The Best Craft Breweries in the Greater Austin Area

Austin Breweries are the perfect combination of delicious libations and quirky southern hospitality. These outposts of delicious craft beers are the ideal gathering places for family, friends, and four-legged companions. Some are cute and contemporary, some are industrial and edgy – but they all welcome their guests with open arms. Many have an outdoor element with picnic tables, cornhole, and string lights so kids and dogs can run free. The beers run the gamut from the lightest kolsch to the darkest porter to hoppy IPAs and surprising sours. Some offer delectable offerings from their kitchen, while others have a local food truck pull up to entice guests to stay longer. Some have stages for live music, beer gardens for local events, or running clubs to embrace the community. Yet they ALL have their own unique personality, and although we all have our favorites, it’s always wise to check out something new!

SOUTH CENTRAL AUSTIN BREWERIES

South Central Austin breweries are all about great beer and a commitment to community. An industrial vibe with a heart of gold. Not only do they fill our glass with great beer, they fill our hearts with hope and joy. Those who are lucky enough to score outdoor space host countless events to support local businesses and philanthropic organizations. Some are even lucky to score enough land to have a tree-filled beer garden and outdoor stage. Some go for a cozy, wrap in a sustainable brewing process and cute front patio lined with string lights. Each taproom makes good choices and offers great food – you can find everything from wood-fired pizza to fantastic fried chicken. Others take their small footprint, and create a magical taproom that makes you want to stay a while and enjoy everything on their list.

BREWERY SPOTLIGHT:

THE AUSTIN BEER GARDEN BREWING COMPANY

The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company is truly the trifecta of greatness — impressive beers, delicious food, and powerful community spirit. Dedicated to their mantra that “Beer Makes it Better,” The ABGB is truly the trifecta of greatness — impressive beers, delicious food, and powerful community spirit. Dedicated to their mantra that “Beer Makes it Better,” The ABGB serves up delicious brews and fares in their massive taproom and provides a fantastic venue for a wide range of events. Their indoor stage is the perfect space for local bands to perform, and their shaded beer garden is an excellent place for local artists to share their work. Beyond just brewing beer, serving fantastic pizza, and providing a cool spot to hang out with friends, family, and furry companions, the ABGB is dedicated to leveraging its inherent goodness to positively impact our community, from the neighborhood to the entire city. serves up delicious brews and fares in their massive taproom and provides a fantastic venue for a wide range of events. Their indoor stage is the perfect space for local bands to perform, and their shaded beer garden is an excellent place for local artists to share their work. Beyond just brewing beer, serving fantastic pizza, and providing a cool spot to hang out with friends, family, and furry companions, the ABGB is dedicated to leveraging its inherent goodness to positively impact our community, from the neighborhood to the entire city.

NOMADIC BEERWORKS

Nomadic Beerworks is a delightful South Austin destination created by two well-traveled brothers who wanted to craft great beers and create a better world. With its warm neon sign, this award-winning brewery immediately draws you into its contemporary taproom, where some of the friendliest bartenders in town serve you delicious, unique beers and freshly grilled paninis. The beer garden gives cool Austin front yard vibes, with a quirky array of picnic tables, corn hole, washer games, and string lights overhead, making it easy to stay a while and sample multiple beers on their menu. The team behind the brewery is committed to operating an environmentally responsible business – from eco-friendly sourcing to re-use and recycling programs; Nomadic Beerworks is always looking to find new ways to run a greener company and keep Austin Beautiful.

ST ELMO BREWING COMPANY

St. Elmo embraces the industrial vibe of “The Yard,” Austin’s mixed-use community, also home to local wineries and distilleries, and welcomes locals and out-of-town visitors with open doors and exceptional beers on tap. The beer garden offers long picnic tables, corn-hole, and tons of space for kids and dogs to run amuck while you enjoy a delicious Carl Kolsch, Freckles Brown Ale, or Bing Cherry Sour. And if you’re in the mood for a little something to nosh, Spicy Boys food truck serves delicious fried chicken delights on-site.

VACANCY BREWING

This little brewery in the warehouse district near the yard is making a big splash with its friendly vibe and insanely delicious sour beers. The taproom at Vacancy Brewing is warm and welcoming – full of fun graphics and friendly bartenders…and the beers are unique and delicious – with everything from the Classic Pre-Prohibition Pilsner to the After Hours Dark Lager to the Marilyn Mago Kettle Sour, there’s something fun for everyone! Try many. There is an outdoor space with picnic tables for an industrial beer garden vibe and a little space for the kiddos to run free.

GREAT BREWERIES IN SOUTH AUSTIN:

• (512) Brewing Company https://512brewing.com/
• Austin Beer Garden & Brewery https://theabgb.com/
• Independence Brewing https://independencebrewing.com/
• Last Stand Brewing https://laststandbrewing.com/
• Koko’s Bavarian https://www.kokosbavarian.com/
• Nomadic Beerworks https://www.nomadicbeerworks.com/
• Pinthouse Pizza https://pinthouse.com/
• Pinthouse Brewing https://pinthouse.com/ben-white
• St. Elmo Brewing http://www.stelmobrewing.com/
• Meanwhile Beer https://www.meanwhilebeer.com/

EAST AUSTIN BREWERIES

East Austin Breweries work hard to keep our city extra weird and extra delicious. These cute and colorful taprooms serve up amazing craft brews of a million varieties and always keep it entertaining. You will find a little bit of everything – from house-made kolaches to a beer vending machine to your childhood arcade. The outside spaces are there too – from a cute covered patio to and expansive beer garden with an outdoor stage. These breweries may not be as kid-fun-friendly, but true to Austin, dogs are almost always welcome.

BLUE OWL BREWING

Besides having the cutest logo in Austin, Blue Owl holds a special place in our hearts for having a full menu of stellar sours and a calendar filled with customer appreciation events. Beer delivery is impressive here: you will sip and savor all your beverages from the sour sanctuary out of the cutest blue owl juice glass and can purchase cans from their beer vending machine. Blue Owl also offers food, and non-sour pours for you to enjoy in their cozy taproom or out on the patio. Kids and dogs are welcome; they always make their clients feel like treasured guests.

ZILKER BREWING COMPANY

Nestled in the heart of East 6th Street, Zilker Brewing is an urban industrial brewery filled with friendly bartenders and delicious beers on tap. The taproom is open to the brewery and celebrates every step of the process. The brewers are a highly collaborative bunch, constantly embracing new techniques and experimenting with seasonal ingredients to keep the menu fresh. Even though it has an industrial edge, Zilker Brewing has a warm communal vibe, with family-sized tables and a front patio with picnic tables so you can bring a group or make new friends. And if your friends are not beer enthusiasts, Zilker Brewing also offers wine, frose, and some of the most colorful merch. Rooted in Austin’s vibrant culture, Zilker Brewing also supports local art and music and has a calendar packed with community events. .

MORE EAST AUSTIN BREWERIES

• Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches https://www.batchatx.com/
• Blue Owl Brewing https://blueowlbrewing.com/
• Big Country Organic Brewing Company https://enjoybigcountry.com/
• Central Machine Works https://www.cmwbrewery.com/
• Friends & Allies https://friendsandallies.beer/
• Hi Sign Brewing https://www.hisignbrewing.com/
• Koko’s Bavarian https://www.kokosbavarian.com/
• Lazarus Brewing https://www.lazarusbrewing.com/
• Hi Sign Brewing http://www.hisignbrewing.com/
• Live Oak Brewing Company https://liveoakbrewing.com/
• Oddwood Ales https://www.oddwoodales.com/
• Southern Heights Brewing Company http://www.southernheightsbrewing.com/
• Zilker Brewing Company https://zilkerbeer.com/?v=47e5dceea252

NORTH + CENTRAL AUSTIN BREWERIES

The North Austin Brewery scene has been strong for years, and with the addition of Q2 Stadium, it is now turbo charged!! Many of the breweries are walkable from the CapMetro Rail line – making them the perfect destination or stop before or after a lively Verde game. Taprooms taprooms from Hyde Park to to Q2 Stadium range from industrial buildings to contemporary food halls to rustic outdoor beer gardens. Some even have indoor stages and outdoor spaces to and most of them have a calendar filled with fun events to draw in the community to enjoy the good company and great beer together.

THE BREWTORIUM

The Brewtorium Brewery & Kitchen holds such a special place in our hearts. Not only do they always deliver a diverse mix of tasty house brewed beers on their menu, they also offer craft cider, draft mead and wine. On top of that, their food is worth the trip alone – the kitchen serves a mouthwatering array of pretzel boards, salads and german-style pizzas. The brewery has a cool, modern vibe and a highly conducive space to monumental events. We just enjoyed drag brunch here to kick off Pride Month – but this is just one of many popular events on their calendar. They host events for everyone from the Texas Craft Brewers Guild to Divine Canines, and they always do it in style!

BREWERY NEWS: CIRCLE BREWING COMPANY CLOSED

Our hearts are heavy to share the news that after 15 years of brewing delicious beers and creating a rich culture, Circle Brewing Company closed its original Braker Lane facility and its new 23-acre property in Elgin. Throughout its journey, Circle Brewery embraced Austin’s vibrant culture, supported local charities, events, and politics, constantly finding creative solutions to thrive and engage the community.

For more details, check out my guest post – https://thebeerthrillers.com/2023/10/17/circle-of-life-a-fond-farewell-to-north-austins-oldest-brewery/ – over at The Beer Thrillers – https://thebeerthrillers.com

MORE NORTH AUSTIN BREWERIES

• Austin Beerworks https://austinbeerworks.com/
• Big Country Organic Brewing Company https://enjoybigcountry.com/
• The Brewtorium Brewery and Kitchen https://www.thebrewtorium.com/
• Celis Brewing https://www.celisbeers.com/
• Draught House https://www.draughthouse.com/
• Hopsquad Brewing http://hopsquad.com/
• Red Horn – ParmerLane https://redhornbrew.com/
• Slackers Brewing https://slackersbrewing.com/

SOUTHWEST TEXAS HILL COUNTRY BREWERIES

The Texas Hill Country Breweries are the ultimate day trip destination to enjoy a day in the sun sampling delicious cold craft beers and devouring delightful farm-to-table fare with your family and friends. Many of these breweries reside on massive estates as big and beautiful as the Texas sky. The breweries and taproom buildings themselves range from everything from an industrial warehouse with a roll-up garage door to a cute and contemporary house that belongs in town and country. Beyond the taproom, most of these breweries have massive beer gardens filled with picnic tables along with trees to climb, rope swings, yard games, and even massive built playscapes. And if you make it through the day, most have expansive decks to sip your saison at sunset. Beyond all that, many of these breweries wrap their sustainable, community-focused core values into site features into activities on site – with hiking clubs, berry gathering and a working farm with baby goats to feed. Kids and pets are welcome almost everywhere and encouraged to run free.

JESTER KING BREWERY

Jester King is one of the OG Hill Country Destination Breweries and has grown to be one of the best places to drive out and spend the day with friends and family. Located on a 165-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country, Jester King is a brewery, restaurant, farm, and event hall dedicated to serving the community and preserving the land. Multiple bars on the property serve thirsty visitors Jester King craft beers, farmhouse cider, and wine — and there truly is something to please every palate. The Jester King kitchen serves up top-notch wood-fired piNo Mazza and delightful seasonal specials. And after loading up on food and drink, there are acres of farmland to hike and explore and lots of hungry little goats to feed.

VISTA BREWING

Vista Brewing is the epitome of a Texas destination brewery. The modern industrial buildings draw you into a delightful world of delicious beers, farm-to-table food, and a Texas wonderland for families and friends to enjoy. Beyond the buildings, the vast estate features a field of picnic tables, wooden playscapes, and a stage for live music. They have a delightful array of standard and rotating beer on tap, so there’s something to please everyone – from the award-winning Dark Skies black pilsner French-style saison, to the Belgian style tripel. After tasting the delicious craft beers aged in wine barrels and a unique local menu of savory delights, you will know that you are not just here for the vista but are meant to stay and enjoy the destination.

12 FOX BEER CO.

Started by A group of US Army soldiers who began their journey at Fort Hood, Texas, and then were stationed together in Germany, 12 Fox is a celebration of simple German-style beer and how it brings us all together. 12 Fox crafts all their beer from harvested rainwater and a single-sourced malt, and the varieties are simple, clean, and delicious – from Helles on Wheels Pale Lager to the Bouncing Bettie Belgian Dubbel. The massive beer garden is filled with shade trees, picnic tables, and a fantastic playscape to entertain the kids for hours. The Gummies BBQ food truck serves up perfect old-school Texas barbeque — making it easy to sit and stay a while.

SOUTHWEST / HILL COUNTRY BREWERIES

• 12 Fox Brewing Company https://12foxbeer.com/
• Acopon Brewing https://www.acoponbrewing.com/
• Beerburg Brewing https://beerburgbrewing.com//
• Bell Springs Brewery and Winery https://www.bellspringsbrewing.com/
• Family Business https://familybusinessbeerco.com/
• Fitzhugh Brewing https://www.fitzhughbrewing.com/
• Frontyard Brewing https://www.frontyardbrewing.com/
• Ghost Note Brewing https://www.ghostnotebrewing.com/
• Infamous Brewing Company https://www.infamousbrewing.com/21.html
• Jester King Brewery https://jesterkingbrewery.com/
• Oasis Texas Brewing Company https://otxbc.com/
• One Shot Distillery & Brewing https://osdtx.com/
• Suds Monkey Brewing https://sudsmonkeybrew.com/
• Twisted X Brewing Company https://twistedx
• Vista Brewing https://www.vistabrewingtx.com/

SO MANY AMAZING AUSTIN BREWERIES!!

No matter where you are in Austin, there are more than a handful of great breweries to visit. Up North, all you need to do is hop off the metro rail line, and you‘re within walking distance of the area’s oldest brewery still producing award-winning brews. The vibe up North is warm, welcoming, and industrial. Traveling a little south, you will find community-focused breweries with fantastic beers, stages, small beer gardens, and calendars packed with community events. The East Side is doing its best to keep Austin weird with a collection of quirky breweries with colorful taprooms and genuinely unique beers. And if you are looking for great beers and great Texas Hill country views – travel even further south – throughout Dripping Springs and beyond to treat yourself to delicious beers and delightful farm-to-table fare. And the very best thing about Austin Breweries? There’s always a new one on the horizon!