What Austin’s Beer Scene Has In Store For 2016

Austin’s beer landscape is growing bigger, with breweries popping up every which way. There are out-of-town big hitters like Oskar Blues Brewery, and newcomers Orf Brewing, Kamala Gardens Brewing, and many more. Many breweries are congregating in what appears to be Austin’s new beet hot spot North Burnet, plus there are planned expansions and transformations for the city’s already beloved spots like Jester King and Live Oak. Here is Eater’s rundown on the latest updates for Austin’s robust beer scene.

Live Oak Brewing Company
Live Oak’s relocated new brewery in Del Valle is now fully functioning, with canning production up and running, delivering cans of Hefeweizen and Pilz and the recently-unveiled taproom. Eventually, the grounds will include a beer garden, disc golf course, and food trucks. For brewing purposes, there will be a German brewhouse, millhouse, lab, and more.
Address: Del Valle, 1615 Crozier Lane
Status: Now open
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Live Oak Brewing Company/Facebook]

Austin Beerworks
Looking to produce more beer and add an extra taproom and event space, Austin Beerworks is taking over the neighboring warehouse on Industrial Terrace for an expansion. This way, the brewery will be able to experiment with more special limited releases, too. The extension will be designed by Michae Hsu’s firm.
Address: North Burnet, 3009 Industrial Terrace
Status: 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Austin Beerworks/Facebook]

Hops & Grain
Hops & Grain is working on another production building dedicated to the brewery's wild and sour beer programs out in far East Austin. The new digs will include a tasting room.
Address: Far East Austin, FM 969 and Highway 130
Status: 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Hops & Grain/Facebook]

St. Elmo Brewing
Austin Beerworks alums Bryan Winslow and Tim Bullock are opening their own brewery as part of The Yard, St. Emo Road’s new creative workspace (not to be confused with St. Elmo Public Market). Expect a beer hall with year-round offerings, and rotating experimental beer styles. Summer will bring a Southeast Asian food truck.
Address: Far South, 440 East St Elmo Road
Opening Date: Summer 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: St. Elmo Brewing Company/Facebook]

Friends & Allies Brewing
The brewery, founded by former roommates Ben Sabin and Devon Ponds, already has its first beer available throughout Austin, the session IPA Noisy Cricket. While the facility is under construction (with beer garden in the works, too), the beers are being brewed at 4th Tap in the meantime.
Address: East Austin, 979 Springdale Road
Opening Date: Spring 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Friends & Allies Brewing/Facebook]

Jester King Brewery
Now that Jester King has a fancy new bathroom, the brewery still plans on expanding by growing crops and raising animals on an adjacent plot for beer and a restaurant.
Address: Far West Austin, 13005 Fitzhugh Road
Opening Date: 2017
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Jester King Brewery/Facebook]

Brewer’s Table
Beer vet Jake Maddux is teaming up with Ned Elliott of Foreign & Domestic for the East Austin brewery and restaurant featuring wood-fermented beers and wood-fired food. The space will include patios, a brewer’s table, and children’s playground.
Address: East Austin, 4715 East 5th Street
Opening Date: Summer 2016
More Information: Facebook

[Rendering: Kevin Stewart]

Oskar Blues Brewery
The Colorado brewery chose Austin for its third brewery, with plans for a separate taproom dedicated to beers and music. Despite having moved its opening date from April, Oskar is hosting its famed Burning Can Festival on the 20th.
Address: North Burnet, 10420 Metric Boulevard
Opening Date: Early May 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Oskar Blues Brewery/Facebook]

Orf Brewing
St. Louis-native Chris Orf’s beer dreams will soon become fully realized with Orf Brewing, as soon as he works through the permitting process. The nano brewery will debut with four planned beers: the golden Salutation Ale, the hoppy Hoprocker I.R.A., Honey Roast, and Oocheemama.
Address: Southeast Austin, 4700 Burleson Road, Unit 5
Opening Date: TBD
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Orf Brewing/Facebook]

Kamala Gardens Brewing
From Whip In and Twisted X Brewing, Dipak Topiwala and Jim Sampson are looking to create a hang-out brewery, producing fresh and barrel-aged beers. The two are still locking down a location, and will add a food truck, as well.
Address: TBD
Opening Date: TBD
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Kamala Gardens Brewery/Official]

Guns & Oil Brewing
Guns & Oil Brewing produces only one beer for now, the American-style Maverick Lager, which debuted in January. The brewery is in the midst of permitting for the forthcoming taproom, so guests would be able to drink on the premises.
Address: East Austin, 979 Springdale Road
Opening Date: Spring 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Guns & Oil Brewing Co./Facebook]

Brewtorium
Chris Rauschuber and Whitney Roberts are still looking for a permanent location for their brewpub. Originally, they were looking for spots somewhere in North Austin. Once it gets underway, Brewtorium will serve German-style beers, lunch, dinner, as well as host educational events and include a beer garden.
Address: TBD
Opening Date: 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Brewtorium/Facebook]

Oddwood Barrel House
Founder Taylor Ziebarth originally formed Oddwood Ales as part of Adelbert’s Brewery, but he is spinning off a standalone barrelhouse with taproom in store. Oddwood will take over a former office building and nightclub for a tasting room with outdoor seating, serving tapped beers and to-go bottles from a small retail shop. He plans on expanding on what the team already produced during its Adelbert’s period, including pale ales, berliners, pilsners and more.
Address: MLK, 3701 Airport Blvd
Opening Date: Fall 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Oddwood Ales/Facebook]

Lazarus Brewing
The Lazarus Brewing team brewed their first beer, All Souls Ale, with Montana’s Big Sky Brewing, and want to open their own Austin production right in East Austin, with a taproom. The staff is currently looking for a head brewer.
Address: East 6th Street and Chicon
Opening Date: TBD
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Lazarus Brewing Co./Facebook]

Adelbert’s Brewery
The longtime Austin brewery is embracing change by acquiring a brewpub license, which means it will experiment with different types of beers and offer to-go bottles.
Address: North Burnet, 2314 Rutland Drive, #100
Opening Date: Summer 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Adelbert's Brewery/Facebook]

Flemish Fox Brewery
Detroit’s Atwater is testing the Austin waters by collaborating with old-turned-new Flemish Fox, which is helmed by the daughter of the late longtime Austin brewer Pierre Celis of his namesake Belgian-style wheat brewery. Along with producing beers for the two breweries, there will be a tasting room, beer garden, musical stages, and more.
Address: North Burnet, 2013 Rutland Drive
Opening Date: Early 2017
More Information: Facebook

[Rendering: Flemish Fox Brewery/Official]

Idle Vine Brewery
With Idle Vine Brewery, co-founder and head brewer Scott Ciampa wants to be able to brew four year-round beers, including the Idle Vine IPA and the Trackdown Porter and seasonals, including a red ale and oatmeal stout, with production starting in May. For food, there will be rotating food trucks, and the tasting room will include guest brews and views into the brewery.
Address: Cedar Park, 2000 Windy Terrace
Opening Date: Summer 2016
More Information: Facebook

[Rendering: Mode Design Company/Idle Vine Brewery/Facebook]

Thirsty Planet Brewing Company
As part of Thirsty Planet’s takeover of the vacant Capital Area Food Bank building down on South Congress, there will be more beer, tasting room, and patio space.
Address: Far South Austin, 8201 South Congress Avenue
Opening Date: Late fall 2016
More Information: Official; Facebook

[Photo: Thirsty Planet Brewing Company/Facebook]