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Austin Beer Guide — Summer 2011
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austin bEER guidE
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Contents FROM THE EDITORS
Issue No. 2. And they say print is dead! Surprised to see us again? Maybe you should be. Getting that first guide published almost took it out of us. But have no fear, with beer in our bellies and a measurable amount of ambition in our hearts, we pressed on.
So why another issue? Because beer blogging is so 2010. Or maybe because it’s a new season, there are more Austin breweries and (thanks to what seemed like genius ideas over Google chat) more features. Figure out what you are drinking this summer (p. 06), get inside the mind of a brewer (p. 40) and plan how to sneak in a few beers next time you go antiquing out on 290 West (p. 34). There’s even a word search (p. 43)!
And for those of you who think this may be a little too basic (yeah, we overheard you at the bar), remember, it’s a guide, not an encyclopedia. Thumb through it and pretend to look busy while you sit alone at the bar. In beer and love,
Chris TroutmanJosh Spradling
Aaron Chamberlain
BREWERIES
BREW puBS
BEER & lOaTHIng
BREWER’S BRaIn
MapS
WWW.auSTInBEERguIDE.COM
SEaSOnS DRInkIng
nEWS & BREW-MORS
WORT SEaRCH
OVER a pInT
Cover design:
BONUS STAFF PROOFREADERS ...........Sofia and SarahPHOTOGRAPHER ........... Shawn Phillips
nEWS & BREW-MORS
l Hops & Grain sign contract with Austin Zoo to become producer of all animal feed in new venture called “Zoo Brew Biscuits,” making them the most lucrative brewery in Texas.
l In the blog world, Craft Austin and You Stay Hoppy Austin are, in fact, the same person and BeerTownAustin is still for sale.
l Jester King to brew collaboration beer with Anheuser Busch, tentatively called “Commercial Resurrection”
l Draught House is hosting their first Guns for Growlers event later this month. No solid date has been set. They ask that you do not bring guns until day of event.
l Another 72 homebrewers have announced plans to open production breweries in 2011.
This is the news
austin Brew-mors
1
2
3
4
Austin Beerworks and Twisted X are officially open for business. Beers hitting shelves and taps now.
Barber Shop has been open for a few months, but they are now brewing their own beer, making them a fully functioning brew pub.
The annual Flying Saucer Beer Fall Fest is set for October 1 at the Triangle and followed by the always impressive Draught House Anniversary Party on October 22, the first day of Austin Beer Week.
Easy Tiger Bake Shop and Beer Garden is opening their downtown doors soon. Choose from 40 beers on tap to find a perfect pairing for your blueberry scone.
SEaSOnS DRInkIng
It’s hot. Time to wear less and drink more. Put on your short shorts, start sweating it out and get ready for some summer drinking. Throw some six-packs of Southern Star Bombshell Blonde in the cooler for that trip down the Guadalupe. Plow through a growler of Live Oak Hefeweizen while playing grill master for your friends. Soak up those extra hours of sun while putting down a few Real Ale Devil’s Backbone and forgetting it’s on the north side of 8%. Or double up your drinking with refreshing 3.5% Black Star Co-op Waterloo from their irrational menu. Crack open a Saint Arnold Weedwacker after grooming the lawn. Tan by the pool sipping on an Independence Pale Ale. Bike into your favorite bar and enjoy Jester King/Mikkeller Drink’in the Sunbelt late into the
night. Mix things up from your regular drinking styles and venture into a Draught House Sunshade Gose. Make friends at the beach with Austin Beerworks Peacemaker Extra Pale Ale. Relax after a day on the lake and watch the sun set with an Uncle Billy’s Agave Wit. Cool off and enjoy the great indoors of the Thirsty Planet tasting room and tour with a Thirsty Planet Buckethead IPA. If, even in the summer sun, brunettes are more your thing, take in a (512) Alt or two. Whatever your summer activity may be, just try to enjoy it with a few pints, bottles or cans of something local. Regardless of our never ending summer there should be plenty out there to keep quenching your thirst long into September.
Summer Sippin’
Hate our summer pairings? Draw lines below to create your perfect match.
POOl HOPPinG
FlOATinG THE RivER
DiSC GOlFinG
GRillinG
SunBuRnin’ AT THE BEACH
HiTTinG THE lAkE
BikE RiDinG
livE OAk HEFEWEizEn
AuSTin BEERWORkS
FiRE EAGlE iPA
(512) WiT
JESTER kinG DRink’in THE
SunBElT
THiRSTy PlAnET THiRSTy GOAT
AMBER
inDEPEnDEnCE FREESTylE
WHEAT
REAl AlE DEvil’S
BACkBOnE
Kevin Brand and his wife moved to Austin from California in early 2008 to start the brewery and were brewing beer that same summer. Brand’s initial lineup was the Wit, Pale, and IPA, but quickly added the Pecan Porter to the year round line up after the enormous reception it received as the first winter seasonal.
Currently (512)’s beers are only available on draft but have released a limited number of bottles of Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter in the past and sprinkled them around town. These hot commodities moved off shelves in increments of minutes and created a city wide scavenger hunt/craze/mania/wild goose chase akin to the Saint Arnold Divine Reserve releases in Houston.
This summer, also keep your eyes open for (512) THREE their third anniversary release. They are also planning to re-release (512) ONE and (512) TWO.
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . . . . .Kevin BrandestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer 2008tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Seasonal Open Housesurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.512brewing.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
(512) Wit style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wit or white beeraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . .Light, semi-tart, hint of grapefruit Food it chases down well . . . white pizza,
light pastas, hummus, salads, seafood
(512) Palestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Pale AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . .Drinkable, hoppy, quenchingFood it chases down well . . . . . . Burgers,
chiles rellenos, fish and chips
(512) iPAstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft
Quick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hoppy, citrusy, solidFood it chases down well . . . . .Spicy thai,
tex-mex, italian, ALL pizza, BBQ
(512) Pecan Porterstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PorteraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . .Full bodied, roasty, pecansFood it chases down well . . . .Red meats,
ice cream, chocolate
CuRREnT SEaSOnal
(512) AlTstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .AltbieraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . .Roasty, nutty, slightly sweetFood it chases down well . . . . . . . . Grilled
sausages, fish Note: (512) ALT is technically a spring seasonal, but will probably be found on taps in June.
WE RECOMMEnD
IPA, Wit, ALT
(512) Brewing Co. BREWERIES
Austin Beerworks is a collection of four friends spanning from the East coast to Austin, united and “hell-bent on excellence” in beer making. The beerworkers, Michael, Will, Adam and Mike, have raised an impressive production brewery and cannery in the northwest sector of town since our last issue in April. With two beers on tap (the Peacemaker Extra Pale and Fire Eagle IPA) and two more conditioning in tanks (the Pearl-Snap Pils and Black Thunder Schwarz) the four friends have come storming out of the gates and onto the Austin beer scene. The Austin Beerworkers fellows aim to make super tasty, yet drinkable beers, perfect for our refined, but also often heat-parched Austin palates. This summer should witness the release of all four beers, and for tubing’s sake, some local product in cans and on shelves.
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . Adam DeBower, Michael Graham, Mike McGovern
and Will GoldenestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer 2011tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Check websiteurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.austinbeerworks.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Black Thunder German Schwarz style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SchwarzbieraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/CansQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roasted, coffee,
slightly hoppy, dry Food it chases down well . . . . . .S’mores,
scones, camping
Fire Eagle American iPA style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/CansQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hoppy, piney Food it chases down well . . . . . . . . . Thai,
steak, spicy italian
Peacemaker Extra Pale style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Pale AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/CansQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Drinkable, crispFood it chases down well . . . . . . . . Vegan
hotdogs, pickles, cookouts
Pearl-Snap German Pilsstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . German PilsneraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/CansQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light, hoppy, crispFood it chases down well . . . . . .Sausage,
breads, mustard, burgers
WE RECOMMEnD
Fire Eagle American IPA, Peacemaker Extra Pale
austin Beerworks BREWERIES
Ben Sable and Jud Mulherin were childhood friends in Tennessee. As youngsters they shared a dream to open a “shop.” Like many young friends, as they grew up, their lives took different paths, but they never lost touch. And they never forgot their dream. As adults they both loved beer, so it was inevitable that their dream would morph into becoming brewery owners. Circle Brewing appeared on the internet beer rumor mill in the second half of 2008. Fast forward two years, Ben and Jud were brewing their first batches of beer for Austin. Envy Amber and Blur Texas Hefe were their first beers to be released. They will follow those with their Nightlight Dry Irish Stout. Circle brews their beer following the Reinheitsgebot, the German purity law from 1516. Their basic philosophy: to make beer “with only the best ingredients and NONE of the other stuff.”
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ben Sabel and Jud Mulherin
estaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Winter 2011tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Check websiteurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.circlebrewing.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Blur Texas Hefe style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HefeweizenaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.6%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . Bananas, light, gulpableFood it chases down well . . .Pizza, salad,
crab legs
Envy Amber Ale style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light hops, spicy,
biscuity malt, crispFood it chases down well. . . . . . . . . . .Grilled
meats, chips and salsa, seafood
nightlight Dry irish Stoutstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Irish Dry StoutaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Roasty, dry, cocoaFood it chases down well. . . .Raw oysters,
shepherd’s pie, stew
COMIng SOOn
Alibi Blonde Bockstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MaibockimBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft
Epic Hop Bockstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BockimBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft
Note: At press time Alibi Blonde Bock and Epic Hop Bock have only been announced on Circle’s website (to be released this Summer). For that reason, we have forgone descriptions/pairings until a later date. Look for them soon at bars and restaurants around town.
WE RECOMMEnD
Blur Texas Hefe, Nightlight Dry Irish Stout
Circle Brewing Co. BREWERIES
Bringing his Colorado beer knowledge and inspiration to Austin, Josh Hare is opening one of the city’s newest breweries in the summer of 2011. They’ll start out with two year-round beers that will be canned for easy use during your outdoor drinking endeavors. Additionally, Josh has plans to brew up to 10 more experimental beers in his first year on the 3 barrel pilot system they’ve dubbed the “Greenhouse.” Expect styles like a barleywine, Belgian pale ale and schwarzbier to show up on draft and in 22 ounce bottles. If that isn’t enough, Hops and Grain is an environmentally sustainable operation that uses up- cycled malted barley from brewing to make natural and wheat free dog treats called Brew Biscuits (from what we’ve seen at beer festivals, people can be quite fond of them after a few drinks too). Head to the east side and stop by the tap room when they get going to check out their regular and experimental offerings. Don’t forget to take your furry four-legged friend as well; they’ll have some Brew Biscuits waiting.
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Josh HareestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer 2011tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Friday 2-6pm
Saturday 12-4pmurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.hopsandgrain.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Pale Dog Pale Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Pale AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.0% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/Cans
Alteration Alt Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Düsseldorf-style AltbieraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/Cans
Note: At press time Hops and Grain was still setting up its brew house with a goal of releasing beer this Summer. We’ve tasted Josh’s beers and thought they were great, but we’ve had a lot to drink since then so have forgone descriptions/pairings until a later date.
Hops and grainBrewing Co.
BREWERIES
IndependenceBrewing Co.
Husband and wife Rob and Amy Cartwright started Independence Brewing Co. in South Austin in 2004, but were active members of the ATX brewing community long before. Rob began brewing at Austin’s Copper Tank (RIP) in 1994 and after meeting Amy decided to open the brewery. Prior to opening the brewery the couple embedded themselves in the Austin beer community by putting on the Texas Craft Brewers Festival in 2004 and 2005.
Since opening, Independence has created a local niche for themselves by packaging the OU Suks bottles every fall for the UT vs. OU game, supplying the Alamo Drafthouse house beer from 2004-2009, and hosting the largest monthly beer gathering at their first Saturday tasting and tours.
This year they have been releasing one-off beers in their Brewluminati series. The most recent being Gold Deluxe, brewed with Maris Otter malt and Sorachi Ace hops.
InFO
Brewer/Founder. . . .Rob & Amy CartwrightestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fall 2004tours. . . . . . . . . . . First Saturday of the monthurl . . . . . . . . .www.independencebrewing.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Freestyle Wheat Ale style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Wheat AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.7% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Light, citrusy, zestyFood it chases down well . . . . . . Nachos,
sushi, salad
independence Pale Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . American Pale AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . .Piney, hoppy, light maltFood it chases down well . . . . . Ruebens,
sausage and peppers
Stash iPAstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/Bottle
Quick sip. . . . . Very hoppy, balanced malt bodyFood it chases down well . . .Greasy-fatty
mexican, pizza
Convict Hill Oatmeal Stoutstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oatmeal StoutaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.5% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Cacao, licorice, roastFood it chases down well . . . . . . . . . . . Ice
cream, chocolate, toffee
CuRREnT SEaSOnal Saisonstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SaisonaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light, drinkable,
refreshing, semi-yeastyFood it chases down well . . . . . . . Salads,
sandwiches, breads, poultry
WE RECOMMEnD
Stash IPA, Saison
*See full listing of available beers at www.austinbeerguide.com/breweries/independence
BREWERIES
www.independencebrewing.com
Jester king Craft Brewery
Conceived in the fire of a homebrewer’s heart, Jester King was birthed by brothers Jeff Stuffings and Michael Steffing in the early fall of 2010 amongst the hills in Southwest Austin. Ambitious from the start, the brothers made their commercial debut with a session beer - an oak aged English mild - wearing the moniker “Commercial Suicide.” It was anything but. They followed this shortly with the wildly popular Rye IPA “Wytchmaker,” a beer that bars could rarely keep on tap. Then with a one-two-punch they released their first brewery one-offs, the Whiskey Barrel Aged Commercial Suicide and Black Metal Imperial Stout to resounding applause. The brothers could not fail. Most recently, they teamed up with Danish brewer, Mikkeller to brew Drink’in the Sunbelt. Jester King has challenged conventional beer thinking while raising the bar high for the local Austin palate.
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Stuffings and Michael Steffing
estaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fall 2010tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Rotating Open Housesurl . . . . . . . . . . . . www.jesterkingbrewery.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Commercial Suicidestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dark MildaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.3% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Smooth, malty Food it chases down well . . . . . . . . . aged
chedder, fish and chips
Wytchmaker Rye iPAstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rye IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Drinkable,
hoppy, quenchingFood it chases down well . . . . . . Burgers,
pizza, chips and salsa
Black Metal imperial Stoutstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Imperial StoutaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Big roast,
coffee, chocolateFood it chases down well . . .Cheesecake,
roast beef and other bloody meats
CuRREnT SEaSOnal Drink’in the Sunbeltstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hoppy Wheat AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hoppy, dry yet
super drinkableFood it chases down well . . . Empanadas,
sunsets
WE RECOMMEnD
Commercial Suicide, Drink’in the Sunbelt
BREWERIES
live Oak Brewing Co.
Built by hand by Chip McElroy and Brian Peters (now of Uncle Billy’s fame) in a small (and now worn) building on the east side of town, Live Oak has been an Austin staple since 1997. They use an old-world style of brewing mostly practiced throughout Germany and the Czech Republic and use techniques such as open fermentation and secondary lagering on some of their styles to give their beers a very distinct Live Oak taste. This is best reflected in their Pilz and much beloved Hefeweizen.
Last year they reintroduced their Liberation Ale, a balanced IPA, after a two-year absence due to the hop shortage. Live Oak has purchased land on the outskirts of Austin and has plans to expand into a new facility in the future, with hopes of bottling their beers for the masses. If you have never been to one of their tours, take one in when you can—Chip and the gang are more than happy to host everyone!
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . . . . Chip McElroyestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1997tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturdays at Noonurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.liveoakbrewing.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Pilz style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Czech PilsneraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hoppy, dry, refreshing Food it chases down well . . . . . .Sausage,
pizza, burgers, anything really
Big Barkstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Amber LageraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . Smooth, quenching, maltyFood it chases down well . . . . . . Burgers,
chips and salsa, fish and chips, sausage
Hefeweizenstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HefeweizenaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bananas, cloves, hazy,
super refreshingFood it chases down well. . .Blue cheese!
liberation Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . Hoppy, great malt balanceFood it chases down well . . . . . . Tobacco,
foie gras or other duck dishes
CuRREnT SEaSOnal
Roggenbierstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RoggenbieraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . Smooth, fruity, drinkableFood it chases down well . . . . . .Pastries,
mild cheeses, melon WE RECOMMEnD
Pilz, Hefeweizen
BREWERIES
Real Ale Brewing Co.
One of the longer running breweries in central Texas, Real Ale has been in operation since 1996. The brewery originally operated out of a basement of an antique shop in Blanco (50 minutes outside Austin). In 1998, current owner Brad Farbstein took over. Maxed out at 5,500 barrels a year, Real Ale moved just outside the downtown area in 2006 to a new facility that allowed them to produce 10-12 times that amount.
In 2009 they started bottling their seasonal beers, kicking off with the excellent Shade Grown Coffee Porter. Last year they began turning out a series of experimental Mysterium Verum (Real Mystery) beers, including seasonals aged in oak barrels or entirely new brews. The beers, such as The Devil’s Share (barrel-aged Devil’s Backbone) make appearances on rare occasion around town or at special events. They always seem to have something special on tap at their tasting room, whether a cask or barrel aged beer, so make the scenic drive to Blanco one Friday and give them a visit.
INFO
Brewer/Founder . . . . . . . . . . Philip & Diane Conner (Founders), Brad Farbstein (Owner),
Tim Schwartz, Erik Ogershok (Head Brewers)estaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1996tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fridays 2-5pm url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.realalebrewing.com
YeAR ROuNd BeeRs
Rio Blanco Pale Ale style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . English Pale AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light hops, spicy,
biscuity malt, crispFood it chases down well . . . . . . .Seafood
grilled chicken, chips and salsa
Firemans #4 Blonde Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Blonde AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Light, bready maltsFood it chases down well . . . . . . .Poultry,
pizza, whatever’s on the grill
Lost Gold IPA style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.6% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft/BottleQuick sip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Citrusy hops,
strong malt background Food it chases down well . . . . . . . . . Fried
chicken, gorgonzola, gumbo
CuRReNt seAsONAl Hans’ Pilsstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . German PilsneraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3% imBiBing options . . . . Draft (Starting in July)Quick sip . . . . . . .Crisp, toasty, assertive hopsFood it chases down well . . Smoked fish,
pickles, schnitzel
XV Anniversary Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Russian Imperial StoutimBiBing options . . . Draft, Bottles (Limited)
we ReCOmmeNd
Full Moon Pale Rye, Hans’ Pils
*See full listing of available beers at www.austinbeerguide.com/breweries/real-ale
BReweRIes
Thirsty planet Brewing Co.
Everyone remembers when they first really started falling in love with beer. For Brian Smittle it was while he was living in England studying British politics and experiencing true “real ale.” Following college graduation, Brian made the move to Colorado where he took his affection for beer one step further and volunteered at a brewery in Vail. He soon became a paid employee and full-time brewer (a.k.a. “living the dream”). Through his work there he met some college students who offered him an ownership piece of a brew pub in Oklahoma. They opened in 1993 and grew to include a brewery and four satellite stores. While successful, Brian wanted to get back to the brewing operations so he and his wife Tammy looked for a location to set up their own operation. They chose Austin and started putting their beers on the market in the summer of 2010 beginning with the Buckethead IPA. This year they plan to start bottling and releasing some new brews. Some of these possible new releases have been making appearances at their tasting room (see page 34 for more on these).
InFO
Brewer/Founder . . .Brian & Tammy SmittleestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Summer 2010tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . Saturdays, check websiteurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.thirstyplanet.net
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Buckethead iPA style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAimBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Slightly sweet,
bitter finish, hoppy nose Food it chases down well . . . .Pâté, pizza,
fish and chips
Thirsty Goat Amberstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber AleaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . . . . . .Malty, clean, drinkableFood it chases down well. . .Sandwiches,
chips and queso
yellow Armadillo Wheatstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American WheataBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . Crisp, refreshing, drinkableFood it chases down well . . . . . .Sausage,
crawfish
CuRREnT SEaSOnal Double Buckethead style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Imperial IPAaBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12% imBiBing options . . . . Limited Draft ReleaseQuick sip . . . . . . . . . . .Grapefruity hops, sticky Food it chases down well . . . . . . . .Bacon,
fries, curry dishes
WE RECOMMEnD
Buckethead IPA
BREWERIES
Twisted X Brewing Co.
Since our first issue three months ago, Austin’s beer scene has changed (it seems to change and grow each month). One of those changes: Twisted X. Started by Jim Sampson and Shane Bordeau in Cedar Park, they are one of two breweries that has opened in the past few months. They held their initial release party on Cinco de Mayo, where they introduced beer fans to the Fuego Jalapeño Infused Tex Mex Pilsner, Twisted X Premium Tex Mex Lager and the then unnamed Premium Tex Mex Dark Lager. The dark lager has now been blessed with the moniker: Cow Creek. With a tex-mex theme they are bound to quench the thirsts of a large swath of Austin beer drinkers. Austinites love tex-mex. Austinites love beer. Tex-mex beer? Forget about it, a match made in heaven. Could a pico-de-gallo beer be in the works? Let’s hope so. Mole Porter—that’s the ticket!
InFO
Brewer/Founder. . . . . . . . . . . .Jim Sampson and Shane Bordeau
estaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Spring 2011tours. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Check websiteurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.texmexbeer.com
YEaR ROunD BEERS
Fuego Jalapeño infused Tex Mex Pilsnerstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chile Beer/PilsneraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . . . . . . Crisp, slightly dry, hotFood it chases down well . . . . . . . . Steak,
roasted pork, chinese takeout
Cow Creek Premium Tex Mex Dark lager style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Vienna (Dark) LageraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.47%imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . . . .Drinkable, slightly sweetFood it chases down well . . . . . . Gorditas,
tostadas, tamales
Twisted X Premium Tex Mex lager style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Light LageraBV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2% imBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DraftQuick sip . . . . . . . .Light, very drinkable, clean Food it chases down well . . . . . . . . . Elote,
nachos, enchiladas
COMIng SOOn
ChupaHOPra Tex Mex india Pale Alestyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . IPAimBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft
Señor viejo Tex Mex imperial Black lagerstyle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .SchwarzbierimBiBing options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draft
Note: At press time ChupaHOPra and Señor Viejo have only been announced on Twisted X’s website (to be released this Summer). For that reason, we have forgone descriptions/pairings until a later date. Look for them soon at bars and restaurants around town.
WE RECOMMEnD
Fuego Jalapeño Infused Tex Mex Pilsner
BREWERIES
SaInT aRnOlD BREWIng COMpanY
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . HoustonestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1994url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.saintarnold.com
FRanCOnIa BREWIng COMpanY
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . McKinneyestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008url . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.franconiabrewing.com
RaHR & SOnS BREWIng COMpanY
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fort WorthestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2004url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.rahrbrewing.com
More TX Breweries*
BREWERIES
No other movie theater in the world puts as much emphasis on craft beers as we do at every Alamo Drafthouse location.
In addition to our large selection of bottle and draft beers, be sure to experience our rotating Badass Taps at all four Austin locations showcasing a range of rare, aged and premium beers.
D R A F T H O U S E .CO M
RangER CREEk BREWIng & DISTIllIng
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . San AntonioestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2010url . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.drinkrangercreek.com
SOuTHERn STaR BREWIng COMpanY
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ConroeestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2008url . . . . . . . . . .www.southernstarbrewery.com
SpOETzl BREWERY (SHInER)
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ShinerestaBlished . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1909url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.shiner.com
*Texas breweries with beer currently available in Austin
BREW puBS
InFO
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .207 Mercer StreetDripping Springs, TX 78620
phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-829-4636hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varied, check website url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.barbershopbar.com
BREW puB SnapSHOT Barber Shop is another testament to the iron will of homebrewers. First announced in mid 2010 by business partners John McIntosh and Dave Niemeyer, the duo planned to take Dripping Spring’s barren beer landscape by storm. With an emphasis on the “bar” in Barber Shop, they left the historical buildings name
the same, while sprucing up the inside with a lush wood bar, rustic amenities, a strategically occupied tap wall and roomy outdoor quaffing area in the rear. Brewer John McIntosh intends to start by focusing on English pub ales. He has scored best in competition with those styles including 2nd place in Uncle Billy’s “Keep Austin Beered” pro am competition for special bitters.
Note: At press time Barber Shop’s first home brew had just come on tap. House made beer should be available as you are reading this, but they also have a commendable selection of local offerings, including Jester King, Real Ale, Independence, Thirsty Planet, etc.
Barber Shop
InFO
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . .7020 Easy Wind Drive Midtown Commons, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78752phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-452-BEERhours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4pm-12am url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.blackstar.coop
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
High Esteem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pale AleDouble Dee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber Alevulcan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rye IPARecalcitrant Dockhand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PorterWaterloo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Session Wheat
BREW puB SnapSHOT Black Star Co-op is the first known cooperatively run/owned brew pub in the world with members from across the globe. Monthly beer socials, starting in 2006, provided an outlet for recruiting new members and grew to host up to 500 members at each gathering. Black Star Co-op encapsulates everything Austin with an emphasis on local producers and community action, all through enjoyment of local beer.
WE RECOMMEnD
Vulcan, High Esteem, Waterloo
Black Star Co-op
InFO
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .215 North LBJ Drive San Marcos, TX 78666
(Located in Root Cellar Cafe)phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-392-5158hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tues-Sun 7am-4pm,
Thu-Sat 6pm-10pm url . . . . . . www.rootcellarcafe.com/dark.html
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
Mark of the yeast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . QuadrupelGolden Mean. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Strong Golden AlePale Rider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Belgian Pale AleSirius Dubbel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DubbelWeiz Guy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Belgian Wheat
BREW puB SnapSHOT Silas Parker offers an impressive list of handcrafted Belgian beers which becomes even more remarkable if you see his brewing conditions. He slaves away in the Root Cellar’s kitchen long into the night, after the restaurant closes, on his one barrel system. From the use of local ingredients and area well water to hand corked bottles with screen printed labels, Darkside is the embodiment of a craft nanobrewery. They plan to become a full-fledged brewery, but until then make the short drive south to grab a few bottles.
WE RECOMMEnD
Mark of the Yeast, Sirius Dubbel
Darkside Fermentation
BREW puBS
BREW puB SnapSHOT Located off 6th Street, but a world away. Lovejoys is unlike the frat-packed-shot-bars that surround it, hosting an eclectic mix of patrons and beer styles. With Todd Henry at the helm of the four barrel system, the beers have greatly improved over the past three years. Now with a solid lineup and the gnarliest jukebox in Austin, this is the place to drink freshly brewed beer downtown.
WE RECOMMEnD
Samson’s Best, AJ Porter
InFO
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 604 Neches Street Austin, TX 78701
phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-477-1268hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4pm-2am url . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.myspace.com/lovejoys
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
Samson’s Best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pale AleSad Family Somber Ale . . . . . . . English BitterAJ Porter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American Porter604 Stout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . StoutDr. Shock iPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPA
Draught House InFO
location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4112 Medical PkwyAustin, TX 78756
phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .512-452-MALThours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mon-Thu 5pm-2am,
Fri-Sun 1pm-2amurl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .www.draughthouse.com
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
Red Planet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Red AleBombay iPA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .American IPAGuy Smiley Mild . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dark Mild AleSidamo Milk Stout . . . . . . . . . Milk/Sweet StoutGose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gose
BREW puB SnapSHOT Brewer Josh Wilson likes to keep his beers moving. Josh doesn’t adhere to the general brew pub rules that say you have to develop four solid recipes and keep those on year long while only reserving a few taps for experimentation and seasonals. After visiting Draught House for a few years, you may notice that Josh keeps a loose yearly brewing schedule with styles and specific brews mirroring the seasonal calender.
WE RECOMMEnD
Gose, Red Planet (also Double Red Planet), Bombay IPA
lovejoys
BREW puBS
BREW puBS
InFO
location. . . . . . . . . 10010 Capital of TX Hwy NAustin, TX 78759
phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-467-6969hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varied, check website url . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.nxnwbrew.com
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
northern light . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PilsnerDuckabush Amber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Amber AlePyjingo Pale Ale . . . . . . . . . . American Pale AleOkanagan Black Ale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Black AleBavarian Hefe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hefeweizen
BREW puB SnapSHOT North by Northwest is Austin’s most upscale brew pub and offers a complete menu, with the restaurant itself driving many people to the establishment. Identifiable by the grain silo out front, the feel is very “Northwest lodge,” rounded out by stone, wood and a fireplace. The beers are solid and their monthly cask nights have a dedicated following. Check out their website for information on beer school, pairing events, brewer’s dinners and other events.
WE RECOMMEnD
Pyjingo Pale Ale, Bavarian Hefe
north by northwest
InFO
location #1. . . . . . 1530 Barton Springs Road Austin, TX 78704phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-476-0100location #2. . . . . . . . . . .6550 Comanche Trail
Unit B - Suite 201 Austin, Texas 78732
phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 512-266-0111hours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Varied, check website url . . . . . . . . . . . . . www.unclebillysaustin.com
HOuSE BEER SaMplIng
Back 40 Blonde. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BlondeAgave Wit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WitbierHill County Organic Amber . . . . . . . Amber AleAx Handle Pale Ale . . . . . . . American Pale Ale
BREW puB SnapSHOT Texas is BBQ heaven. Austin is Texas Craft Beer heaven. Put them together and you get Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que. Brian Peter’s has been crafting beer in Austin for over ten years and it shows in his solid house beers. Now with two locations, Uncle Billy’s is the ideal spot after boating on the lake or a day of festival-ing at Zilker Park. Along with their regular lineup of four beers, you’ll find 2-3 rotating house beers and a handful of Texas guest taps. Finding a beer to pair with your brisket will be no problem.
WE RECOMMEnD
Ax Handle Pale Ale, Hop Zombie IPA
uncle Billy’s
BEER & lOaTHIng
It all began on a Thursday at work. I suddenly learned that our “planned” trip to drive West on 290 the following week, drinking fresh crafted beer, was being threatened by a forgotten commitment to my wife to visit in-laws in Lubbock. Oops.
So Josh took the road less traveled and said he wouldn’t mind if we went that Saturday instead of two weeks later. I’m sure somewhere in his high-road heart he did mind.
With Josh replaced by Aaron’s two year old and wife Sofia, we made fast work of the miles of pavement and asphalt between Austin and Dripping Spring’s fresh young brew pub, Barber Shop (www.barbershopbar.com).Co-founder and brewer, John McIntosh was behind the wheel at the bar when we arrived.
12:55 pm - Real Ale Devil’s BackboneJohn poured me two of these as he played tour guide to his newly constructed and freshly deflowered half barrel brewhouse. I suspect the beers we saw sweating in fermentors will be ready to drink or already drunk by the time
you read this. He said they were bitters and that he plans to brew English style beers for his Hill Country drinkers.
Recently they’ve partnered with an Italian food trailer. Unfortunately it was closed at lunch on Saturday, so we stopped at Sonic for hotdogs on our way to Thirsty Planet Brewing (www.thirstyplanet.net). We arrived at Thirsty Planet to find the Evil Wiener trailer (www.theevilwiener.com) parked out front slinging dogs. Dammit. So we walked in looking like the jack-asses we were with our Sonic bags and filled up on more beers.
2:10-2:20 pm - Ancho Wheat and Bing Cherry BrownThe tasting room and biergarten were packed, but we still found some seats. Aaron and I were both pleased at the abundance of test beers they had pouring. Thirsty Planet’s tasting room is by far one of the better ones around and worth the visit. Mmm. More beer.
2:28 pm - noire WheatWith the Sonic hotdogs successfully cleansed from my palate, I had the experimental black wheat. It had some solid roasted character followed by a crisp bready wheat finish.
2:35 pm - Double iPAAt this point we were committed. As we still had one more stop in our future, we opted for the half pint glasses. Still, they were starting to add up in a satisfying way. It was at this time we were glad Sofia slowed down, as she would soon have three boys to take care of.
2:45-3:20ish pm - Armadillo Wheat, noire Wheat, Bucket Head iPAAfter having successfully sampled and judged all the Thirsty Planet beers as good to great, we
Day Tripping Down 290 West
BARBER SHOP
all took potty breaks and got in the car to visit their neighbors, Jester King Craft Brewery (www.jesterkingbrewery.com).
3:40 pm - Black Metal (bottle conditioned)Being their first Saturday tasting and tour day, we had no idea what to expect when we arrived at the brewery down Fitzhugh road. The last few Jester King public events we attended hosted between 100 and ~5,000 quaffers. This Saturday was more in the 50 folk range. Jeff was giving tours while Ron fielded questions from the tasting room and Michael, safely sectioned off by large empty barrels, was busy brewing. This was one of the few tours I’ve been to where they were actually in production while guests were in the brewery.
4:05 pm - WytchmakerJeff’s tour ended in the barrel room. Dwarfed by a backdrop of barrels, he delved into the details, joys, complexities, complications and rewards of barrel aging. At the time of the tour, the guys had begun to see/taste some promising
beers, but nothing was ready for commercial consumption. Wishful thinking imagines you’re enjoying one now as you read this, waiting for your asshat buddy who’s always late to show up.
4:15 pm - Black MagicYou read it right. Black Magic—One part Wytchmaker, one part Black Metal, four parts bad attitude. Ask for it by name.
Things got a little fuzzy here. At one point I was sitting on the floor leaning on a barrel, discussing fermentation temperature control limitations and solutions for homebrewing. I’m sure that was an enlightened conversation.
Then all of a sudden it was 5 pm and my wife was calling. We were going to a wedding at 6 back in town and I was in trouble. I rallied the troops and we jumped back in the car and headed north east.
What’s the take away? Bring a designated driver. Those “samples” stack up quick. And no, the Jester King servers were not pouring obviously inebriated guests, I took literary liberties to exaggerate my state for the sake of the piece (that title puts a lot of pressure on the author).
Barber Shop, Thirsty Planet and Jester King make for a nice little day trip on a Saturday. We suggest you do likewise. Sorry you got left behind Josh. Still friends?
-Chris Troutman
JESTER KING
THIRSTY PLANET
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BaRS & RESTauRanTS A. zax Restaurant & Bar
312 Barton Springs Road B. Alamo Drafthouse / Highball
1120 South Lamar Boulevard C. Hopdoddy Burger Bar
1400 South Congress Avenue D. Barley Swine
2024 South Lamar Boulevard E. Black Sheep lodge
2108 South Lamar BoulevardF. Whip in
1950 South Interstate 35 G. Red’s Porch
3508 South Lamar Boulevard
H. Opal Divine’s, Penn Field 3601 South Congress Avenue
i. Draft Pick 1620 East Riverside Drive, #1618
BREW puBS J. uncle Billy’s, Barton Springs
1530 Barton Springs Roadk. The Barber Shop
207 Mercer Street, Dripping Springsl. Darkside Fermentation / Root Cellar
215 North LBJ, San Marcos BREWERIES M. Jester king Craft Brewery
13005 Fitzhugh Road
n. Thirsty Planet Brewing Co. 11160 Circle Drive
O. (512) Brewing Co. 407 Radam Lane, F200
P. independence Brewing Co. 3913 Todd Lane
STORES Q. Thom’s Market
1418 Barton Springs RoadR. Central Market
4477 South Lamar Boulevard
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BaRS & RESTauRanTS A. The Dig Pub
401 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park B. HomeField Grill
2000 South Interstate 35, Round Rock C. Alamo Drafthouse, lake Creek
13729 Research Boulevard D. Mister Tramps
8565 Research BoulevardE. Alamo Drafthouse, village
2700 West Anderson Lane F. Pour House Pub
6701 Burnet Road
G. Billy’s on Burnet 2105 Hancock Drive
BREW puBS H. north By northwest (nXnW)
10010 North Capital of Texas Highway i. Black Star Co-op
7020 Easy Wind Drive BREWERIES J. Circle Brewing Co.
2340 West Braker Lanek. Austin Beerworks
3009 Industrial Terrace
l. Twisted X Brewing Co. 3200 W. Whitestone Blvd., Cedar Park
STORES M. Whole Foods Market
9607 Research Boulevard n. Specs, Arbor Walk
10515 North Mo Pac ExpresswayO. Sunrise Mini Market
1809 West Anderson LaneP. Specs, Airport
5775 Airport Boulevard
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University of Texas
TexasCapitol
38th ST.
15th ST.
12th ST.
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19th ST. / MLK
45th ST.
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BaRS & RESTauRanTS A. Flying Saucer
815 West 47th Street B. Crown and Anchor Pub
2911 San Jacinto Boulevard C. Dog and Duck Pub
406 West 17th Street D. Scholz Garten
1607 San Jacinto BoulevardE. 24 Diner
600 North Lamar Boulevard F. Opal Divine’s Freehouse
700 W 6th Street
G. little Woodrow’s 520 West 6th Street
H. Alamo Drafthouse, Ritz 320 East 6th Street
i. The Ginger Man 301 Lavaca Street
J. Frank 407 Colorado Street
BREW puBS k. Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical Parkwayl. lovejoys Tap Room & Brewery
604 Neches Street
BREWERIES M. Hops and Grain Brewing Co.
507 Calles Streetn. live Oak Brewing Co.
3301-B East Fifth Street
STORES O. Central Market
4001 North Lamar BoulevardP. Hyde Park Market
4429 Duval StreetQ. Whole Foods Market
525 North Lamar Boulevard
CEnTRal auSTIn
From the Minds of Jester king . . .
There are a few beers, from passionate, artisan brewers around the world, that have invigorated my passion for the product and truly inspired me on both a personal and a professional level. In spite of the distant location of many of these brewers, and the ludicrously small quantities of beer that some of them produce, it’s actually possible to find a surprising number of these in the United States, thanks to the efforts of a handful of boutique importers. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to find them in Texas, and never will be barring a substantive change to the state beverage code.
Whereas a single permit allows a wine and spirit importer to ship all of their wares into Texas, beer importers aren’t even recognized by the state. Instead, foreign breweries themselves are required to obtain up to three different licenses, spending anywhere from $4,000 to $6,000 every two years, and in many cases, print special labels, so as to comply with the state’s rather unique labeling laws. For a brewery that’s only planning on sending a few hundred or maybe even a few dozen cases into the state, or for one that just wants to do a special, one time shipment for a festival or special event, this all makes for an obvious non-starter. Almost as astounding, though, as the State’s apparent efforts to protect its citizens from the perils of imported, hand-crafted beer, is the fact that many of our fellow Texas brewers seem rather reluctant to see this change.
These brewers feel that out of state breweries already have it much easier than we do; and that it isn’t in our best interest to help them gain an even greater advantage. It’s both true and grossly unfair that a brew pub just across the state line could obtain a license to distribute its beer in Texas, whereas a Texas brew pub could not. We, as a production brewery, also have a huge disadvantage in not being able to sell our products directly to consumers, in the same way that Texas wineries and brewers in other states are allowed to do. However, prohibiting small, out of state brewers from entering the market by imposing exorbitant, untenable fees doesn’t “level the playing field”. It simply limits the choices that are available to Texas consumers, and this is not something that we, at Jester King, feel is ultimately good for the future of craft brewing either inside or outside the state.
While protectionist laws may give Texas brewers somewhat of a privileged position in the market, they also stifle the growth of the craft beer category as a whole. The lack of authentic farmhouse ale in Texas may give us an opportunity to offer Texas consumers something that they couldn’t otherwise find, but it also denies these same consumers the chance to experiencing first hand the products that changed our lives and made us want to open a brewery in the first place. We’re not trying to brew local substitute for De La Senne, Jolly Pumpkin, or Cantillon; we’re trying to brew original, characterful beers that we’re hoping will someday be good enough to stand side by side with those brands and make Texas proud. Tasting the beers that helped to shape our artistic vision would only help our customers to develop a fuller, more complex understanding of what it is that we’re trying to do. At the end of the day, we want you to buy our beers because they’re good, not because the State is denying you access to the ones you really want, and for that reason, we feel that the current, protectionist system needs to end.
BREWER’S BRaIn
JESTER KING
OVER a pInT
we recently paid a Visit to the guys at austin Beerworks to talk shop and drink some Beers. they gaVe us the tour and then let us try the Forthcoming Beers right From the Fermentors.
BTA: So what are we drinking here?Will: I have the IPA. Basically what we were trying to do with our IPA is we wanted to do a really clean bold dry American style IPA. This is definitely for the hop-heads. Mid 6’s on alcohol, big American hops, really fruity, kind of floral nose on it.
Yeah, tasty.Michael: I have the Extra Pale Ale, the Peacemaker. Which is really the baby brother of the IPA. You can tell by the color it’s really light bodied. This beer is just light bodied, balanced, and smooth. Its just an easy drinking beer that you want to have more than one of at a time. Great for a hot summer day. I’m really excited about it.
I guess that’s what the “Extra” is for?All: LOLMike: Black Thunder, it’s a lager and I think it’s probably going to be a big surprise for people. It’s probably hopped a bit more than a lot of other dark beers. It’s a lager, it’s smooth, it’s clean, it’s well balanced but the little hop bite is really going to be a surprise for people.
Yeah, I like it cause it gets into that roasty territory, but then back to the “hop forest” for the finish.Adam: I’m drinking the Pearl-Snap Pils. It’s our version of a German style pilsner. It’s real tasty, real hoppy, but it’s still real balanced. I think the key for most of our beers is they are real hop forward, but balance is something that we’re really trying to convey.
We ramble on about the towering stack of cans in the backdrop: how many there are, how
much they weigh and place bets on who can pick up a pallet after the video. Michael brings us back on track.
Michael: There are lots of benefits to cans. We feel like they protect the beer better, they’re easier to recycle and transport, so they’re better for the environment. They don’t shatter everywhere. A lot safer, you can take them places you can’t take bottles. The downside, you have to order a bunch at a time. The other is that it takes a lot of space to store them. I think that’s what keeps newer breweries from starting out canning. The other thing is customer perception; cans have a long standing association with inferior quality beer. More and more quality microbreweries are starting to can their beer.
So how did all you guys meet? E-harmony.com? Match.com?All: LOLAdam: Bromance.com, actually.
Adam goes onto explain the intricacies of their coming together. It’s good stuff, but too much to type here.
Huge thanks to Austin Beerworks for having us
austin Beerworks
out. To view the video interview in its entirety, log on to the World Wide Web and visit: www.beertownaustin.com/category/over-a-pint
WORT SEaRCH
Wort Search. Get it, we are brilliant. Speaking of wort, this issue’s wort search is all about Zymurgy, the science of fermentation. Homebrewers will recognize these terms. If you don’t, Bing them.
ATTENUATIONFERMENTATIONGRAVITYGRISTHYDROMETERINOCULATIONLAUTERINGPITCHINGRACKINGSPARGE
Firkin FridayHardly a week goes by in Austin without at least one beer event popping up. On June 3, Austinites had the chance to grab pints from two rare casks, Saint Arnold’s Whiskey Barrel Imperial Stout at the Draught House and Ranger Creek’s Lee Scratch Pale Ale at Billy’s on Burnet.
Draught House 1. MpRush (I swear that’s the name she gave us, I think.) and Drew Holmes. 2. Jen, Dave and Abagail Wood. 3. Kevin Sidora and Kate Allen. 4. Tyler Linton, Roger Land, Richard Poland and Mark Harris.
Billy’s on Burnet 5. Blake Bollard and Zach Savage. 6. Jennifer Poulter and Aaron Mills. 7.Tim Hayles and Gaines Trice.
THIS IS HappEnIng
44 SUMMER 2011 www.austinbeerguide.com
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