Best Breweries in Austin
October 16, 2024
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Austin may be known as a foodie city, but we also have a thriving brewery scene. There are over 80 craft breweries in the Austin area, with several earning national and even international recognition. Whether you are happy for hops, love a unique sour, or just enjoy a classic golden ale, the Heywood has got you covered for the best breweries in Austin.
Best Breweries in East Austin
Our East Austin neighborhood has become THE hot spot for craft brews in Austin. And when you stay at the Heywood Hotel, you can tour them all in style on one of our complimentary bikes! Here’s where we recommend visiting on the Eastside.
Blue Owl Brewing
Located a few short blocks down E. Cesar Chavez from the Heywood Hotel, Blue Owl Brewing is best known for its unique sour-mashed beers. Locally loved flavors include Spirit Animal Sour Pale Ale and their rotating selection of Fruited Little Boss, including Sour Yuzu and Sour Pomegranate. Blue Owl also offers seasonal seltzers in flavors like Mexican Martini and Mango & Peach Daquiri — which are as refreshing as they sound. Their cute front patio is a great place to enjoy your selections. You can also pick up a six-pack of cans to-go and enjoy them on the Heywood’s private patio.
Central Machine Works
Continue east along E. Cesar Chavez to find Central Machine Works Brewery, just two miles from the Heywood Hotel. The building is a converted WWII-era machine shop, now housing the brewery, an enormous yet stylish beer hall and restaurant. This industrial-chic microbrewery also has a full bar and a food menu that features signature pizza and sandwiches.
Photo courtesy of Central Machine Works Brewery.
The outdoor beer garden is equally one of the largest patios in Austin and often hosts local live music, making it an ideal spot for patio season. Central Machine Works brews a variety of beer styles. The American Lager, Citrus Pale Ale and Kolsch are the must-tries among a list of around 10 beers brewed in house. Though a relative newcomer to the Austin beer scene, Central Machine Works has quickly established itself as a guest favorite!
Zilker Brewing Company
Pedal down East 6th Street to Zilker Brewing Company, one of Austin’s premiere brewers and the official beer supplier of the Heywood! (Did you know that all Heywood guests receive complimentary Zilkers at check-in?). We love Zilker’s dedication to fostering community and making craft beer accessible. And, of course, we love their beer!
Photo courtesy of Zilker Brewing Company.
Zilker’s friendly taproom features many brews, including the full-bodied Marco IPA, roasty Coffee Milk Stout, crisp and citrusy Parks & Rec Pale Ale, and easy-drinking Icy Boys Light Lager. The variety and quality of their craft make them recognized as one of the best breweries in Austin. Zilker is also home to a local favorite food truck, Spicy Boys Chicken. Spicy Boys serves fried chicken in various forms, like sandwiches, all of which have a unique flavor that fits your spice level. Spicy Boy’s original location is parked just outside on Zilker’s front patio.
Lazarus Brewing Co.
A block away from Zilker is Lazarus Brewing Co., which has a great taco menu in addition to fine craft brews. Some of our favorites include 40 Days and 40 Nights, a popular West Coast IPA, and Black Pearl, a rice lager. Their enormous outdoor patio is a great place to enjoy a pint any day of the week. Pro tip: their queso fundido with chorizo goes well with every brew!
Austin Eastciders
Not a beer drinker but still want to enjoy Austin breweries? Enter: Austin Eastciders. Here, you can grab unique, award-winning ciders, including Original Dry Cider, Blood Orange, Pineapple, Texas Brut, and special releases. Cider is a great, gluten-free option! Austin Eastciders’ taproom is open Tuesday through Sunday, or feel free to pick up a six-pack to enjoy on the Heywood Hotel patio!
Photo courtesy of Austin Eastciders.
Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches
A few miles north on Manor Road, you can find Batch Craft Beer and Kolaches, a family-owned kolache bakery and brewery. Batch’s brews are flavor-forward and adventurous — and pair perfectly with one of their homemade kolaches. Open every day, morning through night, the brewery also offers a full coffee and espresso bar in partnership with Greater Goods Roasting. Enjoy a beer in their spacious tree-covered backyard.
Photo courtesy of Batch ATX.
Oddwood Brewing
Less than a block away from Batch is Oddwood Brewing. Focusing on American-style wild ales and hoppy pale ales, the aptly named Oddwood looks to bring whimsy and personality to their beers and their brewpub. The taproom typically features a rotating selection of around a dozen beers, along with additional options available by can or bottle. Oddwood also offers a full food menu with pizza, strombolis, salads, and sandwiches. The taproom and outdoor patio are open Monday through Sunday.
Photo courtesy of Oddwood Brewing.
Best Breweries Around Austin
If you want to venture further than our East Austin neighborhood, there are dozens of breweries located around the Austin and Hill Country areas. Here are some of our personal favorites.
St. Elmo Brewing Co.
St. Elmo Brewing Co. is located just a few miles south of the Heywood Hotel in the growing St. Elmo Market District. This great little brewery has a comfortable outdoor patio area fit for an afternoon hang. St. Elmo features more than 15 beers on tap, including local favorite Carl Kolsch, which you also can find at may restaurants around town. Other mainstays include the appropriately named West, a West Coast IPA, Amber, an Amber Lager, and Hazy, a Hazy IPA. Plenty of patio seating, food provided by Spicy Boys, and fun nightly events make this South Austin charmer special.
Photo courtesy of St. Elmo Brewing Co.
St. Elmo is also located right next door to Still Austin Distillery which specializes in “grain-to-glass” bourbon and gin, and has another great outdoor space. In the same complex is The Austin Winery, a full-production urban winery with all wines made here in Austin.
Looking to head north instead of south? St. Elmo recently opened a second brewery location in Northeast Austin at 8110 Springdale Road, about 8.5 miles north of the Heywood Hotel.
Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company (ABGB)
The Austin Beer Garden Brewing Company, known fondly as the ABGB, is a charming independent brewery in South Austin with national recognition. ABGB combines good food with good music and, of course, good beer. Their award-winning “always” beers include Hell Yes Helles, a 2018 gold medal winner at the GABF, Industry Pilsner, which took home the gold in 2016, and the three-gold-medal awarded Rocket 100, a pre-Prohibition style pilsner, which also took home the bronze in the 2016 World Beer Cup! In addition to these award-winners, the taproom also serves a rotating selection of “sometimes” beers.
Photo courtesy of the ABGB.
ABGB’s kitchen serves classic pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and light bites using locally sourced ingredients. Local live musicians take the stage each week, and its expansive Oak-covered patio is one of the largest and friendliest in all of Austin.
Pinthouse Brewing
Pinthouse Brewing is known by Austin locals for its inviting and always bustling pizza-pub restaurants. Meanwhile, Pinthouse has been making a huge name for itself in national craft beer circles, making it not only one of the best breweries in Austin, but one of the best in the country. You can find the brewery’s popular Electric Jellyfish IPA all around Austin at restaurants, bars, and grocery stores.
Photo courtesy of Pinthouse Brewing.
In addition to its three Austin-area pizza-pub restaurants, the primary brewery, Pinthouse Brewing, is just four miles south of the Heywood Hotel. This brewery offers a big and bright, modern industrial-style environment. This location offers a full food menu that includes shareable snacks, salads, sandwiches, and a smaller pizza selection.
Hold Out Brewing
If you’re exploring the downtown area, specifically the West end, make a stop at Hold Out Brewing. The brewpub is located right next door to its sister restaurant, Better Half Coffee & Cocktails, in the Clarksville neighborhood. Choose from a selection of pale ales and lagers. And, heads up, their burger is not to be missed!
Photo courtesy of Hold Out Brewing.
Austin Beerworks
Take a trip a few miles north to visit this Austin beer institution known for its good beer, colorful cans, and friendly environment. Take a tour of the brewery, have a pint, or sample a flight of some ABW’s finest. Their go-tos include the Peacemaker (an anytime ale), Pearl-Snap (a German-style pils), and Fire Eage (an American IPA). But don’t miss out on one of their tart seasonals like the Bloodwork Orange of the Tropical Einhorn.
Austin Beerworks now has two locations, both located north of the Heywood.
Image courtesy of Austin Beerworks.
Live Oak Brewing Co.
Live Oak Brewing Co. sits on 22 acres in Southeast Austin, not far from Austin Bergstrom airport. One of the oldest Austin breweries, Live Oak opened back in 1997 and brews beers that are popular across the stat, including Live Oak Hefeweizen, Pilz and Big Bark Amber Lager.
This location is a real treat for locals and out-of-towners alike, offering the chance to spend the day under the canopy of the property’s enormous live oaks. Though the location is just 8 miles from downtown, it feels worlds away from the hustle and bustle of the city. While you’re there, check out the property’s 18-hole disc golf course, designed by Live Oak’s head brewer.
Jester King
Just out of town, but just right, Jester King is a beer lover’s dream destination. The brewery, which specializes in limited run “wild yeast” varietals, is located on a sprawling farm, just under 20 miles from the hotel. Be sure to grab a made-in-house pizza while you’re there because even their pizza celebrates the art of beer making. Ingredients are sourced from fermented or foraged ingredients, and their dough contains 100% Texas grains and is leavened with the same wild yeast they use to ferment their beer. Walk it off on their hiking trails covering 165 acres of beautiful Hill Country land, and be sure to visit the “goat barn” if you’re an animal lover.
Photo courtesy of Jester King.
Or How About A Guided Beer Tour of Austin’s Best Breweries?
The Heywood Hotel concierge team can plan a custom itinerary with a private driver so you can spend the day touring the best breweries around Austin. Or perhaps you’d be interested in a guided bike and brew tour? We can do that too! Or if you’d just like to grab a six-pack and kick back on the lovely Heywood Hotel courtyard patio, that’s always an option.
Featured image courtesy of Blue Owl Brewing.