brewery Archives - The Austinot

Meet The Middle Man Fighting Racial Injustice in Austin with Beer

September 4, 2020 by James Lipari Leave a Comment

Marvis Dixon holding his flag at Oddwood Ales — Marvis Dixon at Oddwood Ales (Credit: Marvis Dixon)

Marvis Dixon has been doing great things. He’ll be the first one to tell you that he’s an “average guy.” I’ll tell you that he’s a bit more than that, and absolutely doing great things in our community. If you’re going to champion a cause, let it rip full throttle, and let’s follow this guy’s lead.

The Black Is Beautiful initiative is a collaborative beer effort created by Weathered Souls Brewing, and was covered by The Austinot here. The brass tacks of it is this: Breweries across the country were invited to brew a communal Imperial Stout recipe, put their own spin on it, release it with a unified label, and donate proceeds from it to community action groups that fight for equality and police brutality reform.

Don’t Hold Out on Hold Out Brewing

August 10, 2020 by James Lipari Leave a Comment

Hold Out Brewing courtyard — The relaxing Hold Out Brewing courtyard

You know that goofy feeling you get when you find a new favorite place? Of course you do! I almost did a little socially-distanced tap dance during my first visit to Hold Out Brewing, but that would be too goofy, even for me. As happy as I was, nobody wants to see that.

How to Get To-Go Beer From That Austin Brewery You’re Missing

March 30, 2020 by James Lipari 2 Comments

Austin Brewery Beer To-Go — Our favorite Austin breweries have pivoted to offer beer to-go and curbside service (Credit: 12 Fox Beer)

With all of this newfound time on most of our hands, you may be doing all the right things like catching up on housecleaning, reading that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or simply plowing through your watch list. However you’re spending your time, you certainly shouldn’t have to face this situation without a local beer in hand. Who ever heard of a shut-in without beer? Pssshh. Not a chance!

In all seriousness, Austin breweries and brewpubs are among the hardest hit businesses amid this crisis. BUT KNOW THIS: NEARLY ALL OF THEM ARE OPEN FOR BEER TO-GO! If they serve their own food or have a food truck, then they’re almost certainly offering take-out food, as well.

These are the people who take care of us in good times, and we really need to take care of them during this not-so-good time. We want them all to be open once we Austinites get back to being our social selves.

Turning Old Into New, Central Machine Works Beer Hall Opens in East Austin

March 9, 2020 by James Lipari Leave a Comment

Central Machine Works Beer Hall in East Austin

When I walked into Central Machine Works, the first word to leave my mouth after picking up my dropped jaw was, “Whoa!” The sheer size of the place, along with the hustle and bustle, compels you to see what all the buzz is about. Turns out it’s quite a lot!

Nomadic Beerworks and Central District Brewing Collaborate on New Brew

January 15, 2020 by James Lipari Leave a Comment

Nomadic Beerworks and Central District Brewing Collaboration

Guest article by James Lipari

The collaborative spirit of the craft beer industry is part of what draws so many of us to it. While individual breweries are direct competitors, they’re also often friends that regularly help each other out. And when you’re two of the newest breweries in town, joining forces to announce your presence is a strong move. Actually, you might go ahead and dub your collaboration beer “New Kids on the Block.”

New Kids on the Block is a real thing, a collaboration celebrating the 2019 openings of two Austin brewhouses. Central District Brewing marked its grand opening in May 2019, and Nomadic Beerworks subsequently opened in June. Both breweries have won accolades and fans in a short amount of time.

Vista Brewing’s Winter Bottle Release (Why You Should Plan to Visit Soon)

January 15, 2020 by James Lipari Leave a Comment

Vista Flight of Beer in Driftwood Texas — Enjoy a flight at Vista Brewing (Credit: James Lipari)

Guest article by James Lipari

A short day trip to Texas Hill Country is always a good idea, and one of my absolute favorite destinations is Vista Brewing. The big, rolling property is perfect for a family outing. Here’s why.

What to Expect From Austin’s Craft Breweries in 2020

December 30, 2019 by James Lipari 1 Comment

Craft Breweries News for 2020 (Credit: ATX Beer Bus) — Tasting at Celis Brewery (Credit: ATX Beer Bus)

Guest article by James Lipari

With the new year approaching, I asked several Austin breweries to gaze into their crystal balls (or planning software, whatever), and tell us what magical things we can expect in 2020. Here’s the inside scoop on what they told us.

Batch Brewery Goes Beyond Kolaches Into Brave Flavor Frontier

November 11, 2019 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Batch Brewery Grand Opening in Austin, TX — Batch Brewery joins Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches to create a delicious duo (Credit: Kayla Rodriguez)

Everyone has a home base, a place in town where they feel welcome, comfortable, and relaxed. For me and many of us at The Austinot, that place is Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.

It’s easy to explain why. Not only does Batch produce exquisite baked goods, but the exceptional craft beer tap list, awesome bottle selection, and family-friendly environment sets it apart from the rest. Whenever I’m planning to meet friends, Batch is my go-to recommendation.

But with a new brewery open as of this past weekend, our venerated local hangout is wading into uncharted waters. Luckily, Batch has approached this new venture with the same heart and spirit of adventure that created Austin’s kolache haven in the first place. And with an initial offering of brews you won’t find anywhere else, there’s nowhere to go but up.

Lazarus Brewing Cultivates Community Alongside Coffee, Tacos, and Beer

March 18, 2019 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Guest article by Ken Pishna

When Christian Cryder left Montana behind to open a brewery on East Sixth Street in Austin, he wanted to build a community around four key ingredients: coffee, beer, tacos, and joy.

Lazarus Brewing Company was born on Christmas Eve in 2016. With a talented head brewer, one of Austin’s finest Street-Mex food truck chefs, and a veteran coffee roaster; the beer, food, and coffee were givens.

The question was whether Lazarus could rise up and give new life to the Bike Texas building, and iconic Cool Store, as a brewery with plans to be more than a place to grab a cold one. [Read more…]

Family Business Beer Company Defies Expectations With Quality and Vibe

November 27, 2018 by Bill Tucker Leave a Comment

Family Business Beer Company Flight

Flight of Family Business Beer Company’s core lineup (Credit: Bill Tucker)

When an actor with a rabid cult following opens a brewery in Central Texas, it’s not just local news. It becomes a national sensation.

Within a week of opening the doors, Family Business Beer Company, co-owned by Jensen Ackles of “Supernatural” fame, exploded in popularity. It also drew the ire of a small, but vocal, corner of the Austin beer scene.

The narrative was silly one: how dare some tiny brewery in Dripping Springs get more popular than Jester King, all because it has a celebrity owner? Could this upstart brewery in a market full of them possibly meet the expectations set by its social media reach? [Read more…]