Austin's craft brewing scene has been booming for the past few years, so you'd be forgiven for feeling a little overwhelmed by all of our fermented offerings. Whether you're in the mood for a Mexican-style lager to compliment your tour of Austin tacos and queso, looking to expand your palate with a sour-mashed saison or trying to keep cool with a refreshing IPA on a hot summer's day, we have you covered. Here is your 2-day insider’s itinerary to Austin’s craft beer trail.
ABGB. Credit Jody Horton Photography.
Day 1
Start your Austin beer trail experience off right with lunch at one of these local brewpubs.
Stop by the Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co. for a little live music, along with crave-worthy pizza and craft beers. From dunkels to double IPAs, it’s hard to go wrong at ABGB.
Relax on the patio at East Austin’s 10 barrel Lazarus Brewing Company, pairing your craft brews with tasty street-style tacos.
Get a true taste of the Austin brewing community at Black Star Co-op, a people-powered brewery in central Austin offering a savory menu of quality bites and cooperatively designed beers.
Chill out in the mixed indoor-outdoor space at Central Machine Works. Snap pictures in their photo worthy lounge area and peruse the rotating artist displays. Whether you sip on a house draft, or opt for a frozen cocktail, this brewpub has a little bit of something for everyone.
Situated downtown next to the local favorite Better Half, Holdout Brewing is home to good times, cold beer and killer burgers. A newer spot to the Austin brewery scene, this spot is making their mark!
Courtesy of Twisted Texas Tour.
Take a crash course and experience the best of Austin with these afternoon activities.
Shop local boutiques and see our most iconic murals on South Congress Avenue. Then, take the ACL Live at the Moody Theater Venue Tour (and don’t forget to snap pic with the Willie Nelson statue out front).
Opt outside while the sun is shining with a kayak rental from the Rowing Dock, a hike at the Barton Creek Greenbelt or a climb at the world’s largest bouldering gym, the Austin Bouldering Project (followed by a pint next door at Friends & Allies Brewing or nearby Southern Heights Brewing Co.).
Looking for something more low key? Hop on one of our many local food and beer-oriented tours and let the experts be your guides. Check out Austin Eats Food Tours, Austin Brewery Tours, Twisted Texas Tours and more.
Lazarus Brewing. Credit Ross Pino.
Start your evening at a beer garden that’s sure to make your friends and followers swoon.
Watch the sun go down from the shade of the live oak trees at Live Oak Brewing Co. with a pint of their famous Live Oak Hefeweizen in hand.
Relax at St. Elmo Brewing Company in South Austin with good friends, live music and killer comfort food from the Spicy Boys trailer on site.
Experience the best sunset views in Austin over Lake Travis at award-winning Oasis Texas Brewing Company
Hopfields. Credit Daniel Mora.
Fill up on quality bites paired with some of the best local brews at these Austin eateries.
Make reservations for Central Austin’s Hopfields where you can treat your taste buds to French-inspired fare and 44 brews on tap.
Hang with your crew at Easy Tiger, a German-inspired beer garden and café. Start off with the pretzel and beer cheese before noshing on artisan sandwiches and house-made sausages. All three locations have awesome outdoor seating areas, perfect for sipping as the sun sets.
Grab a pint from Meanwhile Brewing Co. in South Austin. Enjoy over 20 delicious rotating beers, wines, ciders, and low-proof cocktails in their expansive backyard, complete with live music multiple nights a week. Feeling peckish? Grab a bite from one of the food trucks on site.
Antone's Nightclub. Courtesy of Kathryn Legendre.
Keep the party rocking into the night hours with live music and low-key vibes.
Enjoy a cold one at one of our many bars featuring local music like Scoot Inn or Antone's Nightclub.
Boot scoot at an iconic dancehall like Little Longhorn Saloon, Broken Spoke and the White Horse (come early for a free dance lesson!).
Soak up the hottest homegrown local music scene in the Red River Cultural District.
Courtesy of Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches.
Day 2
If a big breakfast is calling your name, these are the must try spots for recovering after your night out.
Grab a coffee porter and bagel from Wright Bros. Brew & Brew before getting in line at Franklin Barbecue.
Don’t miss the Sunday brunch at Banger’s Sausage House & Beer Garden pairing live music and 100+ beers on tap, like Zilker Brewing Co.’s Coffee Milk Stout.
Head to Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches for Czech-style kolaches with a Texas twist (try the sausage, jalapeno and cheese kolache) and a great selection of local and national craft brews.
Courtesy of Vista Brewing.
Spend the afternoon in the Hill Country exploring these breweries and taking in the regions’ stunning sights.
Take a free brewery tour at Jester King Brewery and learn about the famed farmhouse brewery’s wild ales and spontaneously fermented beers. And while you're in the area, don't miss Last Stand Brewing Co. and Treaty Oak Distilling.
Head to Pedernales Falls State Park for a day hike before stopping in to Dripping Springs’ Twisted X Brewing Co. Get the full experience with a tasting flight on the patio.
An hour outside of Austin, Real Ale Brewing Co. has been brewing up favorites like Fireman’s #4 Blonde Ale, Devil’s Backbone Belgian-style Tripel and Full Moon Rye IPA since 1996.
If you’re looking for a “destination brewery” then you have to check out Vista Brewing, just twenty-five miles outside of Austin in Driftwood. With great indoor/outdoor space, farm-fresh menu, and hill-country centric beers, this spot is a winner for any group. For those in your party who aren’t beer lovers, Desert Door Distillery is just down the road. Sip on sotol cocktails and grab a bite from Eden West, a food truck on site.
Pinthouse Pizza. Courtesy of Charles Eck.
If you aren’t still stuffed from your big brekkie, load up on these eats before squeezing in as much mid-day fun as you can in your final hours in Austin.
Find artisan pizza and a huge selection of award winning beers at Pinthouse Pizza, with several locations around Austin. Or enjoy vegan comfort food like buffalo cauliflower wings or beer plant curry in a farmhouse setting at The Beer Plant.
Go for a dip at Barton Springs Pool or a nearby swimming hole. Or BYOB to Pinballz and try your hand at a huge selection of classic pinball and arcade games. Feel Austin’s soul and creative spirit through the city's arts scene. Spend time at one of our world-class museums or cultural arts centers.
Up for another round? Visit Blue Owl Brewing to sample a selection of innovative sour-mashed beers. Or, stop in at Quickie Pickie, to grab a cold one and some snacks for your trip home.
Austin Beerworks.
Wrap up your Austin brewery tour with an evening at one of these local legends.
Austin Beerworks is a true staple of the Austin brewing scene and their weekend tasting hours feel more like a backyard barbecue than a bar.
Quaff Belgian-style ales at Celis Brewery, owned by a family with a rich beer brewing heritage.
Hand-crafted Belgian-styled ales await at award-winning Adelbert’s Brewery along with a dog and family-friendly atmosphere and plenty of patio games.
Don’t forget to stop by the Whichcraft Beer Store on your way out of town to pick up a six pack of your favorite local brew!
