Austin has one of the best craft beer scenes in the country. Over 60 breweries in the metro area. Here are the ones that matter.
The legends:
- Jester King Brewery (Dripping Springs) — Farmhouse ales, wild fermentation, a sprawling ranch with pizza, live music, and goats. This isn't a brewery. It's a destination. The 30-minute drive from Austin is worth every mile.
- Live Oak Brewing — The HefeWeizen is the best wheat beer in Texas. The beer garden on the east side is massive, dog-friendly, and has a rotation of food trucks.
- Austin Beerworks — Their lager game is impeccable. The Pearl Snap Pilsner is what you drink on a hot Austin afternoon.
The contenders:
- Pinthouse Pizza (multiple) — Brewery + pizza. The Electric Jellyfish IPA is one of the best IPAs in the state. The pizza is above average for a brewpub.
- Lazarus Brewing (East Cesar Chavez) — Mexican-inspired brews. The Agave Wheat and Tamarind Sour are unique to Austin.
- Meanwhile Brewing (Southeast Austin) — Big outdoor space, family-friendly, food trucks, live music. The vibe is chill and the beer is solid.
The beer crawl route: East Side: Lazarus > Zilker Brewing > Meanwhile Brewing. All within 10 minutes of each other. Take rideshare.
The scene's evolution: Austin beer went from "we have Shiner" to world-class in 15 years. The farmhouse and wild ale scene led by Jester King put Austin on the international beer map.
Source: Austin Beer Guide, RateBeer, personal brewery visits (40+ in the Austin metro)
Jester King on a Saturday afternoon is the best day out in Austin. Period. Pizza, farmhouse ales, hill country views, goats. What more do you need.