Upcoming Austin Breweries January 2015
With everything that is happening in the Austin craft beer scene, it is hard to keep track of what breweries are in the process of opening around town. Needless to say, the Austin beer scene is exploding. This article is mainly focused on the breweries that currently have locations, most of which are already under construction or about to release their beers. This article has been updated from the previous article (from October 2014).
4th Tap – 4th Tap will be operating as a co-op production brewery located in North Austin. They recently signed a lease on a space that will be located somewhere in the area around Austin Beerworks, Circle, and Adelbert’s. While no official beers have been named as their mainstays, they have been collaborating with Black Star on some of their beer (you may have tried one without knowing it). Expect them to open up towards the middle-to-late summer.
Website: http://4thtap.coop/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/4thtap
Twitter: https://twitter.com/4thtap
Last Stand Brewing–Last Stand had a couple of soft openings through the month of December. Due to delays in their TABC label approvals and building out the production system, they have yet to be able to distribute. However, as of last week, they received their label approvals. Expect their taproom to open up to more permanent hours in the next month and to see them at your favorite bar soon. Their lineup includes a Porter, Belgian Pale Ale, Wheat and an IPA.
Website: http://www.laststandbrewing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LastStandBrewingCompany
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LastStandBrew
Strange Land Brewing – Strange Land has started showing up around Austin and San Antonio in the last month. Their Entire Porter was on tap at Craft Pride the last time I was there. To round out their mainstays, expect an Alt, Dubbel and Saison. There will also be Small Batch Reserve series featuring a Braggot, Bourbon Porter and Barleywine. Their official grand opening of their taproom will be on 2/6. Their taproom hours from then will be 5-10 on Fridays and Saturdays 1-5.
Website: http://strangelandbrewery.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strangelandbrewery
Bluebonnet Beer Company -Opened Since the Last Article.
Bluebonnet Beer Company – Bluebonnet showed up on the scene at the end of last year. You will find them on tap mostly in places around their brewery in Round Rock. Their offerings include a Cream Ale, Texas Pecan Brown Ale, an American Amber Ale, and an American IPA. You can currently visit their taproom (1700 Bryant Drive #107 Round Rock) on Friday and Saturdays from 5 to 8.
Website: http://bluebonnetbeerco.com/
Bull Creek Brewing Company – This brewery has been in the works for some time now. They have been receiving label approvals for their beers since April, which range from Imperial IPAs to Farmhouse Saisons. They will be located in Liberty Hill, which currently has no breweries. Their brewery and taproom is already built out and they should be opening in the near future. They will be bottling their beers.
Website: http://www.bullcreekbrewing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BullCreekBrewingCompany
Ironsight Brewers – As far as their progress goes, Ironsight is hoping to open in late March. One of the holdups right night is getting their TABC permit to allow them to start brewing. They have received all of their equipment, and will hopefully have some test batches going in the system next month.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ironsight-Brewers/136646119846094
Bindlestick Brewing – Bindlestick is a brewery focused on bringing back pre-prohibition style lagers and ales. Their first two beers will likely be a Pale Ale and an Amber. While they do have a location, they are still in the process of receiving equipment into the brewery.
Webpage: http://www.bindlestickbeer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BindlestickBrewing
Oddwood Ales – While, technically, this may not be considered a new “brewery”, I figured it was worth mentioning. Oddwood is a side project from Adelbert’s brewer to create barrel aged and fermented beers. In other words, they will be focused on American Wild Ales. Oddwood is currently brewing at Adelbert’s under Adelbert’s TABC license, so it is hard to say it is a new brewery even though they have a different name. You can currently find their Saison around town at all the usual beer stores. If you want to visit their facilities, swing by Adelbert’s during their normal operating hours.
Website: http://www.oddwoodales.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oddwoodales
Zilker Brewing Company – Zilker is another brewery that is being built in East Austin, located at 1701 East 6th Street. They hope to see the taproom open in the next couple of months where they will begin to sell their beer by the pint. Distribution of kegs and cans will follow later in the year. The first offerings will be a Honey Saison, an ESB, a Session IPA, and a Pale Ale.
Webpage: http://www.zilkerbeer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ZilkerBrewing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZilkerBeer
Red Horn Coffee House & Brewing Company – With a focus on fresh house roasted coffees and brewing their own beer, Red Horn will be opening in Cedar Park late this year or early next year. They have already hired their head brewer and have a location off of Parmer and Whitestone Ave. Expect them to have many other locally sourced products available including cheeses, baked goods, and sodas.
Website: http://www.redhornbrew.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redhornbrew
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedHornBrew
Blue Owl Brewing – Blue Owl is focusing on sour mash beers and canning them. They will be located in East Austin (2400 East Cesar Chavez St. #300). To begin with, they will be canning a Sour Session Wheat, Black Sour Cherry Stout, Sour Pale Ale and Sour Amber Ale. The head brewer left Black Star Co-op to start Blue Owl. The latest sounds like, thanks to delays in permits and other city issues, they will be opening towards the end of February or beginning of March.
Website: http://blueowlbrewing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueowlbrewing
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BlueOwlBrewing
Orf Brewing – Orf is still somewhat of an unknown for me. Their name has been floating around for a couple of years, but it appears that they are moving forward. They recently started the build work on their brewery location in Southeast Austin.
Website: http://www.orfbrewing.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Orf-Brewing/272411556105163
Pinthouse Pizza (South) – I do not think anyone will be complaining about Pinthouse opening up a location down south. This already hugely popular place has a location at 4236 South Lamar. They are currently building it out and expect it to be open in the first half of 2015. The plans include their own barreling room as well as a bigger brew system.
Website: http://pinthousepizza.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinthousePizza
Twitter: https://twitter.com/pinthousepizza
Rentsch Brewing – A little north of Austin, in Georgetown, we have a father/son and friend operation hoping to open in late February/early March called Rentsch Brewing. They will plan on brewing according to the German Purity Law, Reinheitsgebot, however not limiting themselves to just German styles. Their first offerings will be a Pale Ale, Hefeweizen, and a Weizenbock. Their brewery will be located at 2500 NE Inner Loop Unit # 3105 in Georgetown.
Website: http://www.rentschbeer.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rentschbrewery
Honorable Mention:
Draughthouse – Draughthouse is finally brewing again with their newly revamped brewing system. I am just happy to see this happen as I did not know if it every would.
