I am in love with Austin! Five of us (all guys) did a BBQ tour this past Thurs - Sunday. We hit 13 of Austin and the Austin area's BBQ joints. What an absolute great time with great food and each place unique and good. (One disappointment; otherwise all wonderful). We also did lots of beer and found a couple of places that were just complete hits with all of us. Great time at Easy Tiger where they not only have very good beer on their 30+ taps but they had 3 casks going and a Dogfish Head Randell through with they were putting Dogfish Head 60 minute through fresh hops. We went back two days in a row and sat there drinking the best damn 60 minute I'd ever tasted!, as well as trying about a dozen other offerings. We went to a few other beer bars which included Ginger Man which was also a good time. The couple of others, frankly, I don't remember. (Hell, it's undertandable since I started drinking Scotch after we tried all the beers we wanted to try!) We also spent our time while waiting to go to the airport at 512s 4th anniversary party which was a great time. It was crowded but the lines moved and the people were just wonderful, which leads me to my main point.... I am very very well traveled and I've never been to a friendlier town anywhere...period. I mean anywhere! It got down to the point where we were trying to find a rude or unfriendly person and it just wasn't happening. I just can't recommend Austin enough. A great beer scene; a great bar scene and the absolute best people on the planet. For real. Can't wait to go back.
My favorite sign of South by Southwest. LOL, but seriously, thanks for visiting our fair city. Did you hit up the Draught House Anniversary Party? They had some pretty epic taps/casks out on Saturday. We spent a good 6 hours (in two trips) out there enjoying some very rare/unique stuff. I wanna hear what 13 BBQ joints you hit. Please tell me you got to JMueller (I live a few blocks away... best beef ribs ever). Did you get to see the Easy Tiger secret menu? (I'll shut up now)
Friends all through high school have told me to go to Austin with them but at the same time they almost all hate Texas. I stuck with hanging out in downtown SA. I love Texas. The one time I went to Austin it was pretty cool but I barely even was in Austin. Just went for the beer fest. I'll have to go up soon.
LOL, but seriously, thanks for visiting our fair city. Did you hit up the Draught House Anniversary Party? They had some pretty epic taps/casks out on Saturday. We spent a good 6 hours (in two trips) out there enjoying some very rare/unique stuff. I wanna hear what 13 BBQ joints you hit. Please tell me you got to JMueller (I live a few blocks away... best beef ribs ever). Did you get to see the Easy Tiger secret menu? (I'll shut up now)[/quote] What?? Now I have to go back and look into this "secret menu!" Clearly, the answer is, "no." Did not know about secret menu. (Please, tell me more!) Yes, went to JMueller and thought it was great. I won't try to list all of the places but we were very impressed with most of them. I'd say our favorites were Franklin, Black's, Snow's, City Market, Salt Lick, and JMueller (one of the top beef ribs we had). I'm sure I'm leaving a couple out but the foregoing is off the top of my head of places that left a good impression. I'm forced to say that the one place that was a complete disappointment and to which I'd not return nor would I recommend is Chisholm Trail. Nothing redeeming in our one experience - but, it was only one experience at each place so take that for what it's worth. And, everyone was amazingly nice at every place. Now, let's talk more about that "secret menu" at Easy Tiger......
Basically you spend X amount to earn beers that are not on the menu. You're in LA, so the stuff that's on said menu probably wouldn't impress you anyways. Shhh, it's secret. I've said too much. I will tell you that it might make you quite jolly to see some of the selections. It's really not something you want to be russian into. Be sure to Come BaCk to See it.
Glad you enjoyed your trip. Austin is pretty awesome. Best place in texas. Barnone for cool places and even cooler people.
But I always hear that Chisholm Trail is the place the "locals" in Lockhart favor. I just don't get it. Maybe the locals are vegetarians and like the HUGE selection mediocre sides rather than eating any of the meat.
Because it is cheap $ in comparison to the Big 3 - Kreuz, Black's and Smitty's, but it is very pedestrian in my opinion compared to these 3.
