Austin’s Beer Scene Is Hoppin’ as Three New Breweries Come to Town

Despite the novel coronavirus pandemic, Austin’s brewery scene is still getting bigger and bigger. This fall, three new breweries have opened or will open in the Austin area: Fitzhugh brewery Last Stand Brewing’s expansion into far south Austin, Willard’s Brewery in Pflugerville, and the forthcoming Vacancy Brewing in the St. Elmo region.

Last Stand Brewing Company

The Fitzhugh brewery is opening a second location at 7601 South Congress Avenue, in far south Austin, next to local pizzeria Southside Flying Pizza, which will be providing food for the brewery. It’s open as of October 22.

The new location will offer many of Last Stand’s existing brews like the Citra Smash IPA and Texas Forever lager, as well as a seasonal Bavarian hefeweizen and coffee porter. To go with the beer, Southside created a menu of burgers, fried pickles, nachos, and more. The brewery plans to offer events like virtual chicken shit bingo starting in November.

Husband and wife team Kerry and Mandi Richardson opened Last Stand in 2015. They have been looking for a second location since 2016, when co-founder and brewer Jim Sampson joined the team from Dripping Springs brewery Twisted X Brewing Co.

The South Congress Last Stand is open for on-site services from Thursday 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Willard’s Brewery/Facebook

Willard’s Brewery

Willard’s Brewery just opened as of October 16, located just at the cusp of North Austin and Pflugerville on 2400 Patterson Industrial Drive, in the former home of Flying Man Brewing Co. Vice president of production Ramon Astamendi created a lineup of three beers: an American pale ale, a Bavarian-style lager, and a hazy IPA.

Willard’s also has a food truck, Mojo, which serves tacos, Cubanos, and pupusas from chef Austin Crouch, who previously worked at South Lamar New American restaurant Eberly.

The brewery is currently open for on-site and to-go services from Thursday and Friday from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from noon to 10 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.

Vacancy Brewing/Facebook

Vacancy Brewing

Vacancy Brewing will be opening at 415 St. Elmo Road in the East Congress area sometime this December. Head brewer Brent Watson was previously in charge of the beer program at Austin beer-focused restaurant the Brewer’s Table, which closed over the summer, and before that, he was the head brewer at Berkeley brewer Trumer Pils.

According to an Instagram post, the brewery will offer “a little bit of everything” and three year-round beers. The brewery is also looking for a food truck. It’s just down the street from St. Elmo Brewing Company, and other nearby breweries include (512) Brewing Company, Nomadic Beerworks,

Update, 4:44 p.m.: This article, originally published at 9:53 a.m., has been updated to reflect Vacancy’s new projected opening month and clarify Brent Watson’s role at Trumer Pils.

• Vacancy Brewing [Official]
• Vacancy Brewing [Instagram]
• Vacancy Brewing [Twitter]
• Vacancy Brewing [Facebook]
• Willard’s Brewery [Official]
• Willard’s Brewery [Instagram]
• Willard’s Brewery [Facebook]
• All Coverage of Last Stand Brewing Company [EATX]