I'm heading down to Austin and staying near the convention center. Are there any bars/restaurants within walking distance or short cab ride that have a good selection of beers and also have live music? I've read good things about Craft Pride and Banger's, but I can't tell if they have music from their websites. Any suggestions on some good local beers to try while I'm down there are welcome too.
You can't swing a dead cat in this town without hitting "live music" so that won't be a problem. Bangers has bands sometimes. Craft Pride I'm not sure about.
Even if Bangers doesn't have live music, the 76 other bars on Rainey Street will. Or at least 5 of them will.
Whip In, Craft Pride, Bangers, Hi Hat, and ABGB will have music at least some nights. Social media (FB/Twitter) is better than their sites for finding out what and when. I'm sure there are some I'm forgetting. Most of the venues east of 35 will have at least an ok list of craft beers on draft as well as music; I would avoid dirty 6th. Whether or not it's *good* music or music that you'll like is another question entirely. As for locals, 512 Pecan Porter, anything Live Oak (the latter's Berliner weisse comes out this week) and Hops & Grain Greenhouse IPA.
Walk to Banger's/Craft Pride. Drink there. If there is no music, there are a bunch of bars on Rainey (pretty much every single one of them) that has usually 10 taps and some music.
I will swing at this from the other side of the plate. Music venues that routinely have quality music and also have a decent beer selection. The Mohawk should be stop #1 if you like indie music. They are likely to have a good show or 2 while you are in town and have a great selection of beer on draft and cans. Red 7 and Holy Mountain are around the corner and often have good indie bands as well. Beer isn't as good but both have some Austin Beerworks cans and a few other canned crafts. The Parish on 6th brings in some good bands from a variety of genres and also has a decent selection of cans. Stubb's is the biggest venue downtown and brings in national touring acts. They have really stepped up their beer selection lately. You used to have to go to the inside bar to get a decent draft beer but they had some good local taps outside last week at the Sleater-Kinney show. The Belmont on West 6th has sparse shows but it is a cool little venue and they have 6-8 quality taps. These are all walkable from downtown. Emo's is over on East Riverside. They bring in mid level touring bands. They have some local cans for sure. It has been a while since I caught a show there though.
Hmmmm. Great question. I would have to say Stubb's. My logic is that most DadBands have been around for a while and have a larger following of Dads. So, they will need the size of Stubb's (I submit as evidence upcoming shows: Built to Spill, They Might Be Giants, Ben Folds, and American Aquarium who take their name from a Wilco song). Plus, Dads feel comfortable at Stubb's. Plenty of room so that our New Balances don't get scuffed up. Now, I am a rare breed of Dad that does not have a Hans hard-on; so, I am not sure of the Hans status at Stubb's. But, I am guessing they must have some Hans somewhere on the premises. But, they do have Black Thunder - that's what the cool Dads drink.
No Hans' at Stubbs last I checked. I second jwall's advice. Hit up a decent music venue and you'll for sure have a nice selection of local beers. ABW has Red River and E 6th locked down, with LO and H&G taps/cans increasing the further you head E on 6th.
