Drink Archives - Page 27 of 30

Hill Country’s Lewis Wines Characterizes the Future of Texas Wine

July 18, 2013 by Matthew Champion 4 Comments

Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb Lewis Wines

Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb (Photo credit: Texas Wine Lover)

This guest blog post is by Matt Champion.

The Texas wine industry is rapidly expanding every year, and it’s not just the big operations that are making noise. A little place called Lewis Wines, just outside of Johnson City, is a prime example of quality over quantity. The winery opened earlier this year and has been creating buzz ever since.

Owners Doug Lewis and Duncan McNabb (both in their twenties) met in college. They got their start working at Pedernales Cellars and haven’t looked back. [Read more…]

Strange Brew: Coffee Haven, Live Music, Local Feel

July 16, 2013 by Dustin Vegas Leave a Comment

There is a strange little coffee shop in South Austin that you ought to know about. That is, if you’re a caffiene-fueled night owl like myself. Strange Brew is one of the few 24-hour coffee shops in Austin. It’s a rare breed that combines coffee, live music, local beer, and a spacious study area. There is something for everybody here.

About Strange Brew

A little background first. Strange Brew opened its doors in 2010 as a humble coffee shop. Its owner, however, wasn’t happy running just another coffee shops in this college town. He had big dreams to make the Brew another type of beast. [Read more…]

Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Whip In

July 15, 2013 by Edgar Barguiarena 4 Comments

You can admire Whip In’s bottle selection even while sitting at the bar

The craft beer scene in Austin is blowing up. For every new brewery that opens up, there are at least three bars that pop up, eager to serve you the best local beers Austin has to offer.

Continuing the tradition that Eric started with his Best Burger Joint in Austin series, I’ll be 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 below in a comment.

First Impression of Whip In

“Would you like to try a new beer? It’s terrible!” asked one of the bartenders as I first walked in.

Immediately, I knew I was in the right place. [Read more…]

Squeeze the Most Out of a Juice Cleanse at Daily Juice

July 3, 2013 by Cris Mueller 2 Comments

Daily Juice’s Warehouse District location in downtown Austin

What is the first thing that comes to mind when I say these two words…juice cleanse! Be honest, because I know firsthand that a small dictionary of words and very graphic images came to my mind when I was asked if I’d like to try out the 3-day Sunshine Cleanse from Daily Juice.

I learned a tremendous lesson while researching for this story: juice cleanses are not a fit for everyone. However, I did give the cleanse my all. A provider of cold-pressed juices and catering options, Daily Juice bars keep the green in Austin’s weird, and in your diet. Since 2003, Daily Juice has set up multiple operations in downtown Austin and Westlake. Today Phillip Doucette, Robert Larkin and John Martin have turned a juice craze into a sustainable business with spin-offs like JuiceLand and franchises. [Read more…]

Up & Down Tour Pleases Beer Drinkers and Coffee Fanatics Alike

June 26, 2013 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

Attendees sip coffee and listen as Joel Shuler presents during the Up & Down Tour

If there is anything I can say about my fellow Austinites, it’s that they surely love two things: coffee and beer. This is why I was stoked about participating in the Up & Down Tour, hosted by Casa Brasil and South Austin Brewing Company. After all, what better way to kill two birds with one stone on a Saturday?

The two tour hosts happen to be neighbors in a small business park at 415 E. St. Elmo, just off of S. Congress Ave, south of Ben White. Joel Shuler, co-owner/sourcing/quality control of Casa Brasil, got together with Jordan Weeks, founder/brew master/managing partner of South Austin Brewing Company.

Together, they decided that creating a tour featuring two of the best ingredients for a relaxing Saturday – coffee and beer – would be a good idea. The small number of guests (15 to be exact) for the aptly named Up & Down Tour creates an intimate atmosphere where participants can comfortably chit chat about what they learn and experience during the tour. [Read more…]

SquareRut Kava Bar Brings Relaxing Pacific Island Drink to Texas

June 18, 2013 by Brittany Highland Leave a Comment

SquareRut Kava Bar on South Congress

I’m all about trying new things and learning from unique cultural experiences. So when the only kava bar in Texas invited me to stop by, I was intrigued and excited.

Sure, I had never heard of kava before and had no idea what it was. But when has that stopped me before?

Before my visit, a perusal of SquareRut Kava Bar’s website was extremely informative. I learned that kava is a Pacific Island drink made from [Read more…]

Texas Hill Country Olive Company Is Inviting Day Trip Destination

June 4, 2013 by Eric Highland 12 Comments

Texas Hill Country Olive Company in Dripping Springs, TX

The end of 2008 found John Gambini sitting in a doctor’s office, reading an article in Texas Co-op Power Magazine about the fledgling olive oil industry in Texas. John loved the romance of the Texas Hill Country and had already decided that he wanted to plant firm roots in the area (pun intended).

But more than putting a stake in the ground, John wanted to do some pioneering, accomplishing something that would stand out from other Hill Country offerings. After reading the article, he realized that he could be one of the early pioneers in the olive oil industry in Texas.

So John set out with a dream: to create a destination-class olive oil business here in Texas.

And that’s exactly what he did. [Read more…]

Moontower Saloon Does It Better With Music, Food & Events

May 22, 2013 by Cris Mueller 1 Comment

Creative, handmade seating adds unique Austin feel to the spacious patio

I set out on my Sunday adventure to discover a house-turned-watering-hole in way south Austin, Moontower Saloon.

The founding duo behind the spry and still young concept is visionary Josh Bumb and Richard Veregge, hands-on building and bio planner and marketing wiz.

The idea for this neighborhood destination, located at 10212 Manchaca Road, stemmed from a conversation which began two and a half years ago. The friends were chatting at Weirdo’s, and Bumb voiced his interest in creating “something even better.” Far surpassing their initial expectations, the team’s first collaborative concept came to life with Moontower Saloon. [Read more…]

Austin Food and Wine Festival Delights the Senses

May 20, 2013 by Eric Highland 1 Comment

Austin Food and Wine Festival at Butler Park

A foodie and wine lovers paradise, the Austin Food and Wine Festival gathers the top chefs in the country to participate in food competitions and cooking demonstrations.

Combine this with live music, countless food samples that make you melt, and the most exquisite wines and spirits and you have one hell of a party. [Read more…]