Austin’s Best Breweries

Offering Belgian-style beers close to Archer, as well as tours by request, the award-winning Adelbert’s Brewery uses non-GMO Bohemian floor-malted barley, Noble hops and fresh yeast, as well as a multitemperature decoction mash. The result? A more-complex flavor in each bottle. Whether trying a limited-release or a year-round beer, a fruited sour or a canned brew, the tasting room provides additional entertainment: TV, arcade cabinets, board games, console video games, darts, Jenga Giant, a pingpong table and a foosball table. Or enjoy a cold one and a bite from their food truck, Hot Box Diner, outside under the hand-built pergola.

The first Texas craft brewery, Celis Brewery, was opened in 1992 by Belgian Pierre Celis (largely considered the Father of Wit Beer). His daughter and granddaughter keep his traditions alive in North Austin’s Brewery District. Visit the Copper Kettle Taproom, take a tour and try the core Celis beers — White, Juicy IPA and Pale Bock — or the rotating seasonal selections. Backdraft Pizzeria is the food truck of choice, serving specialty 12-inch pizzas and fresh salads. Bring your pup and have fun at its off-leash dog park. Come for Tuesdays on the Half Shell, Thursday Trivia Night, Chicken Sh*t Bingo the last Saturday of each month and Crawfish Sundays.

Just north of Lady Bird Lake in the historic district of Rainey Street lies one fo Austin’s best breweries, Craft Pride — a wildly popular beer bar with more than 50 taps featuring Texas craft beers. The bar’s design, construction and decor underscore its allegiance to local businesses and belief in fostering an environment of sustainability. Serving Texas drafts, bottles, cans and wines Craft Pride has a Sunday brunch with signature beer cocktail offerings that go down perfectly alongside food truck Via 313’s Detroit-style pizza. A myriad of crowd-pleasing events (music, movies, trivia) fill the calendar at this locals’ favorite.

Independence Brewing Co. has grown from a small mom-pop-dog shop in southeast Austin to a team of 30 people producing more than 20 thousand barrels a year with distribution throughout Texas. Serving up year-round favorite brews, seasonal and limited releases and exclusive beers is the specialty of this laid-back taproom; try the Stash IPA, Austin Amber, Native Texan Pilsner or Nailed It Chocolate Cake Stout. Then check out the cool merchandise, including beer soaps, shirts and groovy bandanas. The brewery showcases live original music and special food events. Don’t forget to take a brewery tour.

The taproom and festooned beer garden at St. Elmo Brewing Co. have plenty of seating and great service. Their darker beers have a loyal following, and beer to go is available. Events include standup, live music, crawfish boils and (the most popular) the family-friendly Grassy Thursdays — featuring bluegrass bands in the beer garden; tables are first come, first served, so giddyup.

A short drive southwest of Archer Hotel Austin is Jester King Brewery — a world-renowned farmhouse brewery set on the outskirts of town in Texas Hill Country. With a hop yard, a 3-acre vineyard, a walking trail and a herd of goats, Jester King grows a variety of fruits and vegetables for fermentation, as well as for sharing with the community. A sampling of more than 50 house beers includes Spon Grapefruit, Astral Reflections (a DDH double hazy IPA, collab with Celestial Beerworks) and Less Dots (a farmhouse ale with spent black currants). This family- and dog-friendly outdoor brewery serves handcrafted, artisan pizzas and appetizers.