Austin Beer Guide - Best of 2014

B E S T

2 0 1 4O F

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Contents FROM THE EDITORS

In the weeks leading up to this issue my wife asked what would be this issue’s theme. “Theme? How about the same theme as all the others—try to deliver on some concepts we thought were good ideas while drinking a month or two before.” I get it, people like things in a nice package. And it’s a bonus if it’s relevant. So we present to you . . . the Campaign Issue. You’ll have to turn the page to see if our Obama/Romney brewmors made the fi nal cut.

We kicked things off by partaking in the democratic process and inviting some non and novice beer drinkers out to cast their vote to help us fi nd Austin’s perfect gateway beer (p. 20 ). While we put our panel through the wringer at times, they were able to come out with an undisputed winner. Thanks to them you now know what’s safe to order for your mom next time family comes to town.

We also visited with some of Austin’s homebrew heroes (p. 14) to learn more about their craft, see how much of their house has been overrun with stainless pots and glass fermenters, and fi nd out how they are making an impact on the local and national scene. Aaron and I debated about whether these guys are more Libertarian or Tea Party (ask either side and they’ll tell you there is a difference).

And fi nally, because this is America and you have the freedom to abuse your liver ‘til your heart’s content (assuming you have someone to drive you home), we present the fall calendar of beer events (p. 26). Fall is an endless maze of festivals and parties. To help you fi gure out where it’s worth breaking commitments and damaging relationships, we’ve cut through the clutter to make our recommendations on the ones you can’t miss. Go crazy kids, #YOLO. -JS

Chris TroutmanJosh Spradling

WWW.AUSTINBEERGUIDE.COM

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WE JUST COULDN’T HELP OURSELVES. BEING gluttons for punishment, we broke our word and published a third time in 2014. And I guess that also makes us liars. I’d like to say we caved to reader and industry demand, and although we do feel appreciated, this third “issue” has only our tireless little craft hearts to thank. Do we regret it? Depends on when you ask. By the time you’re reading, alcohol will probably have killed off the brain cells trusted with the unpleasant memories from pulling together a new format from scratch, amidst the backdrop of holidays, travel, work deadlines, and sick kids. So, no. No regrets. We do it with ease.

And honestly, the ‘Best of’ issue has long been our favorite. We get just as excited as you to list, order, judge, rank, debate, decide, debate some more, and fi nally settle on a satisfactory list of Austin’s best in beer. And being our favorite, we decided to trim this issue to focus on and feature only the best of the year in beer.

With love in our hearts and tongues in our cheeks, we decided that the best way to digest the past twelve months of imbibing was via the classic yearbook medium. A la high school. And being the suckers for low hanging fruit that we are, we exhausted every HS trope and lazy movie analogy we could. Well, we could have done more, but were on a deadline.

So we hope you enjoy.Also, check out our obligatory GABF coverage on page 02. Austin area brewers had a

fantastic year. And of course, the much anticipated Readers’ and Eds’ Best of 2014 results (p.23). And fi nally, please take the time to sign each other’s yearbooks (p.32), because memories don’t last forever. Did I mention how much we enjoyed the creating of this issue?

And as we stand here, looking off into the brightness of the horizons of our futures, hopes, dreams, failures, and successes, we stand upon the shoulders of, er, you get the idea.

I’ll leave you with the most poignant truism of our generation, “I hope you have the time of your life.”

Have a gr8t summer. Don’t eva change 4 no 1. –CT


Aaron ChamberlainShawn Phillips

AUTOGRAPHS

FRESHMEN

GABF

2014 BEST OF

3626

SENIORS

SOPHOMORES

JUNIORS

BONUS STAFFPROOFREADERS ...Sofi a, Sarah, and Kim

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In the weeks leading up to this issue my wife asked what would be this issue’s theme. “Theme? How about the same theme as all the others—try to deliver on some concepts we thought were good ideas while drinking a month or two before.” I get it, people like things in a nice package. And it’s a bonus if it’s relevant. So we present to you . . . the Campaign Issue. You’ll have to turn the page to see if our Obama/Romney brewmors made the fi nal cut.

We kicked things off by partaking in the democratic process and inviting some non and novice beer drinkers out to cast their vote to help us fi nd Austin’s perfect gateway beer (p. 20 ). While we put our panel through the wringer at times, they were able to come out with an undisputed winner. Thanks to them you now know what’s safe to order for your mom next time family comes to town.

We also visited with some of Austin’s homebrew heroes (p. 14) to learn more about their craft, see how much of their house has been overrun with stainless pots and glass fermenters, and fi nd out how they are making an impact on the local and national scene. Aaron and I debated about whether these guys are more Libertarian or Tea Party (ask either side and they’ll tell you there is a difference).

And fi nally, because this is America and you have the freedom to abuse your liver ‘til your heart’s content (assuming you have someone to drive you home), we present the fall calendar of beer events (p. 26). Fall is an endless maze of festivals and parties. To help you fi gure out where it’s worth breaking commitments and damaging relationships, we’ve cut through the clutter to make our recommendations on the ones you can’t miss. Go crazy kids, #YOLO. -JS


WWW.AUSTINBEERGUIDE.COM

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Texas GABF Medal Count6 GOLDS

2012 Great Scot!, Peticolas Brewing Co., Aged Beer Benedictum, Real Ale Brewing Co., Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale

Sir William’s English Brown Ale, Grapevine Craft Brewery, English-Style Brown Ale

Public Ale, Community Beer Co., Extra Special Bitter Quakertown, Armadillo Ale Works, Imperial Stout

London Homesick Ale, Oasis, Texas Brewing Co., Ordinary or Special Bitter

5 SILVERSFire Eagle, Austin Beerworks, American-Style Strong Pale Ale

Yellow Armadillo, Thirsty Planet Brewing, American-Style Wheat BeerLobo Negro, Pedernales Brewing Co., German-Style Schwarzbier

Aloha Piña, 5 Stones Artisan Brewery, Herb and Spice BeerSaint Arnold Summer Pils, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Munich-Style Helles

5 BRONZESShiner Bock, Spoetzl Brewery, American-Style Dark Lager

Ascension, Community Beer Co., Coffee Beer The Regulator, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., German-Style Doppelbock or Eisbock Saint Arnold Weedwacker, Saint Arnold Brewing Co., German-Style Wheat Ale

Jaguar Shark, Pinthouse Pizza, Wood- and Barrel-Aged Strong Stout

GABF’D 4EVER You might have noticed we took a year off from our Great American Beer Festival coverage in 2013. This year we were itching to return and leave our mark on Colorado yet again. This may or may not have anything to do with the recent decriminalization of recreational marijuana.

You’d think after burning out we would plan our trip differently, but we pretty much copied our 2012 itinerary for this year’s GABF weekend. After arriving in Denver we escaped to Fort Collins. There we paid visits to Odell, New Belgium, and Funkwerks. It was great visiting these fantastic breweries and seeing how they have grown and changed since we last stopped in. We added two new stops to our Fort Collins stay—Black Bottle Brewery and Equinox Brewing. One eh, one great. The great one rhymes with Sequinox. No time in FC is complete without breakfast at Choice City Butcher & Deli. Just watch out for those Austin Beerworks scoundrels. They may “gift” you a round of fancy, terrible beer. After a quick stop in Boulder (Upslope) and Golden (Golden City Brewery) we were back in Denver. The major highlights in Denver were the GABF staple Beerliner, where we participated in a fl ash mob shotgunning (including a ABW 99-pack and much more), and Prost Brewing, aka the happiest place on earth. Other than that it was pretty much a (purple) haze.

Texas breweries brought home 16 medals from the Great American Beer Festival—up from 10 last year. This is the most medals Texas has ever won at GABF. Well, that is not technically true. In 2002 Texas won 18, but that includes a bunch of shitty macro beers. Craft beer only folks.

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GABF’D 4EVER

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SeniorsIT’S BEEN A BIG YEAR FOR THE BIG MEN ON CAMPUS (or women if you prefer). Expansions, ground breakings, new brewhouses, and second locations dotted the 2014 calendar for these old pros.

Draught House, Austin’s own “5th year” senior, has been the Wooderson equivalent in the ATX beer scene going on 46 years now. “That’s what I love about these IPAs, man. I get older but they stay the same age.” Sure, sure. The bosses at DH have spent the past 12 months rehauling their previous beloved little brewhouse that could, and will soon debut the new beautiful, shiny, glorious resurrected phoenix, primed to churn out more Guy Smiley, Bombay IPA, Pumpkin Head, Red Planet, Sidamo Milk Stout, and Marely’s Gnarly Barleywine for our collective enjoyment.

Live Oak had a big year as they fi nally came out from behind the track and fi eld house to break ground on their killer new brewery location in east Austin just off the Colorado River near the airport. Dr. Chip McElroy and co. have big big plans for the new location (AKA the “college years”), with a full-on 22,000-square-foot facility, custom German brewhouse with all the fi xings, and, as rumored since 2008, fresh Live Oak beers in cans! 2015 is looking good. And of course, we’d be remiss to glaze over the fact that they updated their website design this year AND released the very popular LO PILZ trucker hatz.

Voted best dressed, North by Northwest had a pretty spectacular year. After 15 years being the northwestern most brew pub in town, NXNW spawned NXNW TWO in south Austin on Slaughter Lane. With head brewer Hayden Winkler and brewer CJ West at the helm, south Austin has even more local fresh beer in store for

2015. In late September, NXNW founder Davis Tucker took to the road for his second 1,400 Miles cycling fundraiser from Austin to Denver on the way to the Great American Beer Fest in efforts to raise awareness and funds to fi ght prostate cancer (plus bonus points for those college essays). And once again, Tucker was followed by the infamous Beerliner, which once fi rmly in Denver, set up camp

for a week’s worth of Texas beer advocacy, camaraderie, and the unoffi cial world’s largest #shotgunfriday event.

When they weren’t blasting Sabbath and peeling donuts in their black windowless ‘89 Chevy G20 van in the teachers’ parking lot, the bad boys at Real Ale were brewing up trouble. Early 2014, the RA brewers collaborated with fellow metal heads Three Floyds and Surly to create the highly acclaimed and delicious Blakkr, a hoppy black ale. In addition to Blakkr, RA continued their new line of specialty can releases with Blakkr’s juxtaposition, White, a Belgian-style white ale, and the stellar 18th anniversary Gose. Bent on owning the area’s canning scene, September witnessed the introduction of the 16oz tallboy Fireman’s #4 cans. Additionally, 2014 saw the year-round addition of the severely underrated Four Squared cans, and Real Ale’s Mysterium Verum series’ fi rst GABF medal for the Benedictum. Oh, and Hans’.

Our senior class really lived it up this year, and we wish them all the best in their coming endeavours. Hope they all have sunglasses, cause their future sure is bright!

LIVE OAK GROUNDBREAKING

Live

Oak

pho

to: T

yler

Mal

one

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Seniors

Est. 1968“Know what you want?”

Most likely to be open on Thanksgiving and Christmas (thanks Roone).

Est. 1999“Think that’s impressive? Have you ever

seen a Beerliner?” Best place to drink over a power lunch.

Est. 1997“Get off my lawn.”

Most likely to visit Germany a fi fth time before breaking ground on new brewery.

Est. 1996“No, no cascades in this one,

strictly demon hops.”Best Hans’.

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Juniors


DON’T LET THE SIZE OF THIS CLASS FOOL YOU—THIS small but intrepid group of breweries produce a large portion of our fair city’s beer. With expansions in size, footprint, production, and brewing innovation, all three of our Juniors had a very busy and productive year. While some celebrated 10 years brewing, others moved into off-site distribution and quietly expanded their foeder wood age program.

Just like that kid with his head in the sand studying up for the pre-SATs, the team at (512) Brewing quietly spent 2014 churning away, brewing two area code’s worth of top tier staple craft beers. (512) celebrated their sixth year of brewing with a malty dubbel and another one of their legendary anniversary parties. They also complimented their IPA and Black IPA with the new White IPA, completing their hoppy trinity. This past year also witnessed the second bottle release from their foeder wood aged sour series, the Peach Sour. Like all of (512)’s bottle releases, the Peach Sour didn’t sit on shelves long and were rare to be found even the day after they were introduced into the wild. Here’s looking forward to (512) getting that big college acceptance letter and celebrating with some new foeder deliciousness in 2015.

After wasting away last summer hanging with the likes of Jeff Spicoli, Independence woke up and realized that high school doesn’t last forever and stepped up with a brand-shiny-new 60-barrel brewhouse with 240 barrels of fermentation capacity. Being 10 years old, they thought a proper celebration deserved a dry-hopped barleywine with wide release on draught and in limited four bottle packs. And in addition to 10 years brewing, they also observed their 3,000th batch in 2014 and celebrated by brewing their fi rst lager, the crispy delicious Hell or High Lager. Sure, looks impressive, right? Well they weren’t done there. Indy rolled out three beers (two being new beers) in cans, the White Rabbit Belgian-style white, Power & Light pale ale, and the popular OU Suks. And amongst the expansion, new beer releases, and celebrating a decade brewing, Indy also rolled out their new Friday evening tasting room Happy Hours. Although they still have a penchant to party, Independence have really made their mother proud in their junior year and look to have a bright senior year. Stay cool!

Everyone’s favorite uncle had a pretty big year of his own. With an overhaul in the brewhouse, Uncle Billy’s expanded with a new 20-barrel brewhouse, effectively tripling their

previous production. And with that much more potential beer, UB’s beefed up their off-site distribution and canned beers on the market. The Greenhouse IPA and Humbucker cans began to slowly pop up around town in 2014. And they didn’t keep all the canning fun to themselves; Uncle Billy’s teamed up with Christine Celis and Austin Java to create the Gypsy Coffee Dubbel and distribute it around town in kegs and cans. This ambitious junior didn’t only focus on beer in 2014—they also expanded their food menu with smoked seafood offerings. Alright, Uncle, have a great summer!

Our Juniors had a big year, fi lled with leaps and bounds and multiple learning experiences, but even with things getting a little more serious, they still found time to have some fun in the process!

UNCLE BILLY’S EXPANDED BREWERY

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Juniors

Est. 2008“Park at Bender Bar.”

Most likely to release only a dozen cases of your favorite beer with no notice.

Est. 2004“HIDE THE STASH!”Best Longhorn fans.

Est. 2007“Have you tried our new seafood items?”

Most likely to smoke their hops.

(512) PEACHES

(512

) pho

to: (

512)

’s F

aceb

ook


SophomoresTHE SOPHOMORE CLASS COMPRISE OUR AREA’S largest, most spread out, and diverse group of breweries. They dot the landscape from north Austin to deep into the hill country with a solid mix of full-on production breweries and brew pubs among them. And they have quite the reputation.

Adelbert’s got on the B block lunch schedule with all their friends this year. That, plus their new Jordans, have made all the difference. Scott Hovey and crew celebrated three years brewing in 2014, expanded into new markets, and re-released their very popular Contemplating Waterloo gin barrel-aged saison kicking off their new barrel-aged series in cooperation with neighbors Treaty Oak distillery.

Although still on the JV squad, Austin Beerworks did make the basketball starting fi ve and are pretty sure they’ll get to buy their uncle’s old hatchback when they get their license in November. So yeah, they got that going for them. And the national attention for their 99-pack #AnytimeAle re-branding campaign didn’t hurt. They also observed their balls-hot anniversary with the cool-as-a-cucumber Karl Kölsch and a party to match. And for a third year in a row, they brought home hardware from GABF for the Fire Eagle IPA (p.02).

Being the shortest in their class didn’t keep them down as Barber Shop walked the hallways hard this year. When owner/brewer John McIntosh wasn’t globe trotting, he was brewing up their affable English-inspired ales and keeping Dripping Springs’ watering hole churning. Still no haircuts.

The boys and girls at Black Star Co-op went through their fi rst teenage break up this year as former head brewer and founder Jeff Young passed the brewing torch on to Chris Hamje as he departed to start his new brewing venture, Blue Owl. Black Star didn’t let that keep them down, and with the bounceback of a 16 year old, came to market with keg distribution around town via Flood Independent Distribution.

Circle took a break from gaming in the basement to emerge dressed to impress with their new Tuxedo Black Shirt IPA release this year. As they built confi dence and improved their social skills, they invited more people over with new regular weekly tasting room hours and a big 3rd anniversary blowout while the parents were out of town.

Flix really came into their own once joining the AV Club. When they weren’t debating the best Farley Bros fl ick, Flix brought back the popular Firkin Fest, while brewer Justin Rizza continued to keep our glasses full while watching movies for a third year now.

After an endless summer touring “with” Phish, Hops & Grain were forced to get a haircut, shower, and come back to class. The beeros at H&G released their Greenhouse rotating IPA series in January of 2014 to much aplomb, creating monthly hunting frenzies for fans of their hoppy fruits. Then shortly after celebrating their third anniversary in October, they dropped another can into their lineup with the release of the seasonally appropriate PorterCulture.

Jester King became very popular with their peers this year thanks to their mom packing their lunch with double desserts. Plus releasing a new #whalez bottle every other fucking week didn’t hurt. JK moved to more on-premise beer releases this year, creating a more eventful feel out at the brewery. They also found time in between mixing beer with fruit to collaborate with several folks, including upperclassmen Live Oak Brewing and local meat-celebrity, Aaron Franklin.

After Middleton ditched the mall grab and stopped letting their mom cut their hair, they really settled into their sophomore year. Moving the small brewery and homebrew supply shop from Wimberley to a new large production brewery space in San Marcos took up most of their year. They released bottles of Bourbon Barrel Blues Belgian, an abbey-style ale aged in Jack Daniels Whiskey Barrels, at the brewery tasting room in October. With limited distribution in San Marcos in 2014, we hope to see more of them in 2015.

After spending their freshman year on the sidelines as waterboy, er, bucket boy, Thirsty Planet made the team their sophomore year and really dazzled us all. They rolled out two new beers: the Pale Head pale ale and Black Bucket black IPA to rave reviews and brought home a silver medal for Yellow Armadillo from GABF.

Thanks to extra Spanish classes via summer school, Twisted X grew in leaps and bounds this year. They settled into their brand new brewery in Dripping Springs, opened their tasting room seven days a week, and released the Senor Viejo in large format bottles and several of their year-round offerings in cans this year.

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Sophomores

Est. 2011“We don’t know

how to pronounce it either.”

Most breweries in one building.

Est. 2011“We’ve got the cure for 99 problems.”

Best at the Internetz.

Est. 2011“No haircuts, sorry”

Most likely not in the continental United States.

Est. 2010“No tipping.”

Most likely to barrel age hot sauce.

Est. 2011“We know, you like

Smokin’ Beech.”Most likely to

be confused with Square Brewing Co.

Est. 2011“No, we’re not like

the Alamo.”Most excited

about Dumb and Dumber To.

Est. 2011“Is Josh on his

bike again?”Most likely to have

a party if it’s a bank holiday.

Est. 2010“So… what else can we throw in here?”Most likely to brew

a collaboration beer with you, yes you.

Est. 2011“Brew or die.”

Most likely to build a mini ramp

out back.

Est. 2011“Try it with queso.”

Best bathroom tiles.

Est. 2010“Save the gorillas!”

Best Italian bottling line.


FreshmenTHESE FOLKS ARE AS GREEN BEHIND THE EARS AS the hops they use in their beers (good one, Dad). But seriously, for such a young class, they are producing beers wise beyond their years. With two Great American Beer Festival medal winners among their ranks, some of these young’uns are quickly jumping to the head of the pack.

With an angsty “If it’s too loud, you’re too old” stitched across their JanSport, the ABGB spent their freshman year navigating the hallways with hair over their eyes and earbuds fi rmly in place. Just as quick as their brewing program grew, their reputation as a local music venue did as well. Between a weekly BYO vinyl night and multiple live acts a week, they secured their spot as the “music is life” kid. Plus, in addition to their kick ass staples (Hell Yes for lyfe), they expanded their rotational series with some incredible sours and other new styles. This year they celebrated their fi rst anniversary, second Fermentation Fest, and completing drivers’ ed on their third attempt.

When they weren’t spending their time beneath the hood of a hot rod, Infamous kept busy by canning more of their beers, like their impressive IPA, and putting some of their larger format beers in bombers. Both the Pumpkin Massacre and Sweep the Leg Peanut Butter Stout made a 22oz splash in 2014.

Kamala spent the majority of 2014 under the bleachers, avoiding PE, and cooking up more of their unique, spice infl uenced beers. They celebrated their second year anniversary and released their BROWNSAHIB in 16oz tallboy cans over the summer. Good stuff in 2014, more to come in 2015.

Oasis, Texas Brewing Co. ran for and won class president, became the JV football squad team captain, held the Model UN Secretary-General post, and kept up with their part-time lawn mowing job and paper route. They also debuted three tasty sessionable beers in cans, one of which, London Homesick Ale, earned a gold medal at GABF.

When Pinthouse Pizza weren’t dishing out wedgies in the JV locker room, they were busy brewing up a year of great beers. With an expansion of one-off and seasonal beers, there was always something new and incredible to try at the North Burnet location. Speaking of locations, they announced plans to open a second location on South Lamar sometime in 2015. They had a big year, medal wise, by bringing home the bronze from GABF for the Jaguar Shark and taking second place in the annual Alpha King contest for their very popular Batch 69 double IPA. Oh, and they claim to have won the second #ironbrew...

Rogness spent their afternoons in the lab working out various recipes and creating new ones. Pocket

protectors aside, they had a very social year with several beer pairing dinners across town and multiple weekly brewery events.

With eyes on post graduate work and pre-med dreams, Save the World brewing in Marble Falls opened in the summer of 2014 with a full lineup of Belgian-inspired beers. Their large format bottles hit shelves and boast that all profi ts from their beers go to various charities.

Smoke’n Hops observed their fi rst anniversary in November and announced the new brewhouse is up and running. They’ve also revamped their menu to feature 18 different burgers. They were also pulled aside by the vice principal on multiple occasions for “smelling of smoke.”

One of the more quiet freshmen at the start of the school year, Solid Rock broke out of their shell as they began to roll out bottles of their Roundhead Red, quickly followed by their other core beers. They continued making new friends via their YouTube vlog, Saturday tasting room hours, and new road sign!

The groovy dudez at South Austin Brewing went through a mid-year makeover, ditching the clothes once cool in junior high, for some fresh new digs more appropriate for the high school hallways. With new management behind the wheel, they rolled out four new year-round beers in smartly designed four-packs.


Freshmen

Est. 2013“Hope you

like lagers.”Best bike rack.

Est. 2013“Hey, brother!”

Best place to get your car detailed while you enjoy

a pint.

Est. 2012“Namaste, bitches.”

Best beer brewed within earshot

of I-35.

Est. 2012“Splice the

mainbrace!”Best place to

break your arm, maybe while arm

wrestling.

Est. 2012“We already made

that beer.”Most likely to

brew a quadruple Allspice IPA.

Est. 2014“We used to

be doctors…”Most likely to

have a messiah complex.

Est. 2013“Is Beaker in the

lab again?”Most likely to

become YouTube celebrities.

Est. 2012“No comment.”

Most likely to rebrand and still

have a guitar in logo.

NEW TASTING ROOM HOURS!!Hoppy Hour: Thurs & Fri 4-9pmTours & Tastings: Sat & Sun 1-5pmFood Trucks Live Music & Cold Beer!!

Check our site for more info on monthly events at Infamous

4602 Weletka Dr . Austin, TX 78734


























Est. 2014“Not affi liated.”

Best view.

Est. 2013“Smoke’in!”Best slide.


If you had known about us in High SchoolYou could have been as cool as this guy.

Beer, Wine, CiderFood FermentationCheese MakingKombucha

Bottles, KegsIngredients, RecipesWine KitsAll Grain, Mini Mash

4930 S. CongressSuite 307Austin, TX. 78745(512) 428-6564


If you had known about us in High SchoolYou could have been as cool as this guy.

Beer, Wine, CiderFood FermentationCheese MakingKombucha

Bottles, KegsIngredients, RecipesWine KitsAll Grain, Mini Mash

4930 S. CongressSuite 307Austin, TX. 78745(512) 428-6564


THE WEATHER’S CHANGING, THE DAYS ARE GETTING SHORTER, THE BEERS DARKER, and best of polls are rolling out. It’s the one time a year that consumers’ and fanatics’ voices can be heard, counted, and touted in the most official capacity available: the Austin Beer Guide Readers’ Poll. Two thousand fourteen witnessed our highest voter turnout in the four years we’ve been hosting this most important civic ceremony, and with 17 pro-duction breweries, 13 traditional brew pubs, and the myriad of incredible beers produced by them all, the field of candidates has never been fiercer. The individual beer categories were expanded in order to allow for a more diverse group of winners, and less hand wring-ing while voting. We hoped the winners would be as diverse as the beers brewed in 2014.

You readers came out en force, exercising your democrating muscle to the max. Following several of the editors’ 2013 picks, we’re happy to see you all have great taste and judgement. We’re sure you must enrich yourselves with only the finest in (print) media and journalistic voices. There were a few new faces among the winners’ group, a long time upset, and several familiar favorites and repeat winners. You guys know what you like. If you’re one thing, it’s consistent. And awesome. So two things. Probably more things, but that’s all we’ll give you right now.

Once again, we, your faithful editors, spent the month of November and early De-cember deliberating, presenting arguments, making points and counterpoints, and rebut-tals. There was a little hair pulling, and only one threat to “burn this whole fucking thing to the ground,” but we eventually landed on the same page (or resigned to a 3-1 majority), and are happy to present you our best of 2014 choices. We truly did our best to identify who and what we thought really stood out to us this past year. And if you don’t agree with us, don’t worry, you will next year. Just look at the history of polls past.

Thanks to all who voted, campaigned, and especially to all who refrained from voting multiple times (two words “IP proxy”). Cheers!

Illustration by John Rubio 23


Editors’ Choice BEST BREWERYAUSTIN BEERWORKSThe ABW boys knocked 2014 out of the park. It’s been a busy 12 months with the continued release of the Heavy Machinery rotating IPA series, anticipated seasonals (ahem, Einhorn, Sputnik, etc…), well-re-ceived 3rd anniversary Karl Kölsch, fun-teresting beers produced from their pilot system in the expanded tasting room, addi-tional tasting room days and hours, another GABF medal to hang on the wall (p.02), and of course, the nationally celebrated Anytime Ale 99-pack (and subsequent craft-hype fallout). You boys deserve a vacation. Or 99.

Austin Beerworks were an easy pick for Best Brewery, as when we went down the list they were either at or near the top of nearly every category (there were even talks of awarding Best Personality to the 99-pack…).

Editors’ Choice BEST BREW PUB AUSTIN BEER GARDEN BREWING CO. (ABGB) In their first year, ABGB easily won our vote for Best New Brewery of 2013, but in 2014, they won our hearts. And with our hearts comes the Best Brew Pub pick. Brewing supergroup Brian “Swifty” Peters and Amos Lowe took 2013 to solidify their core lineup, and in 2014 they ventured into

releasing hit after hit of special releases. Drago, South Austin Speedball, Festbier, German Sparkle Party, and the debut of their sour fruit beer series at their first Anniversary Party each made big impres-sions and will be anticipated in 2015.

They brought back their popular Fer-mentation Fest to celebrate all things fer-mented (plus some other things), continued the too cool Bring Your Own Vinyl nights, and put themselves on the Austin music map as a place to find some truly great local acts live. The only thing they could improve on is finding a way to get more Hell Yes out there. #distributionin2015?

Editors’ Choice BEST NEW BREWERY/BREW PUBOASIS, TEXAS BREWING CO. The Best New competition was a little more stiff this year, but Oasis, TX Brewing Co. pulled ahead with their simple, yet stellar year-round canned beer lineup, promising Lake Monster series, and initial seasonal beer offerings. Plus, dat view. As soon as their cans started hitting shelves, they quickly became a mainstay in our collective fridges’ crisper drawers. Oh, and that GABF gold for London Homesick (p.02) in their freshman year only helped seal the deal.

Spencer, Kirby, and Hamilton brought their years of experience and

expertise to the table to quickly turn this young brewery into a potential power-house. We’ve enjoyed what they’ve done so far and wait with bated anticipation for what they have in store for next year.

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Editors’ Choice BEST LIMITED/SPECIAL BEER (512) PEACH SOUR The folks at (512) have been tinkering around with wood aged and sour beers for a few years now, all to various degrees of success, but this one really takes the cake. It appeared in an earlier form at the 2013 anniversary party, but 2014 was the first large scale release. Packaged in 750ml bottles, it rolled out in a very limited release over the summer, but those who got their hands on one of the few bottles out there were very pleased. It was pleasantly sour,


READERS’ CHOICE BEST OF 2014BEST BREWERY

AUSTIN BEERWORKS

BEST BREW PUB PINTHOUSE PIZZA

BEST NEW BREWERY/BREW PUB

OASIS, TEXAS BREWING CO.

BEST LIMITED/ SPECIAL BEER

AUSTIN BEERWORKS SPUTNIK

BEST EVERYDAY BEER HOPS & GRAIN THE

ONE THEY CALL ZOE

BEST NEW BEER HOPS & GRAIN

PORTERCULTURE

BEST OVERALL BEER JESTER KING

ATRIAL RUBICITE

BEST PERSONALITY/ADVOCATE

TONY DREWRY

BEST BEER+FOOD SPOT HOPFIELDS

BEST TOUR/TASTING JESTER KING BREWERY

BEST BEER BAR CRAFT PRIDE

BEST BOTTLE SHOP WHICHCRAFT

BEST SINGLE BEER PACKAGING/LABEL ABW PEACEMAKER

ANYTIME ALE 99-PACK

releasing hit after hit of special releases. Drago, South Austin Speedball, Festbier, German Sparkle Party, and the debut of their sour fruit beer series at their first Anniversary Party each made big impres-sions and will be anticipated in 2015.

They brought back their popular Fer-mentation Fest to celebrate all things fer-mented (plus some other things), continued the too cool Bring Your Own Vinyl nights, and put themselves on the Austin music map as a place to find some truly great local acts live. The only thing they could improve on is finding a way to get more Hell Yes out there. #distributionin2015?

Editors’ Choice BEST NEW BREWERY/BREW PUBOASIS, TEXAS BREWING CO. The Best New competition was a little more stiff this year, but Oasis, TX Brewing pulled ahead with their simple, yet stellar year-round canned beer lineup, promising Lake Monster series, and initial seasonal beer offerings. Plus, dat view. As soon as their cans started hitting shelves, they quickly became a mainstay in our collective fridges’ crisper drawers. Oh, and that GABF gold for London Homesick (p.02) in their freshman year only helped seal the deal.

Spencer, Kirby, and Hamilton brought their years of experience and

expertise to the table to quickly turn this young brewery into a potential power-house. We’ve enjoyed what they’ve done so far and wait with bated anticipation for what they have in store for next year.

tart, and with a noticeable but subtle hint of peach. Alongside the wild ale, Wild Bear, the Peach Sour is one of the first releases from their foeder project and if this is any indication of the beers to come, we’re in for a peach of a good time! (Sorry…)

Editors’ Choice BEST LIMITED/SPECIAL BEER (512) PEACH SOUR The folks at (512) have been tinkering around with wood aged and sour beers for a few years now, all to various degrees of success, but this one really takes the cake. It appeared in an earlier form at the 2013 anniversary party, but 2014 was the first large scale release. Packaged in 750ml bottles, it rolled out in a very limited release over the summer, but those who got their hands on one of the few bottles out there were very pleased. It was pleasantly sour,

Editors’ Choice BEST EVERYDAY BEER REAL ALE HANS’ PILS Yeah, yeah, yeah. Hans’ is so hot right now, you say. Sure. Perhaps “Hans’ is the new craft,” but guess what? We’ve been on this Hans’ ride since the beginning, nay, perhaps we’ve even been instrumental in Hans’ current popularity. This superb Ger-man style pilsner brewed by the beautiful folks at Real Ale has been fueling long nights of beer guide writing and layout, endless editorial meetings, arguments



over text and chat, editors’ kids’ birthday parties, and everything in between since it first hit the shelves in bottles (oh, yeah, remember back then?).

That’s neither here nor there. Point being, we love Hans’ and you love Hans’, so here’s to another great year of Hans’ Pils! Oh, and that new four-disc 77 song box set of Wilco rarities coming out cer-tainly puts us in the mood for more Hans’. tossed around as the un-official OFFICIAL

ATX Flagship Beer, and more often than that sat as an unmovable monarch amidst several local tap towers. But besides all that, it’s just a damn good all-the-time go-to beer. Both approachable and challeng-ing at once, the Hefe hits all the right notes every time. And the fact that this jewel of a beer is only available on tap, or growler at home for the fanatic, makes it all the more alluring a frothy beverage.

Editors’ Choice BEST NEW BEER OASIS SLOW RIDE This was a tough category. Two thousand and fourteen birthed a foamy plethora of delicious brews. To say we tried everything would not be honest. But really, did any-one? That’s okay—we think that’s a good problem to have. So when we were forced to put rubber to road, we collectively came to the realization that since its appearance in cans, the Oasis, TX Slow Ride pale has earned a permanent place in our koozies. It’s flavorful, affable, approachable, share-able, and in a great green can. We’re fans and crossing our fingers we see that Slow Ride/McConaughey team up in 2015.

Editors’ Choice BEST OVERALL BEER LIVE OAK HEFEWEIZEN For the past few years that we’ve been doing these awards, the Live Oak Hefe has always been amongst the final picks for best beer. The LO Hefe has long topped several “must try” in Austin lists, often

Editors’ Choice BEST ADVOCATE/PERSONALITYAMY AND ROB CARTWRIGHT Sometimes these polls can take a “what have you done for me lately” slant, but this year’s best personality/advocate took a more cumulative approach. Having just celebrated a decade of brewing, there isn’t a better time to recognize Indepen-dence Brewing founders Rob and Amy Cartwright for their nearly 15 years of cheerleading Texas beer. With roots at Copper Tank and Bitter End and a key role in one of the early inceptions of the Texas Craft Brewers Festival in the mid 2000s, R

ob a

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35 TAPS

1401 W Kœnig Ln , Austin , TX 78756

“I FEAR THE MANWHO DRINKS

WATERAND SO REMEMBERS

THIS MORNINGWHAT THE REST

OF US SAIDLAST NIGHT”

-BENJAMINFRANKLIN

ROOM


their smiling faces and good attitudes have been a constant on the Austin beer scene. If you see them, make sure to say hi and chat ‘em up about where they’ve been and where they’re going. They aren’t hard to find because even after all these years, they’re still out there with their nose to the grindstone delivering dona-tions and popping cold ones to sample on a Friday night at H-E-B.

Editors’ Choice BEST TOUR/TASTING AUSTIN BEERWORKS Austin’s Beerworkers really upped their tasting room game in 2014 with extended tasting room days and hours, the pilot bre-whouse program, and the impressive trans-formation of brewery to taproom via a few string lights, German beer garden tables and benches, and one kickass wrap around bar with a custom neon unicorn bar top. Open four evenings a week, ABW’s taproom is quickly becoming one of Austin’s (and our) favorite post work happy hour or week-end afternoon beer stops. With a healthy rotation of Austin’s finest food trucks and always the first location to debut the latest ABW creation or find a once thought lost seasonal, landing our pick for best taproom in 2014 was an easy one.

Editors’ Choice BEST BEER BAR DRAUGHT HOUSE The beer bar competition gets stiffer and stiffer each year and as we collectively scan the Austin landscape, we always

Editors’ Choice BEST BEER + FOOD SPOT BILLY’S ON BURNET When we began deliberating this catego-ry, several obvious locations quickly came up, but with each, there was always a bit of hesitancy amongst us. Either great on beer while average on food, or exceptional food but limited or static beer options. Some places hit both, but none of them owned that “beer and food joint” ‘tude quite like the bosses at Billy’s on Burnet. Beer-wise they’ve always got something new to check out, a solid selection of fa-vorite fallbacks, and an aggressive cask/firkin program (thanks, Patrick!). As far as the food goes, no one is cooking up burgers and fries better for soaking up beer than the awesome folks inside the red and black tile window behind the taps. Billy’s is more of a tuxedo t-shirt type of joint, and that’s what we like about it. ¡Viva la Billy’s!

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35 TAPS

1401 W Kœnig Ln , Austin , TX 78756

“I FEAR THE MANWHO DRINKS

WATERAND SO REMEMBERS

THIS MORNINGWHAT THE REST

OF US SAIDLAST NIGHT”

-BENJAMINFRANKLIN

ROOM


come back to Draught House. We’re in a time in which great locally crafted beer can be found in nearly two out of every three bars with at least one of those marketing themselves as a craft beer bar. And several of these have proven to be incredible es-tablishments that we enjoy spending time and money at, but at the end of the year, there is no place like Draught House. Ask nearly any better beer drinker in our town and I’m sure they’d tell you they cut their craft teeth at Draught House under the diligent hand selected taps from manager (and soon to be brewer again) Josh Wilson, poured by some of this town’s (and journal-ist’s) favorite bar keeps.

more so than a C-store. With staff picks, weekly tastings, grab bags, mix and match six packs, beers “muled” from markets not yet distributing in Austin, and that laid back vibe they exude, WhichCraft is a bottle shop unlike any our city’s seen before. Reyes and company have created a very welcoming shop just as comfortable for someone dipping their toe in the craft waters as it is exciting for the geekiest craft beer drinker amongst us (the general us, not the literal four of us, we don’t have time or energy to geek out anymore).

Editors’ Choice BEST SINGLE BEER PACKAGING/LABEL JESTER KING SNÖRKELSo much great label art and branding in 2014. The beers’ labels look almost as good as the contents inside. And Jester King’s Josh Cockrell has always produced stellar work, but we think he really made something special with the artwork and branding for their ambitious smoked sea salt and oyster mushroom Snörkel. Fantastic, detailed, colorful, and leaning a bit psychedelic, the Snörkel artwork and limited release branded tasting glass (octopus only) were incredible. And the not so subtle Life Aquatic nod was a nice touch. I can hear “Search and Destroy” playing every time I empty a bottle into that goddamn majestic glass.

Editors’ Choice BEST BOTTLE SHOP WHICHCRAFT Jody Reyes came to Austin from Minne-sota last year with a vision and passion to open Austin’s first craft beer-only bottle shop, and in short time WhichCraft has quickly become an Austin institution. The cozy little shop on South Lamar has walls lined with bottles organized by style with featured new beers easily located. It has the feel of your favorite record store,

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abgtemplate.indd 1 8/18/14 9:20 PMabgtemplate.indd 1 12/4/14 4:46 PM

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Austin Beer Guide - Best of 2014

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