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.

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.

Whip-In Opens as Beer Bar

Long known as one of the best retail beer stores in Austin, Whip-In has added a full draft-service beer bar to their restaurant operations. A total of 17 taps are now pouring 20-oz "post-colonial" servings of local Texas and select U.S. craft and imported beers, as well as bottle sales available from their general stock.

In-house brewing operations are still under development.

Austin Meet Your Local Brewers

Edible Austin is hosting a Meet Your Local Brewers Happy Hour at Austin's Whip-In on Friday, December 12th, from 3pm to 7pm. This event is part of their Edible Austin Eat Local Week 2008 to celebrate local Central Texas restaurants and foods.

Brewers expected to attend this event include representatives from Live Oak, (512), Independence, Uncle Billy's, Real Ale, Saint Arnold and Spoetzl. Discounts on beers and dishes from the Whip-In's Indian menu will be available.

Texas Brewers in the News

More Texas brewers and retailers have appeared in various media throughout the state, including several video segments. Austin's Fox television affiliate (Channel 7) covered the grand opening of the new (512) Brewing with the piece, "New Austin Brewery Opens its Doors."

The Dallas/Fort Worth morning program, "Good Morning, Texas," of WFAA (Channel 8) carried a segment interviewing Jamie Fulton of The Covey Restaurant & Brewery with the piece, "Local Brewer wins the 'Super Bowl' of beer brewing."

Houston's CBS affiliate KHOU (Channel 11) broadcast a piece featuring Brock Wagner and Saint Arnold regarding the rise in keg thefts with "Metal thieves tapping beer kegs."

Also noted in the Austin-American Statesman's Food & Drink section is a brief paragraph announcing that Whip In has expanded with a small in-store restaurant (including wine and beer sold by the glass) with "You go there for beer, but Whip In now whips up fresh Indian food."

Whip-In to Microbrew

The Whip-In beer store in Austin is planning to expand their retail operation by installing a small 1.5- to 3-barrel brewing system. General manager Dipak Topiwala says beer will be sold at the store in half-gallon growlers, most likely with an IPA to start.

No date has been given for when the beer will be available.