ACL 2010: A Beer Guide

If you're coming to ACL, please don't plan on doing much drinking at the festival. First and foremost, the weather will likely be pretty hot, even in early October. There's nearly no shade at the Zilker Park grounds. So if anything, you should drink lots and lots of water. Besides, one of the most commonly heard complaints among people I know who've been to ACL the last few years is that the beer at Zilker Park is shameful. There are a few places that serve wine, but to me a cold beer is much more appealing on a typical scorching ACL afternoon.

While the beer at the festival is stinky, there are a ton of great places to grab a drink both within the vacinity of Zilker Park and closer to downtown where the ACL shuttle busses drop people off and many visitors stay. What you're into shouldn't matter to much. Options exist for all types, from the dive bar denizen to the wine swiller.

Beer: Austin's Favorite Drink

Beer is one thing that we do well here. Austin has a number of good microbreweries and plenty of places that proudly serve them.

Local Brews

Skipping Shiner today, which is more of a regional beer than a microbrew, here's a rundown of a the local brews you can find at many bars, restaurants and stores in the area.

(512) Brewing is one of the newer local breweries, but its well-crafted beers have quickly been embraced. The wit is my favorite of the many local wheat beers, and Rachel and I both like the coppery pale ale as a good everyday beer.

Independence Brewing Co. has developed its own Austin tradition. On the first Saturday of every month, Indpenedence opens the doors to its South Austin brewery for tours and tastings. It has become so popular that hundreds of people come with friends, lounge chairs, food and sometimes pets and hang out all afternoon in the brewery's lot. The last time I went they served three shades of ale: pale, amber and brown.

Live Oak Brewing Company beers are perhaps the most ubiquitous at the local bars. Our favorite neighborhood joint, Billy's on Burnet, carries the very good hefeweizen, the amber lager (one of the few lagers Rachel will drink), and my favorite, the crisp pilsner.

Real Ale Brewing Company is in nearby Blanco. They sell a six pack sampler with two bottles each of pale ale, pale rye ale and brown ale, all of which are easy drinking. Real Ale's Fireman's 4, a blonde ale, is one of the most locally popular of all of the readily available hometown beers.

Where to Drink 'em

Now that you know what to drink, here are a few of the best places near downtown and the ACL site to sit down and enjoy a glass.

Downtown

The Ginger Man, 301 Lavaca St. Huge selection of beer on tap, often including a cask-conditioned ale or two, plus a nice outdoor area (smaller than the old site from which it moved a year or two ago). You can also find darts and some sofas for lounging. We've covered this favorite of ours in other blog posts.

Taps at the Ginger Man

Little Woodrow's, 520 W 6th St. Another spot with a good selection (over 100 beers, not all on tap) and a laid back atmosphere, plus an on-site taco truck. Pretty good outdoor area with TVs usually tuned into a game.

Opal Divine's Freehouse, 700 W 6th St. Lots of beer and a typical pub menu.

Alamo Ritz, 320 E 6th St. Want to watch a movie with your beer? Not just movies either. Alamo is the place for all movie-related entertainment. Blogged about it a long time ago.

South Austin

Uncle Billy's Brew & Que, 1530 Barton Springs Rd. If you walk to the festival from South Austin, you'll probably head down Barton Springs Road, where you'll pass a string of places to eat and drink on the blocks just before you hit Zilker. Look on the right for Uncle Billy's. They always brew four varieties and usually have one or two additional special beers. Everything always tastes fresh. Full BBQ menu, large, clean outdoor patio and roomy interior.

Zax Restaurant & Bar, 312 Barton Springs Rd. Further way but also on Barton Springs, Zax doesn't have as much space, nor does it brew its own, but the selection is good. Decent pub grub too.

Black Sheep Lodge, 2108 South Lamar Blvd. Excellent burgers and a good beer list. Not the best outdoor area, but nice interior with a few pool tables.

A few other places for a can or a bottle (i.e., don't necessarily go for good ale and stout):

Dive Bars

Mean Eyed Cat, 1621 W 5th St. Johnny Cash themed, no pretentions, occasionally live music.

Casino El Camino, 517 E 6th St. Another place with a following for its burgers.

Wine

Cork & Co., 308 N Congress Ave. Small place, small food menu but right downtown.

House Wine, 408 Josephine St. Newcomer, tucked in behind Green Mesquite in a cool area. Nice diverse wine list.

Paggi House, 200 Lee Barton Dr. Great wine list, especially Burgundy, and also one of Austin's best restaurants. Located in a pretty historical house next to a giant new building. Great happy hour.

Uncorked, 900 E 7th St. Across I35, perched atop a hill, the deck offers great views of downtown. Nice wine list and small menu of solid food.

All Purpose Bars

Lustre Pearl, 97 Rainey St. In what could be the next happening part of downtown. Small food menu too.

Clive Bar, 600 Davis St. Sister (brother?) bar of Lustre Pearl, and if you get hungry late, it's right across from G'raj Mahal.

Peche, 208 W 4th St. Old school design, great space, creative cocktails, pretty good mussels, and a variety of absinthe if that's your thing.