Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches features yard games, food trucks, and live music performances. | Photo by ATXtoday
Sip, sip, hooray — Austin’s brewery scene will make you hop for joy.
If you’re in need of a local brew and a kickback in a beer garden, look no further. We’ve wrangled 15 breweries in town for you to add to your must-visit list.
Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches, 3220 Manor Rd. This east Austin locale is a taproom, retail craft beer store, and coffee + kolache shop all in one. Psst — happy hour runs all day on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Fast Friends Beer Company, 7313 N. I-35 Frontage Rd. Do good, love big, live now. That’s the motto of this newly opened south Austin brewery, which offers a slew of bright, hoppy, and dark beers alongside housemade seltzer cocktails.
Hold Out Brewing, 1208 W. 4th St. Try inventive brews like the “Liquid Television” and “New Juice Goofin’,” but don’t sleep on the cider, wine cocktails, and frozen drinks at this local brewpub.
Bee Cave on Ice | Now-Sunday, Jan. 5 | Times vary | Bee Cave Shopping Center, Bee Cave | $10+ | Ice skate under the stars to celebrate the holiday season.
Queer Cuties Climb | 7-9 p.m. | Crux Central | $26+ | Experience the climbing center’s first-ever LGBTQ+ climbing meetup and make new friends while you’re at it.
Wednesday, Dec. 18
Wine & Cheese Class | 7 p.m. | Cape Bottle Room | $85 | An expert will walk you through the history of cheese and wine pairings while you create your own bites.
Thursday, Dec. 19
Après Ski Party | 5 p.m. | Arriba Abajo Rooftop Cantina | Cost of purchase | Wear your winter gear to this themed party, complete with a DIY shot ski activation, special food items, and a live DJ.
Third Thursday: Holiday Celebration | 5-7 p.m. | Bullock Texas State History Museum | Free with admission | Meet Santa, listen to a harp performance, sip holiday-themed beverages, and create personalized ornaments.
Friday, Dec. 20
“Mufasa: The Lion King” | Friday, Dec. 20-Thursday, Jan. 2 | Times vary | Bullock Texas State History Museum | $10+ | Experience the long-awaited prequel to “The Lion King” in an IMAX 3D theater.
The Travis County runoff election results are in. Mike Siegel won the Austin City Council District 7 race by 206 votes, while Fernando Lucas de Urioste took the at-large seat of the Austin Independent School District Board of Trustees. (KUT)
Announced
Heads up, trail users. A new parking rule will go into effect on Monday, Jan. 6. Parking spots along Stephen F. Austin Drive between West Cesar Chavez Street and Veterans Drive will only be available to Austin High School students from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. (KXAN)
Coming Soon
The team behind Small Victory plans to open a new coffee shop and wine bar called Strangelove. A soft opening on East Cesar Chavez Street is planned for a yet-to-be-determined date in 2025, but there will be pop-ups this month with merch + wine for sale by the glass. (CultureMap Austin)
Number
$1.8 million. That’s how much Austin City Council approved to go toward improving safety + enhancing lighting at 14 locations across the city. Construction on the project, aimed at minimizing nighttime crashes, is set to begin in January. (KXAN)
Now’s the time to nominate the single superstar in your life for Austin Monthly’s “Singles in the City 2025.” You can submit an application for an untethered local between the ages of 25 and 50 until Friday, Jan. 17.
Concert
New show alert. Khruangbin will bring the “A La Sala” tour to the Moody Amphitheater on Tuesday, April 22 + Wednesday, April 23. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.
Sports
The Mavericks’ latest win set records for three-point shooting in the NBA. Get the biggest stories every day from the local experts of the Dallas Mavericks with Locked On’s daily podcasts.
Travel
Going the EV route could save you more than just gas money. Many auto insurance companies now offer up to 10% off EV and hybrid vehicle premiums, rewarding your eco-friendly choice with additional savings. View Money’s Best Car Insurance list to find coverage tailored to your ride (and wallet).*
Category
Culture
💬 25 conversations for 2025
Tell us what local knowledge you want to gain in 2025. | Photo by Varun Yadav on Unsplash
As the new year approaches, we’re feeling grateful for the possibilities 2025 holds.
Next year, a song by a local musician you’ve never heard before might become your new favorite, or a really great restaurant might open right down the street from your place.
As we prepare for a promising new year, we want to know what you want to read about each morning:
Are you wondering about an upcoming development in town?
Do you want to know where to get the best breakfast bagel?
Is there a piece of Austin history you’ve always wanted to know about?
What news gets you excited about opening our newsletter each morning?
To celebrate 2025, we’ll answer 25 of your questions. Share your questions here and stay tuned as we work to find answers + cover what you’re curious about.
City Editor Figi and I loved our omakase dinner at Tancho Sushi last week. The newly opened restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so consider this your sign to enjoy an impromptu night out.
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