Going to Austin....what should I seek out?

You should really post this in the Southwest forum. (or search, it's a popular topic)

Lots of BA members in Austin.

Also, keep in mind that for the time being, all production brewery tours are going to be on Friday or Saturday (with new laws that just passed, allowing production breweries to sell on-site [or off-premises in some instances], this should be changing in the near future).

All I'll say is don't miss Jester King and Hops & Grain. Try to get into Austin Beerworks if you're going to be in on a Friday night (their tickets sell out uberfast and sell at random times during the week).

If you only have time to check out 1 bar and want to try locals... go to Craft Pride. They have an all-Texas draft selection with 60 taps. It's right down the street from Banger's as well, where you can check out more regional stuff from out of state if you're into that (they have 101 taps and 2 cask pulls).

Brewpubs: Pinthouse Pizza. Joe, who is their brewmaster is an Odell alum and is making amazing beer right now. The pizza is great too. Blackstar Co-Op is a great place to hit as well.

And it's spelled "y'all!"

 

Live Oak Hefeweizen

 

^this. I was impressed with a few offerings from Live Oak when we visited in December.

I actually drove to Austin with my 7 month pregnant wife, a good friend from college and his girlfriend for a wedding...from Detroit in my Pontiac G6, trunk filled to the brim with bags and cases of Michigan beer. The wedding was two days before Christmas so plane tickets were just way, way too expensive. We ended up spending less on gas and an oil change total than we would have for one of us to buy airfare.
After a 25 hour trip and hotel shower my wife crashed for the night, but the rest of us stumbled down to the street to find Easy Tiger. Bake/Coffee shop by morning, Bar/Beer Garden in the evening. I was ready to be disappointed by the beer offerings in Texas but I find this place and Texas totally redeems itself. Stone Enjoy By on tap and in bombers, ten fidy on tap and 60 minute running through a randall. Not to mention the food; House made sausages, breads and pretzels. Really can't say enough about this place other than out of the 3 nights we had open while down there we spent two of them here.

 

Live Oak Hefe!!! Finally found some on my third trip to Austin. So good!!!!!

 

kmello69 put this spreadsheet together, and it's extremely helpful:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Ak8Ns1-IF18XdGdmNEY1aXpUcmpmT093SkFCbHNleFE#gid=0

 

thread delivered.

 

It is a good place...but I do not recommend easy tiger to anyone visiting town. They do not offer local taps while Bangers and Craft Pride do a great job at this.

 

Fair enough...and this is why you listen to locals.

To further point out flaw in my recommendation, the three beers I listed are available in Michigan, and New York (OP's home state) so I suppose I shouldn't have been so floored. Maybe it was the road craziness.

 

FYI - if you're in Austin on a Sunday morning and want good brunch, do yourself a favor and get over to Banger's.

 

I disagree. Jack Allen's is the shit for brunch.

 

That's pretty far from my neck of the woods. I may have to try that out on my way to JK some day. Banger's brunch is tasty, though. I'm not a huge fan of their dinner menu, but the brunch menu is quite fulfilling if you're hung over.... and that manmosa (1 liter)!

 

There's a Jack Allen in Round Rock now as well, and I'll agree - their brunch is slammin

 

Both the RR and the South one have brunch and they are both far from downtown.

But trust me, the brunch is worth way more than the $15 you pay for it.

 

Agree with all of the above and would add draught house if you have the time.