Hello from Poland I'm going to Texas (Dallas, Austin, San Antonio) 14-28 october. Can someone help and tell about good breweries/pubs/stores with craft beers? I heard good opinions about Jester King from Austin and i bought ticket for San Antonio Beer Festival - but it's all for my knowledge about TX craft beer scene. Second, I wanna buy some good americans craft beers (Three Floyds Dark Lord, Goose Island Bourbon County, other good RIS/BA RIS and fresh IPAs from breweries like Trillium, Three House, Alchemist, etc.). Is it possible to buy it in Texas (stores or some private selling?). Sorry for my english
Well, I've good news and bad news for you. TX does not get distro of any of the brands you listed. But dont worry, we have some amazing beer. If you want IPAs, go to Pinthouse Pizza and Hops & Gran in Austin. For RIS, check out Community Legion (they also do a BA version).
Well @alterbeer if you were coming to Houston, I would make sure you had some BA stuff to take back with you. Was recently in Wroclaw and drank great beer the whole time I was there. I hope this trip to the states treats you as well as y'all treated me.
1. Welcome to Texas! You’ll be glad you came (especially in the fall and not the summer) 2. Many believe Jester King is highly overrated 3. On Rotation is my fave place in Dallas. Deep Ellum is definitely worth a stop too 4. Maybe most important, a good taproom is far and away a better experience than most breweries. Let them do the work for you in consolidating the best beers. Will they have every iteration and new release? No. But they will have a much better sampling than you are likely to find on your own. 5. Get yourself a cowboy hat and a belt buckle. Wear them with pride Yee haw!
In San Antonio I would recommend Southerleigh Brewing and The Granary. They're pretty much across the street from each other in the former Pearl Brewery complex. It's just north of downtown San Antonio, and you can walk along the River Walk or take a water taxi. If you walk there, there are a few other stops you could make along the way including GS1221 and The Luxury. If you have a car or can get a ride I'd also suggest Freetail and Weathered Souls Brewing, and the classic beer emporium, The Flying Saucer.
In Austin I also like the Whip In (Kamala Brewing) for its quirkiness, Banger's for their selection and brunch, Craft Pride which is a few doors down from Banger's, and Austin Beer Garden which is best at night when they have live music.
What would you consider "many" that believe Jester King is overrated? You have basically been the only one I've seen complain about them on the forums. I have a friend who doesn't like their beer because she hates sour beers, but the majority of people seem to love them and rave about them. I have considered them one dimensional and possibly a one-trick pony but that is absolutely NOT saying they're overrated. I think they are are one of the best farmhouse/sour breweries in USA. They seem to have made the most authentic Gueuze in their SPON series, and it was delicious. If the OP wants to get some good farmhouse or sour beers then Jester King will be a great choice. If the OP wants clean lagers or punishing IPA's then Jester King will be very disappointing.
If the OP wants any beer style other than a highly carbonated farmhouse/sour, then Jester King is not the place to go. Plenty of other good options in the 3 cities on his itinerary.
I like JK, but plenty of people prefer other breweries, and therefore hearing JK is the best makes them overrated to those people.
Thanks guys for all responses and tips. I like every style of beer, also sours, but in Poland i have access to the best belgians lambics (cantillon, 3 fonteinen, etc.) and well distribution of American Solera, Crooked Stave so probably prefer trying (and buying) in US fresh IPAs and BA beers (RIS, BW, etc.). So I think one visit in JK will be enough for me.
I was in DFW at the beginning of September. I stopped by Deep Ellum Brewing for a couple of beers and wasn't all that impressed, of course it probably didn't help since there were a ton of people there due to the fact that there was an event going on at The Bomb Factory that night. I'd say skip Deep Ellum, and make a trip up to Garland and go to Lakewood Brewing instead because I really enjoyed Lakewood's taproom and the variety of beers they had available.
Whip In hasn't brewed in almost 2 years, has gone under many management disasters, and is just a shell of what it used to be. Skip it. Head to Banger's, Draughthouse, Craft Pride instead if you want bars. Or just hit up the breweries.
For Austin info, just go to this thread: https://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/austin-trip-inquiry.496798/
