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Best Austin Craft Beer Joints: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

April 21, 2014 by Edgar Barguiarena Leave a Comment

Your friendly neighborhood bar, set to the background of South 1st traffic

Editor’s Note: Porter Ale House closed on July 27, 2017.

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 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: Porter Ale House and Gastropub

The 78704 zip is home to plenty of good bars and some of the best restaurants in town, but it was never quite considered a craft beer destination. The opening of ABGB last year started to change that reputation and the recent debut of Austin’s first dedicated craft beer bottle shop, Whichcraft, further solidified this status. Further south, just within the boundaries of the 78704 zip code on South 1st near 71, Porter Ale House and Gastropub is another welcome addition to the now thriving craft beer scene in South Austin. [Read more…]

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company Draws a Crowd to South Austin

February 26, 2014 by Matthew Champion Leave a Comment

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…]

Dolce Neve: All Natural and Authentic Gelato Shop Opens in S. Austin

January 6, 2014 by Brittany Highland 4 Comments

Dolce Neve at 1713 South 1st St.

Made-from-scratch, authentic gelato is coming to South Austin this week. Owners Marco, Francesca and Leo were born in Italy, and they remember going to the gelato shop as children. “It was the best part of the day,” Marco recalls nostalgically.

All three had successful jobs and first-class educations when they decided to pursue the frozen treat that reminded them of home. A management consultant in New York City, Marco realized “he didn’t like what he was doing anymore.” When he told his sister Francesca, who was working on a Ph.D in Finance, she was in the same boat. “I wasn’t happy either.” [Read more…]

Adventurous Austinites Stay Fit at Austin Rock Gym

November 20, 2013 by David Thomas Leave a Comment

A climber at Austin Rock Gym looks up to where he lost his grip

Until recently, my experience in rock climbing was limited to a giant rock in Walnut Creek Park that my fiancé and I climbed for a picnic lunch.

It may be surprising, but Austin has quite a bit of outdoor rock climbing opportunities for adventurous types. Our glistening metropolis lies at the foot of the famous Texas Hill Country. A short trip to Lake Travis, Inks Lake or Lake Buchanan provides climbers with plenty of opportunities to practice their best Spider-Man impression.

But what is a newbie to do? The best option is to go to Austin Rock Gym.

Austin Rock Gym has two locations in north and south Austin. The north location is at 8300 N. Lamar Blvd. Suite B-102. My hardcore readers may [Read more…]

Austin Veloway Provides Looped Trail for Cyclists and Skaters Only

November 6, 2013 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

Austin Veloway bike loop in South Austin

There’s no denying that Austin is a bike-friendly city. We’ve got the Hike and Bike Trail at Lady Bird Lake, plenty of bike lanes and even one of the few defensive cycling courses in the nation…just in case you end up with a big, fat cycling ticket.

But even in such a friendly city, sometimes cyclists just need their own space. Luckily, Austin provides that too with the Veloway. [Read more…]

Lenoir: Five Star Dining Experience Exhibits Austin Hospitality

October 25, 2013 by Edgar Barguiarena 1 Comment

The incredible chandelier at Lenoir (and yes, the restaurant really is that cozy)

It’s a crisp early Autumn evening as you stroll through the neighborhood in no particular hurry, but eager to enjoy a good meal. You walk in and are instantly enveloped by a delicious aroma you recognize, yet can’t quite place. But it feels familiar. The place almost feels like home, but as you make your way through the entrance, you see strangers sitting in the dining room: laughing, eating, enjoying a glass of wine. “Welcome to Lenoir, thanks for joining us for dinner,” the hostess remarks with a smile as she leads you to your table.

Lenoir is a prix fixe restaurant nestled in the heart of the Bouldin Creek neighborhood on South 1st. Husband and wife owners Todd Duplechan and Jessica Maher have managed to convert a small cottage just south of downtown into an establishment that fosters one of Austin’s most unique and delectable dining experiences. To put it simply, I had one of the best [Read more…]

Made in Austin: Affordable Customization from Moniker Guitars

September 3, 2013 by Guest Blogger Leave a Comment

A Moniker guitar made here in Austin

This guest article is by Kyle Bailey.

Moniker Guitars is a boutique guitar maker in Austin, with a twist. With a name like Moniker, you kind of expect that there’s more than meets the eye, but I’ll get to that.

If you play electric guitar, you probably have a favorite. Be it Les Paul, Strat, Tele, Paul Reed Smith, or something else, electric guitars fall into two main categories: single coil and humbucker (the history here is fascinating, but alas, no room! Google shall deliver thee from thine angst). It’s all about the tone you want, and each category has its pros and cons.

Now, what if you want a Les Paul looking body with a single coil setup? Not possible (off the rack)…until now. [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…]

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…]