Austin's Beer Scene: Is It Worth The Hype?

Austin, Texas, is known for its live music scene, unique attractions, world-class museums, and beautiful outdoor spaces. But it's also becoming a popular destination for its culinary and cocktail offerings, with a booming craft beer scene. So, is drinking beer the main thing to do in Austin?

With a range of breweries, brewpubs, and beer gardens, there's certainly no shortage of places to enjoy a pint (or three) in the city. Austin's beer landscape includes everything from old-world lagers to experimental wild ales, and from cosy neighbourhood pubs to modern industrial breweries. The city also has a strong local-business focus, with many of its breweries and pubs serving beers from hometown companies.

However, Austin offers much more than just beer drinking. It's a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, with scenic trails, crystal-clear lakes, and nearly 300 days of sunshine each year. The city also boasts a vibrant arts scene, award-winning dining, and a range of entertainment districts. So, while drinking beer is certainly a popular pastime in Austin, it's just one of the many things that make the city a great place to visit.

Best breweries in Austin

Drinking beer is a popular activity in Austin, Texas, with the city offering a wide range of local craft beers to suit every palate. From old-world lagers to experimental wild ales, Austin's booming craft beer scene has something for everyone. Here is a list of some of the best breweries in Austin:

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. (ABGB)

ABGB is an iconic brewery in Austin, known for its warehouse-like beer garden and a variety of house microbrews, from lagers to special fruited sours. You can pair your pint with pizza or sandwiches and enjoy live music almost every night. They also offer monthly scheduled brewery tours. ABGB has won several medals at the Great American Beer Festival, including gold for their German-style pilsner, "Industry", and silver for "The Beeginning," a honey beer. Their helles lager, "Hell Yes," is also a must-try.

Austin Beerworks

Austin Beerworks is a staple of the Austin brewing scene, with a North Austin warehouse and taproom that feels more like a backyard barbecue than a bar. They offer four core beers, seasonal rotators, and exclusive brews on draught. You can bring your pets or kids and enjoy live music, bites from local food trucks, and a laid-back atmosphere. Their Pearl Snap Pilsner and Fire Eagle IPA are infinitely drinkable and have contributed to their success.

Independence Brewing

Independence Brewing, founded by Amy and Rob Cartwright in 2004, was one of the first production breweries in Austin and the only woman-owned one at the time. Now the eighth-largest brewery in Texas, Independence Brewing crafts classic styles with precision. Their Austin Amber, an amber ale, and Stash IPA are local favourites. Drinking at Independence is like sipping on a piece of Austin's beer history.

Jester King Brewery

Located about half an hour southwest of Austin, in Dripping Springs, Jester King is worth the drive. Set in a bucolic ranch in Texas Hill Country, Jester King is one of the best breweries in the country. They specialise in spontaneously fermented farmhouse ales, but also offer a range of "clean" beers, including lagers and pilsners. Enjoy their craft beers and elevated pub fare, like wagyu burgers and truffle-fried mushrooms, with breathtaking views.

Live Oak Brewing Company

Live Oak Brewing Co. is Austin's oldest brewery, celebrating 25 years of brewing excellence. They focus on German beer styles, and their Pilz and Hefeweizen are among the best in the country. In addition to their exceptional beers, Live Oak offers a nice taproom, a small food truck, and a disc golf course. They also show UT Longhorn football games in their taproom.

Meanwhile Brewing Company

Meanwhile Brewing Company is a South Austin hotspot with a massive space, including a taproom, beer garden, food trucks, a turf soccer field, a playground, and a live music stage. They release a new IPA on the first Friday of every month, featuring new can art by different artists. Their Disco in the Panic Room Northwest IPA and Export Lager, a Dortmunder-style lager, are crowd favourites.

Pinthouse Brewing

Pinthouse Brewing is a local favourite in Southeast Austin, founded by friends with a shared passion for craft beer and delicious food. Their brewery location and multiple Pinthouse Pizzas around town offer award-winning beers and mouthwatering pizzas. Their Electric Jellyfish IPA is a must-try, known for being juicy, hoppy, balanced, and refreshing.

St. Elmo Brewing Company

St. Elmo Brewing Company is an award-winning brewery in South Austin known for its exceptional beers and unpretentious vibe. They offer a variety of styles, including sours, kölsches, West Coast IPAs, hazies, and Lagerbiers. Enjoy their brews in their spacious beer hall or outdoor beer garden.

Zilker Brewing Company

Zilker Brewing Company is a staple of East Austin's booming craft beer scene, with a cozy taproom and outdoor patio space. They host fun events, such as beer pairings and yoga + beer sessions. Their coffee milk stout, modelled after Cuban coffee, and Parks & Rec Pale Ale are standout beers.

Hold Out Brewing

Hold Out Brewing brings tasty craft beer and killer burgers without leaving the city limits. Their beer lineup is creative and modern, and their menu satisfies bar cravings with smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and wings. Their House Beer is perfect for porch drinking, and their Dog Days Fresh Hop IPA series is a must-try.

Oddwood Brewing

Oddwood Brewing, located on MLK, has a laid-back, retro vibe with VHS tapes and an indie rock soundtrack. Their beers, however, are smart and serious, with a focus on IPAs and hoppier lagers. They also offer an extensive range of pizzas, salads, and stromboli. Oddwood is a favourite among Austinites and has collaborated with other top breweries in the area.

Southern Heights Brewing Company

Southern Heights Brewing Company, located on MLK-183, is a go-to for IPA enthusiasts. Their Tahitian Dreamin' IPA and Where's My Flannel English Mild Ale are local favourites. The taproom has a warehouse-style space with extensive indoor seating and a few outdoor picnic tables.

Best beer bars in Austin

Draught House Pub & Brewery

Draught House has been a fixture in Austin's craft beer scene for decades. With 74 beers on tap, they offer a regional and local selection, including some of their own brews. The bar has an old-world English pub feel to it, with dark interior walls and heavy wooden furniture. They also serve food on-site from Little House Kitchen, and you can order online via Toast.

Hopfields

Hopfields has an impressive 44 rotating taps, with a wide range of beers from porters and wheat beers to IPAs and local brews. The food is French-inspired, with dishes like Chicken Normandy and ratatouille. It's a little off the beaten path, but well worth the trip for the excellent beer and food.

WhichCraft Tap Room & Bottle Shop

With rotating taps, rare labels, and hundreds of creative craft brews on the shelves, WhichCraft offers an extensive selection. They also offer pre-packaged beer, wine, and cider to go, as well as crowlers and growlers to fill up and take home.

Whip In Convenience Store & Pub

What started as a convenience store has evolved into a unique gastropub with 70 beers on tap, a full wine list, and a from-scratch kitchen serving Indian fusion cuisine. The beer menu has everything from wheats and ciders to sours, Belgians, and IPAs. You can also pick up household essentials here, making it a one-stop shop.

Easy Tiger

Easy Tiger combines Texas' rich German heritage with Austin's modern, casual vibe. They offer a variety of cheese, beer, and baked goods, including massive pretzels and housemade meat-filled sandwiches. With four locations and outdoor garden bars throughout Austin, it's a great spot to enjoy a beer and some food.

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

With 207 taps, Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden is a popular destination for beer lovers. They offer a wide variety of craft beers and a whole hog barbecue program. It's a great spot to hang out with friends and enjoy a cold brew and some schnitzel sausage.

Pinthouse Pizza

Pinthouse Pizza offers its own award-winning beers and a rotating tap list. They also have three locations in Austin and one in Round Rock, making it a convenient spot to grab a beer and a slice.

Workhorse

This Austin favourite is a classic dive bar, with a generous pour and no frills. Over 30 of the 50 brews on tap are locally made, and they're paired with excellent grass-fed burgers and crispy fries.

Haymaker

Haymaker is a sports bar with an impressive selection of beers. They have 40 rotating taps and drink specials every day of the week. It's a great spot to catch a game and enjoy a beer and their signature poutine.

Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches

Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches is a unique spot, offering a combination of sweet and savoury dough pastries with either jam or sausage fillings. They have 12 rotating taps and a row of fridges with approximately 400 beers. They also have a dog-friendly outdoor space.

Central Machine Works

This vast East Austin hangout has a variety of homemade beers on tap, from full-bodied American Lager to refreshing Pilsner. They also offer cocktails, like frozen espresso martinis, and traditional bar food. The space used to be a factory for making airplane parts, giving it a unique atmosphere. They host fun weekend events like live music and yoga.

Crown & Anchor

This close-to-campus hideaway has been

Best beer tours in Austin

Austin is a great place to visit for beer lovers, with its booming craft beer scene, hometown breweries, and wide range of beer varieties. Here are some of the best beer tours you can experience in the city:

Austin Brewery Tours, LLC

This tour takes you on Austin's Brew Bus to visit three of the city's best breweries. The tour includes a friendly host, beer tastings, and a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process. It's a great opportunity to learn about the history of each brewery and hear interesting stories. The tour is all-inclusive and costs $110 per person for a four-hour experience, available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Austin BBQ and Brew Shuttle

This tour combines two of Austin's best offerings—barbeque and craft beer. You'll get to discover hidden gems and explore the city's BBQ and craft beer scene. The tour includes visits to delicious barbeque spots and handcrafted brews at local breweries like Austin Beerworks and Meanwhile Brewing. It's a well-organized, seamless, and enjoyable experience that takes you off the beaten path.

The Brew Bus: Austin Brewery Tour with Live Band

This unique tour combines two of Austin's favourite things—craft beer and live music. You'll get to drink beer and listen to a live band as you visit different breweries around the city. It's a fun and memorable experience, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Private Austin Brewery Tour by Pedicab with All-Inclusive Beer Flight Option

This tour offers a relaxing way to explore East Austin's award-winning microbreweries. You'll ride in an open-air pedicab, stopping at three breweries to sample their beers. It's a great option if you want a more intimate and personalized experience, and you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

4-Hour Sip of Austin Brewery Tour

This all-inclusive tour picks you up in downtown Austin and takes you on a fun-filled journey to different breweries. You'll get to taste a variety of beers and learn about the city's thriving craft beer scene. The tour includes transportation in a comfortable van, brewery tours, and tasting sessions.

In addition to these guided tours, Austin also offers self-guided options and beer gardens, such as the ABGB (The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co.), where you can enjoy live music and locally sourced food along with their award-winning beers.

Best beer gardens in Austin

Drinking beer is a popular activity in Austin, Texas, and the city has a booming craft beer scene. Beer gardens are a great way to enjoy the beverage in a relaxed outdoor setting, and Austin has many excellent options to choose from. Here are some of the best beer gardens the city has to offer:

Easy Tiger

Easy Tiger is an Austin staple with three locations across the city, offering a traditional biergarten vibe with a spacious backyard, an indoor-outdoor double-story patio, and an iconic beer garden with long picnic tables. Their beer cheese and enormous pretzels are not to be missed, along with their excellent selection of beers.

The Brewtorium

This mom-and-pop brewpub is nestled in the Highland area, offering a spacious indoor warehouse and a cozy biergarten. They have a wide range of beers, from lagers to coconut milk stouts, and an inventive food menu that includes soft pretzels, bratchos, and large sandwiches.

Draught House Pub & Brewery

Draught House is a North Central Austin institution with over 50 years of history. They offer a laid-back atmosphere with more than 70 beers on tap and a very relaxed patio. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a pint with friends.

Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches

Batch is a unique spot that combines a coffee shop, kolache bakery, and craft brewery all in one. They have a large and shady beer garden with plenty of outdoor space and a great beer selection. It's a perfect place for families, with a grassy area and large mushroom caps for children to play on.

Central Machine Works

Central Machine Works is a popular microbrewery housed in a converted 1940s machine shop. They offer a spacious outdoor area and an indoor beer hall with towering tanks. Their beer garden is surrounded by native Live Oak trees, providing nature's patio umbrellas. They also have a food menu featuring burgers, pizzas, and sausages.

Banger's Sausage House & Beer Garden

Banger's is a popular destination on Rainey Street, known for its large outdoor beer garden and an extensive selection of over 200 beers on tap. They offer a fun brunch menu and a variety of smoked meats, making it an excellent choice for groups looking to enjoy a day out in downtown Austin.

Austin Beer Garden and Brewery

Also known as The ABGB by locals, this classic Austin craft beer spot has a quintessential outdoor beer garden. They offer shade from large trees, communal picnic tables, and a friendly, neighbourhood vibe. You can pair your beer with a pizza instead of the traditional pretzels.

Live Oak Brewing Company

Live Oak Brewing is one of Austin's original breweries, known for their award-winning Hefeweizen. Their outdoor beer garden showcases the beauty of Live Oak trees, providing shade and a spacious area to enjoy your drink. It's a great spot to visit if you're looking for a quick stop close to the airport.

Meanwhile Brewing

Meanwhile Brewing is a massive beer garden and brewery in South Austin. They have dozens of shady trees, picnic tables, and Adirondack chairs for solo drinkers. There's also a soccer field, an outdoor stage, and a playground for kids. Several food trucks rotate through the property, ensuring a variety of tasty treats to pair with your drink.

Cosmic Coffee and Beer Garden

Cosmic Coffee, located in South Austin, offers a lovely garden and a massive dog-friendly outdoor area. Their beer garden features stunning landscaping with a pond and a chicken coop. They have rotating food trucks, ensuring a diverse range of culinary options to accompany your beer.

Best beer and food pairings in Austin

Drinking beer is a popular activity in Austin, Texas, and the city boasts a booming craft beer scene. Here are some of the best beer and food pairings you can enjoy in Austin:

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company (ABGB)

ABGB is an iconic brewery in Austin, known for its award-winning pilsners and live music. You can hang out in their warehouse-like beer garden and sample a variety of house microbrews, from lagers to special fruited sours. To pair with your beer, they offer pizzas, sandwiches like the stacked muffuletta or reuben with a fried egg, and other casual bar food. ABGB has a lively atmosphere with music from local artists almost every night.

Pinthouse Brewing

Pinthouse Brewing is a local hotspot in Southeast Austin, founded by friends with a shared passion for craft beer and delicious food. They offer a range of award-winning beers, with the Electric Jellyfish IPA being a local favourite. Their multi-location brewery is also known for its pizza, nachos, soft pretzels, and other comfort foods. Pinthouse provides a convivial, communal atmosphere, making it a popular choice for families and beer enthusiasts alike.

Austin Beerworks

Austin Beerworks is a staple of the Austin brewing scene, located in a North Austin warehouse and taproom. They offer four core beers, seasonal rotators, and exclusive brews on draught. You can bring your pets or kids and enjoy live music, bites from local food trucks, and a laid-back backyard barbecue vibe. Their Pearl Snap German Pils and Peacemaker Ale are particularly well-loved, with the latter available in crushable 99-can packs.

Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches

Batch is a unique spot in Austin, combining a brewery, bakery, coffee shop, taco food truck, and bottle shop all in one. They specialise in table beers, barrel-aged sours, IPAs, and fruity sours. The food offerings include sweet and savoury kolaches, as well as brisket tacos from the Taco Bronco food truck. Batch has a large outdoor area with plenty of shade, making it a great spot to hang out and enjoy a variety of beers and treats.

Hold Out Brewing

Hold Out Brewing is a relatively new addition to downtown Austin, having opened during the pandemic. They offer a creative beer lineup, including crisp pale ales and fall-friendly dry-hopped porters. The food menu includes smash burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, wings, and vegetarian options. Hold Out has a spacious patio and a dreamy outdoor space centred around a historic Live Oak tree, making it a perfect spot for gatherings with friends and family.

These are just a few examples of the many great places to enjoy beer and food pairings in Austin. Whether you're looking for a lively atmosphere, unique brews, or delicious food, Austin has something for everyone.

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