Austin Trip Inquiry

It's still an early summer trip, but just had booked flights and AirBNB so far.

Lazarus seems quite popular, and I understand why. It is a great combo of beer, food, and coffee....along with a good venue/patio and location.

I know the owner anyways, and have given some feedback to him already. But, most has been positive.

 

On a note other than beer, yet just as valuable. What BBQ spots are you planning on hitting?

 

Tried to hit Franklin's yesterday. Schedule only allowed me to arrive a little after 12:30. Line didn't look terrible, but after standing in it 5 minutes an employee came out and said the wait from that point was about an hour, and there was no guarantee about what options would be available. We ended up leaving.

 

To be honest I have yet to go.. but from everything I hear it's a must stop. From what I read lines can get pretty long rather quickly. I do recommend the Salt Lick, which is out in Dripping Springs. But if you were out near Jester King or Real Ale, it's out in that general direction. Every time I've been I've never waited more than an hour, even with a party of 20. Stubbs is an Austin staple but I don't think their BBQ is as good as others. I'm eager to hear about Franklin's though!

 

I grew up in Austin, and I've always thought Salt Lick is horribly overrated. What it has going for it is you can get an absurd amount of food.

My wife and I went to Sam's on East 12th street and definitely enjoyed it... It's in the run down neighborhoods although people are trying to gentrify it like the rest of Austin.
And a treat there is you can actually try mutton BBQ which used to be extremely popular a LONG time ago.

 

Just drove past Franklin's...ouch. Not happening today for us either.

 

Updated this a little:

Overall, a good resource for all of the Texas brewery hours and a map that is mostly up to date is here.
Here is a weekly updated guide to beer events happening in Austin

Quick PSA to those visiting - in Texas, there is a distinction between brewery and brewpub that is often meaningless as to what the brewery looks like. Brewpubs allow for them to brew beer, sales to go, to drink on site, and to sell other people's beer. Breweries can sell beer to drink on site but never to go. For a shortened version of why places have a brewery license is often due to barrel limits, distribution constraints, and zoning. Brewpub license holders can be straight forward breweries (like Jester King) or more of the traditional brewpub like Pinthouse Pizza. Some have food, others don't. Some are just taprooms like you would expect a normal brewery to be. So, that is why some places can sell to go, and others cannot.

Austin, Texas
Must Hits

• Pinthouse Pizza - Known for their IPAs and barrel aged goodness. Two locations (north and south).
  
  
• Jester King - Farmhouse and sours. Probably the most widely known Austin brewery.
  
  
• Austin Beerworks - Wide range of craft beer with a heavily rotating tap list
  
  
• Hops and Grain - Another Austin staple with a good rotation of taps.
  
  
• Live Oak - German focused, one of the oldest (if not the oldest) craft brewery in Austin.
  

Now, there is no perfect list here, but those would be a great start if you have limited time in Austin. All of them (minus Jester King) are open 7 days a week and make a wide range of beer.

Austin has over 60 breweries currently making beer in the greater Austin area. Wherever you are, you likely are not that far from a brewery. It may be easier to break down breweries by areas of town. They often are in clusters due to zoning laws, so, if you are at one, you may be around many more.

East Side - This is generally any place east of downtown that is relatively close to downtown still.

Zilker Brewing - going east out of downtown on 6th Street, this is the first place you'll hit. Their Coffee Milk Stout is probably one of their best core beers.

Lazarus Brewing - Basically a block further down 6th, they opened in December of 2016. This brewpub has a great interior, great tacos, and good coffee. Their beers are nothing to laugh at either.

Hops & Grain - Another mile or so down 6th, you run into H&G. It is listed above as what their focus is. Definitely more of a industrial taproom feel.

Blue Owl - South a couple of blocks, Blue Owl's sole focus is kettled sours.

Friends & Allies - Currently open with limited taps since they are brand new.

Oddwood Ales - Not quite open yet, but in the spring/summer of 2017, they should be.

Airport Area - This is sorta East Side, but further east. If you are leaving the airport, there are two breweries right outside of it (like 2 minutes from the exit).

Live Oak - German focused, great outdoor beer garden, and beautiful building.

Hi Sign - Recently opened, so I cannot say much about them. They do want to get quite a few IPAs on tap, so there is that.

North Side - If you are staying downtown, there is a commuter train that can drop you off right near these breweries. Otherwise, uber/lyft equivalents. This area is actually really good to hit up 5 or so at once as they are all walking distance to each other.

Austin Beerworks - Again, listed above. Get Sputnik if it is around.

Adelbert's - Probably a 15-20 minute walk from Austin Beerworks (longest walk of this section), they are focused on Belgian influenced beers.

Celis - 5 minute walk from Adelbert's, the rebirth of the Austin classic. It is not open at the time of writing this, but they will be by May of 2017.

Oskar Blues - 5 minute walk from Celis, it's Oskar Blues. Not much needed here.

4th Tap - 3 minute walk from OB, they do a lot of traditional American styles with slight twists on them. Nice taproom and A/C for those here in summer.

Circle - 7-10 minute walk from 4th Tap, they mainly have lower ABV beers. It also has a train stop right near them to start this tour if you want to do it backwards.

NXNW - Not walkable anymore, but a restaurant that has really started putting out better beers lately. The restaurant is a little more upscale, but there is a bar to sit in.

Black Star Co-op - Basically on a train stop one down from the rest of them (just off the platform), this member owned coop has great food and beer.

Pinthouse Pizza (North) - again, not walkable to the others, but you can catch an rideshare back to downtown from Austin Beerworks and stop by this place.

Draughthouse - More beer bar than brewery, they do have a great tap list and a couple of their own beers. 10-15 minute walk from Pinthouse.

South (in the city still)

The ABGB - brewpub, pizza, and a large outdoor area. They won the brewpub of the year from the GABF in 2016.

Pinthouse Pizza (South) - further down the road, this one generally has more beer on tap of their own than the north location.

St. Elmo - New brewpub with a great foodtruck outside. Beers are nothing to laugh at either.

South Austin Brewery - They exist. Right next to St. Elmo.

Independence - Another older brewery, but they have expanded their pilot system lately and extended their hours.

512 - An Austin classic with their Pecan Porter.

Orf - Opening soon but no real details yet.

Uncle Billy's - Just on the other side of the lake from downtown, this is one of the older brewpubs in Austin. They focus on BBQ and beer, they distribute some, but they have a good patio to have drinks on if you are going to Zilker Park.

Austin to Dripping Springs

Jester King - it can be 20 minutes to 45 minutes south of town depending on traffic. But it is worth it for their sour program. It is also on a large piece of land to relax on.

Last Stand - located 1 mile down the road from JK, I think this is one of the more underrated places in Austin for beer.

Treaty Oaks - distillery turned brewery as well, they only have limited beers at the time of this. But, like JK, have a beautiful space.

Twisted X - Located in Dripping Springs, they apparently have been starting to rotate taps more as well. Another great venue.

Barber Shop/Acopon Brewing - Barber Shop currently is brewing but it is moving 2 doors down to their new facility. It is yet to open, so I can't say what they will do with their beer.

Northern Suburbs

Whitestone - Brewpub in a strip mall but solid setup and usually some food trucks

Idle Vine - Almost in Austin, but this Pflugerville brewery has a decent taproom that is open 4 days of the week currently.

Thousand Oaks - Tiny operation located in what is almost a storage facility

Red Horn Coffeehouse and Brewery - Coffeeshop and brewery. What more can I say?

Bluebonnet - Small operation again

Rentsch - Way north in Georgetown, focused mostly on German beers

Flix Brewhouse - Movie theater and brewery

Flying Man - not quite open yet but should be in May 2017.

West

Oasis Brewing - The best brewery views in Texas bar none. Located high above Lake Travis, you can get some spectacular sunsets with some great (mostly) session beers. Not to be confused with Oasis Restaurant in the same complex. You can skip the restaurant and eat at the brewery for cheaper and better food.

Strangeland - Small brewery that focuses on more old world styles

Infamous - Expanding taplist in their smaller taproom. Some outdoor seating

Bottle Shops

Whichcraft - Best in town. Two locations, one just south of downtown, one sorta north (but this one has 40 taps as well).

East 1st Grocery - east of downtown, a gas station bottle shop. Solid selection.

Sunrise Minimart - another gas station bottle shop but you have to go to the Anderson Ln location.

Any Whole Foods - downtown location is best if you are staying downtown

Here is a longer list of places that have good beer, but may not be bottle shops

And a map of bottle shops/stores in Austin

Beer Bars

Craft Pride - 60ish taps of Texas only beer on Rainey St.

Bangers - Over 100 taps right up the road from Craft Pride

Wright Bros Brew and Brew - just east of downtwon, this coffee shop and beer bar always has a great taplist

Draugthouse - listed above

Pinthouse Pizza - also, listed above. They both have a bunch of other taps other than their own

Hopfields - Campus area French inspired food with a good taplist

Waller Creek Public House - best place on "dirty" 6th for beer. Otherwise, get far away from "dirty" 6th. (Dirty 6th being between I-35 and Congress on 6th St. It is the college party street). If you go east of I35, it becomes more divey and there are some solid taps over there.

WhichCraft Mueller - Mentioned above as a bottle shop, but they also have a solid tap list.

FAQ
-How can I get to Jester King if I do not have a car?

Well, you can take a ride share, but there is no guarantee that you will be able to get one back. You could also take a taxi out there, but it will be even more expensive and again, no guarantee to get on back. There is also a beer bus that goes around to a set list of breweries, but that costs money and you are on a schedule. Your best bet may just be to rent a car for the day or find someone to drive you.

-Can I find Jester King bottles around town?

Yes, in short, you can. And also no, you cannot find them all. If you are looking for the more sought after fruited sours, those are JK only. If you want more of the standard bottles, then look at the main bottleshops listed above, they'll likely have some of the newer releases. They do everything in batches, so there is not a single bottle that is always on the shelf.

-I am only in town during the week, can I go to JK still?

No. You can, and they may have someone out there who may sell you a non-limited beer, but it is definitely frowned upon and not recommended. They definitely will not have taps open and you likely will be in their way.

-Can I take bottles out to JK and open them?

No. It is on their website. Just don't do it. They likely won't say anything to you, but it is frowned upon.

-Best brewery patios in town?

If you want nature, then JK, Last Stand, Hi Sign, Live Oak. If you want urban patios, Lazarus and Uncle Billy's have that.

-Which brewery is best with kids?

See the nature patio ones and take off Last Stand (less running around space). Those all have a lot of spaces to run and have fun. Other than that, pretty much every brewery is kid friendly during the day. There may be some that may not be great at night, (like maybe Lazarus just due to crowds).

 

Isn't Salt Lick more like Driftwood? Driven by, never stopped.

Franklin BBQ was worth the wait the 2 times we have gone.

For @MajorBuckeye you can have almost as good BBQ brisket at John Mueller's without the wait, and better sausage IMHO. Franklin is still the best brisket I have had.

La BBQ and Kerlin's, both on Caesar Chavez IIRC, have good reviews, but have never been to either due to poor planning on our part.

 

Will plan time for the wait next trip. Another alternate suggestion we were given was Micklethwait....but didn't make it there either since we needed to get to Dallas.

In Dallas area we visited Deep Ellum, Braindead, and then BBQ at Pecan Lodge, which was fantastic.

 

Micklethwaits shows up a lot on reviews. Stiles Switch is another, we almost went for lunch, but Black Star coop was closer for the niece to meet us.

 

Thanks for for all the awesome resources in this thread! My wife and I will be in town for a few days in early June.

I see lots of BBQ options, so that's great, but one thing I don't see listed are solid options for good bets on music + good beer.

A few reliable places for good music (range is wide for us, from bluegrass to pretty heavy rock), that have some good taps as well would be awesome!

 

Most bars with music will have some local beers on tap. Most of those bars are in the downtown area and off of Rainey. All seem to have at least a draft or two of local craft, some go into the 10-15 range.

Rainey you will have better luck with the beer, seems most of those places all have 10-20 taps of craft, just nothing too crazy (unless you end up at Bangers and Craft Pride).

 

If there are any rum drinkers on here, my buddy is the head distiller at Spirit of Texas distillery in pflugerville. Buy a glass, three free mixed drinks. Really good pecan rum. Tell him sam sent you.

 

For more beer-centered places with music - The ABGB (brew pub) focuses heavily on music with free shows Wed-Sun and great beer (esp lagers) and food; St Elmo is a great brew pub with free bluegrass on Thursdays.

As mentioned, most places will have some local options. Stroll down Red River (the Mohawk has a good bar and acts) or east 6th (White Horse, Hotel Vegas) and see what fits your mood.

 

Awesome, thanks all!

 

@abridgedatx were crowlers available at Pinthouse Pizza?

 

They have had them recently. But was this meant for @jhavs?