Drink Archives - Page 27 Of 32

Don’t Settle for the Tex-Mex Version: Best Micheladas in Austin

Posted on May 5, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena

Dos Batos: perhaps the most authentic Michelada served in Austin – only $5-6 bucks too!

As the temperatures in Austin begin to steadily rise, the urge for a cold cocktail tends to increase in tandem. But after long summer nights, the headache creeps in the next morning, slowly sapping your will to live.

Enter the Michelada: a beer cocktail that is equal parts delicious and refreshing with the added benefit of being a “hangover cure.” So what exactly is in this miracle concoction?

Let’s start with what it’s not: a “bloody mary” beer. The biggest misconception with Micheladas in the U.S. is that they’re just beer mixed with ice and whatever bloody mary mix is lying around behind the bar (typically poured with a light Mexican beer). If you order one and the bartender comes back with a red drink, they ain’t doin’ it right. [Read more…]

WhichCraft Is Austin’s First Craft-Only Beer Store

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Matthew Champion

WhichCraft opened on April 19, 2014 in Austin

Editor’s Note: WhichCraft is closing its original location on Sept. 22, 2018. The newer Mueller location will remain open.

Do you ever get tired of sifting through all the crappy domestic beers at the grocery store to get to what you want? Come on, guys. I drank that stuff in college, but I’m grown now. I look for quality over quantity and I like to actually taste my beers and distinguish them from one another.

If you’re not looking for what you’re forced to drink at a baseball game, head over to WhichCraft, where you’ll probably be interested in nearly everything on the shelves.

WhichCraft has impressively filled a niche that was still available for the taking in Austin, by becoming the city’s first craft-only beer store. No sifting through the shelves here. You won’t find any of the watered-down lighter lagers from the big beer companies, or wine or liquor for that matter. When WhichCraft says craft beer only, they mean it. [Read more…]

Always Oktoberfest at Sixth Street’s Easy Tiger

Posted on April 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome

Easy Tiger on 6th Street in Austin

There is a sweeter smell wafting down the alleyways of Dirty Sixth. The aroma is sweet enough to tempt the most finicky of eaters, and may even make established Austinites question their preconceived notions about our city’s most notorious street.

While 6th Street’s strongest associations may be cheap liquor and cover bands, hidden restaurant gems have been here for years. A more recent addition to the list is Easy Tiger, a somewhat unexpected mix between bakery and bar that has quickly become a local favorite.

I’ll take the yummy one!

[Read more…]

Stonebridge Coffee Represents One Man’s Willingness to Beat the Odds

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Brittany Highland

Stonebridge Coffee at 6400 McNeil in North Austin

When Justin Forgey had a grand mal seizure and was diagnosed with late-onset adult epilepsy in 2008, his life changed instantly. For the next four years, he bounced around from job to job, having seizures along the way. “It made the typical 9-5 very difficult,” Justin reflected. “I was not the most reliable employee.”

But Justin chose not to be defined by his disability. He was eager to find a way to support his family. One day, he mentioned to his wife Jenny that he was considering self-employment, owning a brick and mortar coffee shop. She replied that they should talk more about it. The next day, Justin quit his job. [Read more…]

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company Draws a Crowd to South Austin

Posted on February 26, 2014 by Matthew Champion

Fly, ABGB, Fly (Photo credit: TheSimplifiers.com)

Every time I head out to the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company, it’s always packed to the brim with people. There’s good reason for this, and it’s admirable that ABGB has been able to develop such a following in less than a year. They opened their doors last summer and it seems like they’ve never closed since.

Despite the new company name, the people behind the brand are not inexperienced when it comes to the craft beer game. Head Brewers Amos Lowe and Brian Peters hold nearly fifty years of collective experience between them, with former leading positions held at Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que and Live Oak Brewing Company. [Read more…]

The Queen of Pies Wears the Crown at Home Slice Pizza

Posted on February 25, 2014 by Cris Mueller

Home Slice’s Queen of Pies (Photo credit: WallyG via Flicker CC)

I approached the mustachioed, pig-tailed little lady who sits atop 1415 South Congress Avenue. High above the cozy and fragrant Home Slice, the “Queen of Pies” reigns with authority and a slice of home for many Austinites.

There’s no escaping the wafting, nearly visible garlic and tomato bouquet that emerges from the doors, sills, and kitchen vents of the 9-year-old pizza venue that introduced New York style pizza to Central Texans. Jeff Mettler, Executive General Manager at Home Slice Pizza and More Home Slice, said it all began with a mission to “create an Austin institution based on the original, unfailing goodness that is authentic NY Style pizza.”

And so began what is hands-down one of my favorite dining experiences to date, with a member of pizza royalty. Mind the gap during my venture of craft beer, upside-down pie, and layers of flaky dough, for the raw storytelling proves true to the experience one is intended to have at Home Slice. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Pinthouse Pizza

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena

L-R: Electric Jellyfish and his big brother, the Nomura Double IPA (Credit: Bill Tucker)

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers that Austin has to offer. Continuing the tradition that Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’m profiling and reviewing the best craft beer joints in Austin, with the occasional stop or two at bars that have room for improvement. I’ll take into consideration everything from beer selection to ambiance to overall value, and everything in between.

Please join me as I try to catalog your favorite watering holes in Austin, and let me know what you think in a comment below.

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

Pinthouse Pizza has quickly become a staple in the Austin beer scene, though they’ve only graced the Burnet strip for the last year and a half. This review is timely, since the infamous Odell Microbrewery from Ft. Collins, Colorado is throwing a launch party at Pinthouse this month. What some people don’t know is that Odell’s former head brewer, Joe Mohrfeld, is the cofounder of Pinthouse. What better time to revisit one of Austin’s great brewpubs, as Mohnfeld returns to his roots. [Read more…]

Emerald Tavern: Part Tabletop Gaming Hangout, Part Beer and Coffee Bar

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Robert Luke

Emerald Tavern is located at 9012 Research Blvd.

In the last few years, the North Cross area of town has become more and more exciting and lively. One of the newest additions to the neighborhood is Emerald Tavern. It’s not just another coffee shop and bar because it’s also a store and hangout for tabletop gamers.

Opened in October 2013, Emerald Tavern features a unique and relaxing atmosphere for gamers and anyone else who wants to sit down and have a drink. Owners Marshall Geyer and Erich Weidner “really wanted to recreate something that we do every weekend that we love: games, beer, food, coffee. Something we would do with our friends,” explained Geyer. “There are a lot of game stores in town. There are a lot of places to go drink in town. But there aren’t a lot of places that are friendly to do both at the same time.”

The atmosphere at Emerald Tavern is quite comforting as you walk in. It’s decorated in an English tavern style with a beer selection to your left and a game selection to your right, while being audibly blanketed with music from your favorite film and video game scores. [Read more…]

Hopfields Is French for Yummy

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome

Hidden at the end of a rather stark commercial building sits one of the shiniest hidden gems in the treasury of Austin dining spots. There are many choices for lovers of food and libation in Austin, but Hopfields is the only bar I have discovered so far that manages to please the pickiest eaters, as well as the most discerning craft beer fans.

As an eager drinker of brews both local and distant, the copper wall of taps is a welcome sight. It can be overwhelming to the uninitiated, but the bartenders here are helpful experts. Let them know your tastes and they will make recommendations accordingly. If beer isn’t your thing, Hopfields also has a lovely selection of Ciders, with a rotating tap as well. There is a very complete wine list – and a list of clever sounding wine cocktails. Enough to tempt even the most stoic beer-drinker away from their old standard. [Read more…]

Austin’s Best Downtown Happy Hours Ready to Wet Your Whistle

Posted on January 10, 2014 by Lizzy Newsome

According to Wikipedia, the origins of “Happy Hour” are shrouded in mystery, but we are grateful nonetheless. Just as mysteriously, finding the perfect happy hour can be difficult in a city full of watering holes, but the well informed won’t have to travel far.

Believe it or not, some of the city’s more affordable cocktail hours happen to be in the heart of downtown, conveniently close by to that afternoon meeting of yours. Maybe happy hour should even be combined with the meeting?

The following four locales are a great place to start any evening, but this list is just the tip of the happy hour iceberg. [Read more…]

First Impressions: Pinthouse Pizza

Recent Posts

Welcome to The Austinot