Craft beer is a huge part of the party scene in Austin, but there are definitely some tricks to drinking like a local. Here is our top ten list of places to drink when you are here for Austin Wine and Food Festival, Euphoria or Austin Fashion Week recommended by Zena Vaughn of Curvy Craft.
1. Live Oak Brewing Company - Arguably Austin's original craft brewery, Live Oak specializes in German and Czech style lagers and ales. Their HefeWeizen is the standard you have to drink, but they also have an outstanding Berliner Weisse that is a favorite among tart and sour beer lovers, and is currently on tap with a limited release. Live Oak is situated just across US 71 from the Airport.
2. Blue Owl Brewing - Blue Owl is the only brewery sour-mashing traditional beer styles. Most sour beers are barrel aged, but Blue Owl's mashing process produces beers that are closer in taste to their original style. Start with their Little Boss, a sour session wheat beer. This is your gateway beer if you are new to sours, with a clean wheat flavor and only 3.3% ABV. Blue Owl is on E. Cesar Chavez and Pedernales St., minutes from IH35, in the middle of all the East Austin action.
3. Hops & Grain Brewery - Minutes from Blue Owl, Hops & Grain is a local staple. Their pale lager, aptly named The One They Call Zoe, was the "it" beer of 2014 and will be found at most grocery stores and corner markets in the orange can. Taproom is easy to find. Just head East on 6th street until it ends.
Hop in an Uber, or take the Red Line to the Kramer stop and check out what is quickly being dubbed "The Brewery District".
4. 4th Tap Brewing Cooperative - Huge, modern tap room that is fully air conditioned and has free wi-fi. The Long Walk IPA is grapefruit infused, and their Sun Eater is a rosemary gruit that is naturally gluten free.
5. Adelbert's Brewery - Adelbert's is your source for Belgian-styled ales. Don't miss the Naked Nun, a Wit Ale that earned the Silver Medal at the World Beer Champions Awards and the Best of Craft Beer Awards.
6. Circle Brewing Co. - Circle is known for the Blur Texas Hefe that you can find bottled most places, but make sure to stop in to get the Alibi Blonde on tap. A World Beer Cup Silver winner, this easy to drink blonde is a blend of German Mai Bock and American Blonde Ale.
7. Austin Beerworks - The green can you see everywhere is Pearl Snap, named the 2015 Official Beer of Austin by the Austin Chronicle. All of the beers here are stellar, but don't pass up a 4 pack box of Heavy Machinery seasonal IPA if you see it on a shelf.
Set aside a day and grab a ride to head 20 miles west of Austin to Dripping Springs.
8. Jester King Brewery - Jester King focuses on hand crafted, bottle-conditioned artisan farmhouse ales. If you are new to farmhouse or sours, start with the La Petit Prince, their 2.9% table beer. If you already dig farmhouse ales, I would start with either the earthy and floral Wytchmaker farmhouse rye IPA, or my personal favorite, Snorkel, brewed with oyster mushrooms and smoked sea salt.
9. Thirsty Planet Brewing - Just down the street from Jester King, Thirsty Planet produces the most well known Amber in town-Thirsty Goat. Thirsty Goat is available year round, but if you manage to get there quick enough you may be able to catch a glass of the Silverback Pale Ale.
10. Twisted X - Twisted X Premium Lager is the foundation for what Twisted X calls Tex Mex Beer, using yellow corn sourced from a central Texas farms. Regardless of how you like your beer, you're sure to enjoy these sipping spots and find a new favorite.
