Namaste Brewing Opens

AUSTIN - Namaste Brewing debuted this week with the release of their first beer at Austin's Whip In.

Namaste Brewing is the brewing arm of the Whip In market and café, owned and run by the same Topiwala family. The opening of brewing operations essentially changes the Whip In craft beer bar and bottle shop into Austin's newest small-batch brewpub.

Their first beer is the Brahmale "Post Colonial" IPA brewed with local honey, orange peel and lemongrass.

Lovejoys Closes

AUSTIN - Long-time brewpub and music venue Lovejoys Tap Room & Brewery closed this week, with a farewell celebration on their last day of operation, August 5th.

After 18 years in their downtown location just off Austin's Sixth Street, owner Eric Wolf cited financial pressures as the reason for the closure in a Facebook message: "After struggling for the last few years with rising costs and decreasing revenues, we can no longer afford to keep the doors open."

South Austin Brewing Opens

AUSTIN - South Austin Brewing becomes the latest craft brewery to open in Texas with a grand opening celebration planned for next month on February 11th.

Head brewer Jordan Weeks plans to focus on artesianal and Belgian-inspired ales, offered in traditional cork-and-wire-capped 750-ml bottles.

Odell Brewer Coming to Austin

AUSTIN - Joe Mohrfeld, head brewer at Colorado's Odell Brewing Company, is leaving to start his own Austin brewpub, as reported recently on Beernews.org.

Mohrfeld plans to open Pinthouse Pizza with a 7-barrel system sometime in mid-2012.

Adelbert's Brewery Opens

AUSTIN - Adelbert's Brewery became the latest craft brewery to open in Texas with their first bottled beers made available for sale just before Christmas.

Based in North Austin and named for the brewer's late brother, Adelbert's plans to focus on bottle-conditioned Belgian styles. No news yet on whether beers will be available on local retail taps.

Hops & Grains Opens

AUSTIN - Hops & Grain will become Austin's newest commercial brewery when their beers will be available for the first time at area events next week.

Despite the theft of almost 2000 feet of copper wiring from their building last week, Hops & Grain decided to go ahead with plans to debut their beer at several area locations as well as a "Karma Fest" party held at the brewery. The brewery plans to eventually package and sell Hops & Grain beers in aluminum cans instead of bottles.

Whip-In Buys Brewhouse

AUSTIN - In their continual evolution, Austin's Whip-In convenience mart and "parlour café" has purchased a brewhouse, as reported by Beertown Austin.

No word yet on a brewer, but Whip-In plans to be selling their own Belgian- and English-style house beers by the spring of 2012.

Austin Beerworks Opens

AUSTIN - The newest Texas craft brewer opened this weekend, with Austin Beerworks officially pouring its first beers commercially at the Texas Craft Beer Fest in Waco.

Along with a fully updated website, Austin Beerworks plans to bypass bottling operations and sell only canned beers for the Austin area and eventually state-wide.

Austin Beer Guide

AUSTIN - A new periodical has been published for the growing Austin-area brewing scene, the Austin Beer Guide.


Issues are available around the Austin area for free, as well as an electronic version online.

Black Star Co-op Review

AUSTIN - Austin's newest brewpub, the Black Star Co-op, was recently reviewed by Mike Sutter of the Austin American-Statesman in the piece, "Atlas chugged: The Black Star Co-op experience."

Circle Brewing Opens

AUSTIN - Circle Brewing Company has become the latest Austin-area brewery to begin brewing and selling commercially.

According to Emma Janzen of the Austin American-Statesman, Circle Brewing will be selling their first beers this week at the Draught House and expanding local tap accounts over the next weeks.

Uncle Billy's Oasis Opens

AUSTIN - Uncle Billy's Brew & Que's second Austin location has opened at the new Oasis, Texas retail development on Lake Travis. The new location also includes full brewpub operations as well as dining space for groups overlooking the lake.

Austin Beerworks

AUSTIN - Another new Texas craft brewer has been discovered named Austin Beerworks, currently under active development and pursuing licensing. They will begin with a full canning operation, forgoing traditional glass bottles entirely.

They expect to be open and brewing by January of 2011.

Jester King Craft Brewery Opens

AUSTIN - Jester King Craft Brewery has opened in Austin and is brewing their first commercial batch, according to a recent press release.

Owners Michael and Jeffrey Stuffings and brewer Ron Extract have begun brewing in their newly built facility located on 200 acres in rural Austin. They are planning on five different styles initially, including Boxer's Revenge, an oak barrel-aged wild ale, as well as a British-style dark mild, a rye IPA and "Franco-Belgian inspired farmhouse ales."

Jester King has also designed a 8000-square-foot rustic beer hall along with their brewhouse and plan to host tastings, festivals and special events at the brewery site.

Correction: Employee Ron Extract is assisting in brewery sales and distribution, not brewing operations.

Black Star Co-op Opens

AUSTIN - Austin's newest brewpub, the Black Star Co-op Pub & Brewery, has opened for business at their Midtown Commons location at the intersection of Lamar and Airport Boulevard, as posted on their Facebook page.

The Black Star Co-op is the world's first cooperatively owned and operated brewpub and restaurant, with a Workers Assembly managing body of more than 2000 members.

Thirsty Planet Opens

AUSTIN - Thirsty Planet Brewing becomes the first of the 2010 new brewers in Austin to commercially open. Their beers are now appearing at selected locations in Austin, and they hope to have a bottling line operational before the end of this year.

No word yet on any plans for a grand opening celebration. An on-site tasting room is currently awaiting a certificate of occupancy.

Uncle Billy's Second Location

AUSTIN - Uncle Billy's Brew & Que updated their Facebook.com pages with photos of their planned second Austin location overlooking Lake Travis.


This second site will be part of the Oasis, Texas, commercial development of restaurants and specialty retail located high on the cliffs next to the Oasis restaurant. The new Uncle Billy's Brew & Que will include on-site brewing and is expected to open in late 2010.

Adelbert's Brewery

AUSTIN - Yet another new craft brewery named Adelbert's Brewery is in the business plan and funding stage for Austin at a location yet to be determined.

Owner Scott Hovey plans to specialize in bottle-conditioned Belgian styles of beer, and hopes to be open by mid-2011.

Uncle Billy's Third Anniversary

AUSTIN - Uncle Billy's Brew & Que celebrates its third anniversary today at their Austin location just south of the lake, beginning at 3pm and lasting until close. New anniversary beers will be available, along with live music and food specials.

Great Austin Beer Festival

AUSTIN - An independent Great Austin Beer Festival is planned for June 26th at the downtown Austin Music Hall from 4-8pm.

Attending breweries are still being confirmed, but it appears this is not a Texas-centric event but will feature craft brewers from around the US and a number of imports. Admission is $30, with the price rising to $40 the day of the event.