Austin Trip Review/Thoughts

I would add Oddwood and Batch which are right next to each other on your next visit. Also, Live Oak, Hold Out,ABGB are not to be missed in my opinion each offering well executed beers in very Austin like settings. Austin is a great town, looks like you enjoyed your trip!

 

You hit a lot of them. Sounds like you had a fun trip!

Live Oak is a 100% absolute must. Their lagers are world class IMO (and several others' opinions, too). I've not been to ABGB, but everybody says it's fantastic. If you like cask ale, you might swing by Draught House Pub & Brewery on (or about) 42nd Street. It's a cool enough craft beer bar with loads of stuff on tap, but I go specifically four their house-brewed cask ale. I can't say it will alter your mind, but I can say it's always been worth the trip for me.

If you're there on a Wednesday night, sleep in, wake up real late and save some energy for the Continental Club on South Congress and the music. If you're lucky, William Haries Graham, Jon Dee Graham and James McMurtry will all be in town and playing that night. Shows start around 9-9:30 p.m., McMurtry goes on last at midnight, and it's about the best live music money you will ever spend ($8 cover before the pandemic, not sure what they charge now but it will be worth it).

Cheers!

 

I'll add a couple, again another Live Oak recommendation.

Need a Rainey St. visit. To Craft Pride for beers and then Banger's Sausage House and Beer Garden for, well exactly what its in the name, sausages and beer.

Fancy upscale dining at Barley Swine, small selection that probably won't distinguish itself much anymore, but always solid selection and the food is amazing.

Draught House Pub & Brewery, one of the OG classics.

Salt & Time for an interesting butcher/restaurant with some good stuff on tap, then head over to Wright Bros Brew & Brew for a more extensive selection.

Also check out Whip In, haven't been in years but was always a must stop for me way back when.

 

Help me narrow down this list!

I'm planning for an upcoming trip to Austin, and I've really enjoyed reading everyone's recommendations and suggestions thus far.

Right now, my 'top three' are Jester King, Live Oak, and ABGB. I'm familiar with JK and Live Oak from a while back, but they've both expanded in that time. Although I'm typically an IPA drinker, I can't resist the allure of multiple types of pilsers on tap; ABGB's reputation alone places them on my radar.

With any luck I'll get to a few more spots. Who else is doing some unique and interesting things out there? Outside of ABGB, I haven't even heard of any of the more recent-ish places on this thread. I was glad to read that live music has returned to the Continental, and hopefully it safely stays that way!

(I'm also a coffee geek, and would love some recommendations too, except this isn't Coffee Advocate.)

Thanks, everyone.

 

JK, LO, ABGB are solid choices and you cannot go wrong at any or all of them.
Roughhouse, Family Business, St Elmo, Nomadic, Oddwood for places you probably have not heard of.
Spokesman coffee is right by St Elmo, great coffee.

 

Pinthouse pizza, do yourself a favor and kill 2 birds with one stone, good pizza and good IPAs

 

if you go to oddwood dont skip batch next door. arguably some of the best beers in austin

 

Good info here.
I haven’t been to Austin since living in San Antonio from 86-90. So I’m sure lots of changes in the beer industry in the area.
I’m looking to visit Austin again soon. But our main goal is BBQ. Yes bbq and beer go hand in hand. But I want to hit up Franklin Barbecue.
It’s going to be a very quick in and out trip. Flying in from LAX. Arriving late at night. So no time to hit a beer spot as we are planning to get up early to line up at Franklin Barbecue the next morning. Does anyone know how early should we get in line? Or the latest time before the bbq sells out? After our mission to F BBQ we are free to hit a brewery or pub with some good to great beer taps from the local area. Looking for IPA’s. Sounds like @joberlander rec on Pinthouse might be the spot? I’d like to check out Jester King. How is the drive from downtown Austin? Or should I just hang around Austin the rest of the day? The following day we will be flying back to LAX. So we have only 1 day in Austin. FYI, the missus is not into beer. My DD and tag along. But she’s in BBQ. Thx.

 

Just moved back to California after living in Austin area for two years. What day do you want to go to Franklins? Weekend you need to get there at least two hours before they open, weekdays 30-60 minutes before. Franklins is great, Mickelwaite and La are just as good, if not better. Valentinas is more Tex Mex style but could be best bbq in town. I always like going down to Lockhart to go to the real OG places but they can get crazy on the weekends. JK is about 30 minutes from downtown, add 15-20 during rush hour. They have more than just beer there and great grounds to walk around the grounds, see the goats. Some good breweries on the same road as JK and a good distillery, Treaty Oak, about 15 away with good bbq as well. Downtown area breweries: ABGB, Oddwood, St Elmo, Nomadic, Pinthouse are all great. DM me if you have any questions. Cheers.

 

Planning to fly on a Saturday late afternoon and arriving late evening. So we’ll have Sunday to do everything. But would like to hit Franklins BBQ for sure. After that beer would next for the rest of the day. I’ll have to keep it to 2 or 3 places. Don’t want to drag the missus all over Austin looking for beer. So trying to keep it short and sweet. I’m thinking JK for sure. With the openness there she might enjoy that walking around and checking out the hill country. We miss the hill country when we lived in San Antonio. Not sure what Saturday yet. We fly standby so when the flights look good we go on a moments notice. Ill DM you when we know for sure we’re going. Thank you for your info.

 

Oddwood brewing is where you want to go. They do top notch IPAs (as good as Pinthouse) but their real deal is lagers. Clean and crispy lagers. They also do great mixed culture stuff, but by god the lagers will make you sit up and take notice. They have a kitchen too.

 

If you only have one day, order Franklins for pick up instead of waiting in line.

 

I'll be in town next weekend for a bachelor party (10 guys) and are staying in East Austin. Good spots for a group of that size? Am thinking of Batch and Oddwood since they are close by. Lazarus too since its a few blocks from where we are staying. Thanks for the help!

 

All three of those are great options. I would add Pinthouse Brewing (or pizza) as well craft pride/ bangers combo on rainey street

 

Hi folks,

I'm giving this thread a little bump since it's still open, since it's been about 9 months since I made a visit, and I am planning another trip out that way.

I did some serious damage during my last tour, hitting up notables (ABGB, Pinthouse) and a few under-the-radar spots (Batch, Hold Out, Oddwood) based on the recommendations here, aloing with a few old favorites (Jester King, Live Oak).

Since I was last out that way, what's opened? Or who else is worth visiting? With the temps hitting the triple digits, I will be in the mood for cold, crispy, refreshing lagers during the day. I'm also looking for some hoppy IPAs to drink in an air-conditioned apartment, and some mind blowing wild ales to bring back for my future self to enjoy. Based on my last visit, I'm pretty sure I can't go wrong anywhere I turn! Thanks, everyone.

 

You hit a good set last time thru, I would add Meanwhile to that list and if you like mead, thing about dropping by Adelbert's, last time there made a stop thru and had a great BA barley wine and tried a couple of the meads, really enjoyed them.

 

Meanwhile, definitely! They’re on my list to make a return visit, since the food trucks had all closed up by the time I got out there and I needed a meal.

I haven’t had anything from Adelbert’s since they first came out, maybe a decade ago?

 

yeah they are a forgotten child of the Austin beer scene. Honestly only stopped by there while walking from Austin Beerworks to meet someone at Celis. Shit... just went to their website and they are permanently closing on October 31st. So if you are there and in the general area, I would give it a thumbs up, but you gotta try the meads, they were top notch