look through the other reviews and you'll get a very good idea of what's going on, they all seem to be right on. But, if you haven't been here before you've got to visit. It's just so kind of funky and weird that it's almost surreal; and if they fixed it up it would be totally ruined!

To throw my another 2 or 3 cents into the ring, I actually love their beers, and I'll be back. I've been to Austin twice, and when I return Kamala Brewing will be somewhere at the top of my list!

Also, other reviewers have dissed it but I didn't think that their Indian food was bad at all - I've certainly had better, but it was still very good. Their beers can be pricey though :(

I made a note of what they had in their coolers so I might as well share it (although it might have changed).
22 cooler doors including:
1 for new releases and limited beers
1 for strong singles and vintage beers
1 is a mix of German and Canadian imports
4 are for local, regional, and domestic big bottles
2 are for Belgian big bottles
1 is mainly English with some other imports mixed in
2 are for ciders
the rest are for 6 packs across the full range but mainly basic type craft brews

 1,163 characters

4.34/5  rDev +2.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.75 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5

This grocery/liquor store and all around hippie meets Indian place is pretty....chill. The idea of a wine bar/craft bar and Indian food counter is pretty rad. While the food isn't authentic Indian, it's really good, and way more exciting than a boring burger. They have a great selection of beer and wine. The only mark they missed was their own beer, which was 80% undrinkable. Smoked sours should not be a thing.

 414 characters

3.89/5  rDev -7.8%
vibe: 3.75 | quality: 3.75 | service: 3.75 | selection: 4.25

bar stools were uncomfortable but good selection of beer. i tried the flight of the sours they make, 2 of which were very very impressive (the lighter beers) and 2 of which were pretty terrible (the darker ones). didnt get to try the food but looked interesting

 262 characters

4.14/5  rDev -1.9%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75

3.1/5  rDev -26.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3 | service: 3 | selection: 3 | food: 3

4.01/5  rDev -5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4.75 | food: 4.5

4.06/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4

4.06/5  rDev -3.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.25 | food: 3.75

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.75

Great food! Funky little space, but they make the most of it. Great selection of brews and prices are pretty good too. Worth checking out!

140 characters

4.2/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 5

4.25/5  rDev +0.7%

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

2.75/5  rDev -34.8%

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

3/5  rDev -28.9%

The good:
House beers are good, endless selections of wine to-go, lots of taps, great hard to find kegs at times, good bottles- to-go list, the food has been amazing consistently.

The bad:
The service has been sub-par every time I've been here. Just seems like most of the servers have a care-free, "I'll get to you when I feel like it" type of approach. Not rude, but not attentive. Lots of hipsters. Bottles to-go are generally more pricey here than other stores. Growler fills have been pricey in the past as well, although haven't filled a growler in a while so that may have changed.

 593 characters

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

3.25/5  rDev -23%

4/5  rDev -5.2%

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

Great place with a great beer selection, the only thing I can't stand about coming here is that god awful smell outside. WTF it seriously smells like death took a shit outback, that smell might be from all the damn dirty hippies and hipsters but its hard to tell. But inside is nice

 282 characters

4.5/5  rDev +6.6%

Visited this place when I was on a business trip just this September. I thought the place was very laid back and had some solid beers on tap, as well as a decent variety.
The bartenders/pourers were informative of all the beers, especially the ones brewed there. Met some
decent people to talk to and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Had one of their beers a Shiva Stout done with Dates or figs that were soaked in Bourbon, and the beer was excellent.
I also over heard people talking about the food served here, and all were complimentary comments.
I would recommend this place to anyone wanting a decent craft beer.

 612 characters