Austin makes a lot of great craft beer. Local brewers are constantly tapping their creative juices to drum up crafty collaborations, standout recipes, and fun names for their frothy masterpieces.
We’re raising a glass to five Austin-centric brews with names that draw inspiration from our city’s history, communities, and culture.
512 IPA, 512 Brewing Company
Billed as “Austin’s original India Pale Ale,” this year-round 512 beer pays tribute to ATX’s area code and how this independent, self-distributed brewery keeps its biz super local.
Style + flavor: This 7% ABV, classic IPA features Simcoe, Glacier + Columbus hops for a “citrusy and earthly balance.”
Red River Crush: Amber, Central District Brewing
This beer name-drops the taproom’s Red River Street location in Austin’s lively + beloved Red River Cultural District — and we think that rocks.
Style + flavor: This toasted grain, 4.9% ABV red ale is crisp, easy to drink, and gives Altbier energy.
In the Path of Totality: 1:36 p.m. Hazy IPA, Austin Beerworks, Zilker Brewing Co. + Meanwhile Brewing Co.
This crafty collaboration celebrates the historic total solar eclipse that happened on April 8, 2024, and how the cosmic phenomenon connected us all. The “1:36 p.m.” refers to the time when ATX experienced totality.
ATXtoday readers said Meanwhile Brewing is one of their favorite spots to visit.
Photo by @mrbeer4breakfast
Style + flavor: This seasonal, 6.8% ABV hazy features Alora, Luminosa, Mosaic — and, fittingly — Eclipse hops, giving it an intense peach flavor balanced by flaked oats and wheat.
Twine Time Hazy Pale Ale, Independence Brewing Co.
With its can art depicting an armadillo strumming a guitar, the name of this beer pays homage to KUTX’s iconic music radio show hosted by Paul Ray. Longtime Austinites will remember “Twine Time” as our city’s “Saturday night soundtrack” — the show that brought the sweet sounds of blues, rockabilly, soul, R&B, and rock ‘n’ roll home.
Style + flavor: This 5.2% ABV hazy features juice, tropical hops with peach + banana notes.
Pickled Little Boss, Blue Owl
Pickle beer is a real Texas thing, and this brew promises to be a refreshing companion for fun local activities like “swimming in Barton Spring with a tiara” and “two-steppin’ in a tux.”
Style + flavor: This 4% ABV sour pickle beer pairs salty-sour + briny flavors for what the brewery says is a “dill-ectible” flavor.
Cheers to you, Bat City. This is just a sampling of local craft brews with Austin-related nods in their names. If we missed your favorite, share it with us.
