New Year, New Beer: What to Expect From Austin’s Craft Beer Scene in 2018

Welcome to 2018, craft beer drinkers! 2017 was a fantastic year for the local beer scene. New breweries, expanded offerings, and insane special releases made the year one to remember. As we look forward to another year of hoppy goodness, I asked some of Austin’s finest beer makers to share what we can expect from them in 2018.

Brand New/Redesigned Daily Drinkers

A beer a day keeps the doctor away, so it’s best to fill your fridge with variety. Many of Austin’s finest breweries are either revamping mainstay lines or adding new styles to the mix, all good news for everyday drinkers.

Adelberts – Brewer Cory Hebert completely revamped the Travelin’ Man IPA for 2018. By making it more hop forward than the previous incarnation, the beer promises to satisfy West Coast hop heads and members of team “Haze Craze” alike. Scratchin’ Hippo has also been tweaked and will be available in cans (sold in the taproom only).

Celis Brewery – Prepare to add a new daily drinker to your H.E.B. list! Starting in March 2018, Celis White will be available in cans year-round, complete with a beautiful new package design.

Uncle Billy’s – As Uncle Billy’s continues to expand, so does its beer lineup. Expect fan favorites like the UB Trippin’ Belgian Golden strong ale and the Lust for Life scotch ale to make frequent appearances on the tap wall this year.

4th Tap Brewing Co-op – New iterations of 4th Tap’s immensely popular Sun Eater ale will be hitting store shelves in February 2018. A strawberry version will be the first one out of the gate.

➡️ Keep reading: “Celis Brewery: Austin’s First Craft Brewery Reborn”

Special Austin Craft Beer Releases

Whether running to Whichcraft for the latest (512) bomber or standing in line at Jester King for Atrial Rubicite, Austin beer fans love special releases. Here’s a small sample of what hop heads can expect in 2018.

Hi Sign Brewing – A hyper-limited run of a Garrison Brothers Whiskey Aged Doppelbock called St Simon will become available in the first few weeks of January 2018.

Blue Owl – On Jan. 10, Austin’s only 100 percent sour mash brewery releases Lord Admiral Gravitas, a barrel aged sour imperial stout (on tap and in 660ml bottles). But that’s not all! Early February 2018 brings the return of Dapper Devil, a sour raspberry Belgian strong ale.

Celis Brewing – Old school Austin beer geeks clamoring for the return of Celis Raspberry shall wait no longer. This ’90s classic will make its triumphant return in April 2018.

Uncle Billy’s – This year’s seasonal lineup will include the Shokolad Chocolate Russian Imperial Stout in winter, Crazy Day Imperial Lager in spring, a yet-to-be announced summer brew, and the Berdoll Brown Pecan Ale in autumn.

Black Star Co-op – Two versions of the Recalcitrant Dockhand oatmeal porter, one blended with cold brewed coffee and the other steeped in cacao nibs from SRSLY chocolate, will be hitting the taproom in January 2018. Also upcoming is the Pina Co-opa, a malt forward beer aged in rum barrels with coconut flakes and Can’t Quit You, a New England-inspired sour IPA.

Pinthouse Pizza (South Lamar) – Austin’s finest IPA producer continues to impress with a series of year opening releases. The Dubbel Belgian Dubbel and Bailing Room IPA drop on Jan. 5, while Jan. 12 will bring Give Me the Cure IPA and Old Beluga Amber Ale.

4th Tap Brewing Co-op – The Mega Citrus One DIPA makes its glorious return in February 2018 in both kegs and cans, with new DIPA varieties coming throughout the year.

➡️ Keep reading: “Risks Reward Austin Beer Lovers at Hi Sign Brewing”

Fill Your Event Calendar

Brewery events are a great way to meet the brewers, try new stuff, and meet up with fellow lovers of the lager. Mark your calendars with these events now.

Hi Sign Brewing – One of Austin’s newest breweries plans to celebrate its one-year anniversary on Saturday, Feb. 17 (date not 100 percent set in stone). Expect two new barrel aged beers, food vendors, and a special tap lineup.

Circle Brewing Co. – Bring the whole family out for an old school block party on March 10 for Circle’s 7th Anniversary Party. The latest iteration of the award-winning Archetype Historical IPA will be released.

Black Star Co-op – While I can’t take part due to a nasty shellfish allergy, the Black Star Co-op crawfish boil is a must-attend. Expect this year’s event to go down sometime in February or March.

4th Tap Brewing Co-op – Party World Rasslin returns to 4th Tap during SXSW 2018. Completely free show plus fun for all ages equals a great option for those looking to avoid the craziness downtown.

New Digs

More space for production means more beer! A few Austin breweries are changing addresses this year, promising richer, more fulfilling brewery experiences.

Circle Brewing – Break out the housewarming gifts. Circle Brewing is starting the relocation process. The plan is to create a one-of-a-kind sustainable craft brewery model. This includes growing its own ingredients, keeping livestock on site, and transforming from a warehouse on Braker to a fully functional ranch. The team has yet to choose a site, but groundbreaking should start in 2018.

Hops & Grain – Right before the new year hit, Hops & Grain switched to a brewpub license. This means you can now buy beer to go, right from the brewery. Want the freshest possible A Pale Mosaic? Now you can get it at the source. Hops & Grain will also have a crowler machine, which means to-go cans of awesome seasonal and rare releases like Volumes of Oak will finally be available. Oh, and the team is still building that second location in San Marcos, Texas. Lots on the horizon!

 

@BillTuckerTSP wants to know:

What Austin craft beer maker are you excited to check out in 2018?