"Don't Miss" Places in Central Texas?

[DarCoop]

I am on vacation next week and headed to Austin/Central Texas area for a few days. Have no where to go and no where to be. Anyone have any suggestions for places I "must" visit while there on quest for good beer. Thought I would try to do a tour of Blanco Brewery and I need to go by Lovejoy's for a pint or three of their cask conditioned ale.
Planning on camping most of week somewhere. Doing McKinney Falls SP while in Austin area and open to anything else.
Help a beer brother out!!

[Fast_Eddy]

In Austin - try

Brewpubs:
1) The Bitter End
2) The Draught House
3) The Copper Tank
4) You already mentioned LoveJoy's
5) North by Northwest

Beer Bar:
1) The Gingerman
2) The Gingerman
3) The Gingerman

Make sure you sample all of Live Oaks(a local micro) offerings.

Check out Grapevine Market, Central Market, and Whip-In for the best selection in central TX.

[s00z]

Originally posted by DarCoop
I am on vacation next week and headed to Austin/Central Texas area for a few days.

I'm so jealous! If you make it down to San Marcos, check out my family's old bar The Tap Room...there are over 30 draughts there. Opal Divine's on the tail end of 6th street in Austin makes for a nice dinner and brew...or perhaps a scotch if you are interested. Up north off 183 is BB Rovers pub. Not much to look at - but a kickass selection of bottled beers and great service from the wait staff. Over in Driftwood, check out some BBQ at the Salt Lick. BYOB there....but the BBQ is legendary. And hey, try to check out a show if you get a chance! Antone's is the home of the Blues...

If you get to Blanco, tell Brad Suzanne from HEB says hi!!

-BeerGal

[Seymour]

There's also the Dog and Duck Pub, sister to the original in England. And a neat little Irish pub not at all far from the Ginger Man. Anybody remember the name?

[s00z]

Originally posted by Seymour
There's also the Dog and Duck Pub, sister to the original in England. And a neat little Irish pub not at all far from the Ginger Man. Anybody remember the name?

Could be Mother Egans (across the street from Opal's) or BD Rileys up 6th street a bit. *sigh* my old stomping grounds. I can't wait to come home. -BeerGal

Oh wait...I forgot...Fado is on 4th street too - closer to the G-man than the other two. In short, you get 3 great Irish pubs within walking distance of each other.

I really want a Guinness.

[DarCoop]

Thanks and keep info coming in. I am making a list with places and hope to get addresses and can just check off where i have been.
I emailed Real Ale Brewing in Blanco about doing a tour there one day. This trip is combined with my annual camping trip. I was going to Camp at McKinney Falls in Austin, but looks like I better spend $$$ and get a room close to downtown or on public transportation route so I am not driving.

[Wilson]

Doesn't Real Ale Brewing make Sisyphus? Thats a damn fine barleywine! If you make it there be sure to pick some up!

[DarCoop]

Originally posted by Wilson
Doesn't Real Ale Brewing make Sisyphus? Thats a damn fine barleywine! If you make it there be sure to pick some up!

Yep, I was in Austin last month and saw Sisyphus but did not get any because i had never heard of it. Tasted it the week after I got back and decided I need to go there and get more.
In fact, i saw 2003 and 2004 Sisyphus at a store while doen there. I am going to see if it is still there.

[Seymour]

Real Ale's Full Moon Rye Pale Ale is my personal favorite. Not big into barleywines. But the Full Moon is out of this world!

[I'mRocketMan]

Are you going to make it to San Antonio??

[DarCoop]

Originally posted by I'mRocketMan
Are you going to make it to San Antonio??

I will answer that question with a question: Should I make it to San Antonio? You must have something good in mind since you asked. Fill me in please.:D

[Seymour]

Two words: Blue Star.

[Fast_Eddy]

Oh yeah - don't forget that DFH beers are available around town now.

[I'mRocketMan]

The SA Homebrew Supply and bar has the DFH 60 Minute on draft right now... and a keg of the 90 Minute is in the wings!!

They are open Tuesday thru Saturday and are located on St. Mary's St!

The Blue Star is a great place, too! It is on South Alamo St.

If you ARE going to hit SA, let us know and we'll try to meet up with you!!

Cheers! Rocket

[DarCoop]

I made it home safe and sound. Great trip but was too dang hot. Need to try October next year. Made it to Bitter End and Gingerman in afernoon. Went to some "Cajun" place on Sixth street and had the Real Ale FULL MOON PALE RYE ALE. That was good stuff. Made it to Lovejoys for Happy Hour. Parking in downtown area is the pits. Got tired of running back and feeding meter.
Made it to Central Market. Got DFH 90 Min and their Raison D'etre or whatever that is. Have not tried either of them. Loaded up on German Oktoberfests for girlfriend. Got sixer of all three Real Ale brews.
Went to REAL ALE breweing CO in Blanco on Wednesday and watched them brew 2 500 gallon batches of their Rio Blanco Pale ale. Great brewery if anyone is ever that way and wants to stop and visit. Guys are great to show you everything they are doing. This was my first time to watch an All grain brew, and even though it was a 500 gal batch I now understand it all better and realize it is not really that hard. I was really impressed with their chiller that cooled all of that wort to about 70F in about 30 minutes. That is faster than I can do 5 gal with my immersion chiller.
Suzanne..gave Brad your message...

[Seymour]

Sounds like you had a good time. Stocked up on some good beers, too. Glad you made it back okay. Not to highjack a thread, but where in Marshall can you expect to get anything remotely good as far as beers? I ask because the wife has family in Beckville, and as much as I enjoy visiting them, I do not look forward to the Michelob Ultra they have chilled and waiting for me!

[DarCoop]

Originally posted by Seymour
Not to highjack a thread, but where in Marshall can you expect to get anything remotely good as far as beers? I ask because the wife has family in Beckville, and as much as I enjoy visiting them, I do not look forward to the Michelob Ultra they have chilled and waiting for me!

YOU DON'T!!!
Best place in Marshall to get beer is probably Kroger. Not great selection but best in town. If I want to buy beer, I usually go to Harley's on Loop 281 in Longview (and their selection is limited). IF you do not see it at Harley's, do not ask because you will get a dumb look from the clerk.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by DarCoop
YOU DON'T!!!
Best place in Marshall to get beer is probably Kroger. Not great selection but best in town. If I want to buy beer, I usually go to Harley's on Loop 281 in Longview (and their selection is limited). IF you do not see it at Harley's, do not ask because you will get a dumb look from the clerk.

So what I'm hearing is the best place to get beer in Marshall is Austin - lol :(

BTW - DarCoop - I don't know where my manners were. Next time you're in town let me know and I'll treat you to a few

[DarCoop]

Originally posted by Fast_Eddy
So what I'm hearing is the best place to get beer in Marshall is Austin - lol :(

Fast_Eddy..yes you are right on that. That is why I regularly take trips to Dallas Central Market. Girlfriend loves shopping there, and I can stock up on GOOD beer.
AND..thanks, I will take you up on your offer next time I am down that way. Hope to come that way in December when so I can try Lovejoy's "OLD VIXEN" barleywine and hopefully Real ALe will have their Christmas Seasonal and coffee porter ready then.

[Caffinehog]

I can't speak for beer in Texas, but if you're in Austin, make sure you get to the Congress Ave. Bridge around 7:15 one night... The world's largest urban bat colony, about 1.5 million of them, comes out in a period of about 15 minutes in a narrow stream that snakes its way across the sky. It's truly amazing.

http://www.batcon.org/discover/congress.html
http://www.batcon.org/discover/cab08.jpg

[DarCoop]

Yep..I have seen the bats several times and they are amazing to watch. Hard to beleive that many ar inside that bridge. (I work for state so I go to Austin for training from time to time.)

[s00z]

Originally posted by Caffinehog
The world's largest urban bat colony


Yeah, I've been down to the Congress Street Bridge at LEAST 3 times and *no* bats. I'm beginning to think everyone in the world can see the damn bats but me. I'm not even sure they really exist. Maybe EVERYone in Austin is plotting against me. hehehe...at any rate, it's worth noting that the little critters won't come out if it's too cold or too windy. Perhaps I kept going on cold, windy days.....

-BeerGal

[Seymour]

The best place to see 'em they say is in the lake under the bridge; but that's only if you're willing to tolerate 1.5 million bomblets of bat guano. I've seen 'em from the bridge itself. Quite a sight...

[SAustinTX]

Originally posted by DarCoop
Yep..I have seen the bats several times and they are amazing to watch. Hard to beleive that many ar inside that bridge. (I work for state so I go to Austin for training from time to time.)

They only come out during certain parts of the year.

[xscotto]

Originally posted by s00z
Yeah, I've been down to the Congress Street Bridge at LEAST 3 times and *no* bats. I'm beginning to think everyone in the world can see the damn bats but me. I'm not even sure they really exist. Maybe EVERYone in Austin is plotting against me. hehehe...at any rate, it's worth noting that the little critters won't come out if it's too cold or too windy. Perhaps I kept going on cold, windy days.....

-BeerGal

The first time I saw them it was the most amazing display of nature I'd ever seen, a near religious experience. Bazillions just kept pouring out in clouds for about an hour, until it became too dark to see them. After that, I would take visiting family and friends to see it, and they wouldn't come out. I'd be going "Honest! It's really amazing! I don't know what happened!" But realistically, they come out more often than not, especially mid-summer to late fall.