Fellas, we have a few folks from both coasts flying into Austin for a our friends stag (bachelor) party in a few weeks. Some are solid beer drinkers, some aren't. We are looking to stay near 6th street. Are there any good beer spots near 6th street worth checking out? Also, let me know if there are other bars, restaurants, road side dinners, booze shops, fireworks stands, etc, worth going to. Thanks fellas!
I think I did a trade with you a while back! Chicago House blows away all the bars along dirty 6th. I would also check out Easy Tiger and go to Rainey for Bangers and Craft Pride. That should have you all set around 6th, otherwise: Beer: Big fan of Draughthouse. Also check out Pinthouse Pizza and Black Star Co-Op Eastside: These are food places... La BBQ, Hightower (get there before the blogs etc blow up the place)
If you make it further west on 6th, you have Brew Exchange and Star Bar. Both also serve liquor. If you make it east, Wright Bros Brew & Brew on 5th has great beer, coffee, and sandwiches. Shangri La on 6th will also usually have something decent on tap. Keep heading east on 6th and you run into more bars and a food park at 6th/Waller. If you like BBQ, you have your pick between Franklin (if you want to wait 3-4hrs), La BBQ, J Mueller, Mickelthwaite. The latter 2 should have the shortest lines, but I'd recommend showing up ~30 min before opening to ensure you get your pick of fresh meats (the last time I had La BBQ, they ran out of beef ribs ). Stiles Switch is another option, but I've not yet been.
First off, start here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...huejhCSDZ5TllveFZsX0toTXc&usp=drive_web#gid=0 It is a google doc that I try to keep updated with all of the local breweries. Now, with that said, there are quite a few actual breweries that are open for tap rooms. The 3 that I recommend checking out are Hops and Grain, Jester King and Austin Beerworks. Other ones that are also good are 512 - have to reserve ahead of time, Rogness, Adelberts, and maybe Thirsty Planet if you go to Jester King (its right near it). I am not a fan of their beer as much, but Twisted X has a nice place out there as well. There is also a distinction between brewery and brewpub. The ones above (for the most part) fall into the brewery category. For the brewpub (think more of a bar that serves their beer mostly on sight but has a brewery), I recommend: Pinthouse Pizza Black Star Whip In ABGB Now, onto beer bars (places that don't really brew beer but just have great tap selection). The first place I take ANYONE from out of Texas to try Texas beer is Craft Pride (near downtown). It is a crash course into Texas beer (50+ taps of only TX beer...great for anyone who has not had any). With that said, here are some other great ones: Craft Pride (already mentioned) Draughthouse Brew and Brew (downtown) Chicago House (downtown) Whip In (brewpub but has a great selection) Pinthouse Pizza (brewpub but still has great selection) Banger's (next to Craft Pride - near downtown) Hi Hat (east 6th...about 2 miles east of I35....but there are a lot of bars on the way to it) Hopfield's Gingerman (downtown...but not my favorite) I am working on another spreadsheet that lists all of the beer bars in town and bottle shops. It is not completed, but you can get an idea here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...1WQ2RnZlpPSHRWLXM4Zm5Xenc&usp=drive_web#gid=0 With that said, I have a grudge against Easy Tiger. If you are from out of town, go to a place with more local beer. It seems like Easy Tiger mostly has Colorado or Cali beer...big brands that they can get in a lot of places in the US. I like the place, but not for out of towners.
Depending on when the party is, you might be able to order Franklin ahead of time...stroll up at 11 AM, pick it up, and eat it in the parking lot. Or wait until 1:30 and take your chances on getting what's left. I've done this and still managed to come out with brisket, ribs, pulled pork. That being said, part of the allure of Franklin's in the wait. Take some beers and an ice chest and have some fun. Guy across the street rents chairs for $5/ea. ...and Jester King.
Franklin is booked for "to go" through April. Gotta do the line if you want it. Or just go to J. Mueller instead. Better sausage and beef ribs, great sides, and only slightly less amazing brisket than Franklin. The upside is that after you eat, you can just walk from there over to the Hops & Grain tap room. #winning!
Not to derail the thread, but my last trip through, JMMC was last behind Snow's and Franklin. But the free St. A's was a nice touch.
i say, and always will, fuck 6th. go up to 45th and hit pinthouse, saucer, drafthouse, billys on burnet. YOu could litereally walk all of them if you arent a *****.
If it is less than an hour drive, I'd count it! Franklin is one of the few I've been able to bring back to Fort Worth and it still be amazing. And though you wouldn't consider it Austin, I think Wayne (and Tony) do a better jib in Taylor than John does in Austin. Seriously, hit Franklin up at 1:45 sometime ( behind the last man standing sign). Take a sixer and wait for 30 minutes. If you get something, great. If not, head down the road to one of Austin's other solid barbecue spots. I'm so damn jealous of what you guys have down that way. To the O.P. - enjoy yourself. Austin is the tits. And they aren't too bad at the Yellow Rose.
Not to be that guy, but I'll be in town tomorrow (heading down early for a work conference in San Antonio, but wanted to check out Austin, not that anyone cares) and my research isn't really showing a sports bar that's known for good beer. We have a similar problem in SF. Does such a thing exist or do any of the better known craft spots have a few TVs that normally have sports? Thanks!
Pinthouse Pizza isn't anyone's idea of a sports bar, but it definitely has multiple TVs with sports on. Last time I was there was on an NFL Sunday, and they had football on every screen. Oh, and the beer (both in-house and guest taps) is great.
Good idea, but... @chcfan PHP is hosting a festival tomorrow, call to see if they're open like normal. Flying Saucer will usually put on a channel if you ask, Billy's on Burnet has a TV or two.
