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Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Whip In

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Whip In Bar and Convenience Store

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

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Daily Juice in Austin Texas

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

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Up and Down Tour attendees

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

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SquareRut Kava Bar

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

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Texas Hill Country Olive Company

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

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Moontower Saloon Austin Outdoor Seating

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

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Austin Food and Wine Festival

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…]

Hold My Beer: Mug Muscles Start-Up Launches Exercise Beer Mug

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Mug Muscles Early Prototype

An earlier prototype of Mug Muscles

This guest blog post is by George Hillhouse.

Growing up in Alabama, one of my favorite sayings was, “Hold my beer and watch this.” In fact, if that’s not the State Motto, it ought to be. Beer, or the consumption thereof, has inspired many otherwise rational people to do things they would never have thought possible. Sometimes subsequent hospital trips confirm they were right in the first place.

But do we demonize beer after one of these episodes? Hardly. Beer gets a pass, a get out of jail free card, even when we know we won’t get out of jail free for things we did on a beer binge. Beer may be unique in this regard. No one says, “Hold my meth pipe and watch this!” thinking that subsequent events will be explained away and forgiven. It takes a beer, or two, to get that kind of a pass. [Read more…]

Ease Into Your Sundays at South Austin Brewing Company

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Groovy Sunday at South Austin Brewing Company

Raising a glass to Groovy Sunday at South Austin Brewing Company

This guest blog post is by Edgar Barguiarena.

Sometimes Friday and Saturday don’t give you enough time to take full advantage of the weekend. You’re left wanting more for your Sunday, but you want to try something different. After you go to brunch and get started with a few mimosas, you want to enjoy the last few hours of freedom you have left. If you’re still jonesing for live music and great beer, South Austin Brewing Company has your solution.

South Austin Brewing Company got their start in late 2010 with two signature brews that are still selling strong today: the Belgian Style Golden Ale and their Saison D’Austin. Each brew is featured in a hand-corked 750-ml bottle that looks almost as good as it tastes. Sound familiar? You may have seen these beers at your local grocery store or liquor shop.

South Austin Brewing has done an impressive [Read more…]

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