Aaron Stevens

My fascination with craft beer began in college as a bartender and grew as a volunteer at Peticolas Brewing in Dallas. Since relocating to Austin, I have closely followed the growth and evolution of Central Texas' brewing scene.

The Definitive Guide to Austin Brewery Tours

The Definitive Guide to Austin Brewery Tours Updated March 2024 The City of Austin is home to over 45 different breweries within a 326 square mile footprint, plus an additional 71 breweries spread across the 4,285 square miles of the greater Austin area. This vast landscape is conducive to brewery experiences of all shapes and sizes. From the chic, tiny brewpubs of downtown Austin to the sprawling farmstead breweries of the Hill Country and the […]

The Definitive Guide to Austin Brewery Tours Read More »

The Definitive Guide to Austin Cider

The Definitive Guide to Austin Area Cider Updated March 2024 Central Texas’ vibrant craft alcohol scene has drawn national praise for at least a decade. While not as numerous as craft breweries or as well known outside of the Lone Star state as Central Texas distilleries, Austin’s cideries are quietly flourishing. From single-apple, barrel-aged ciders to unconventional combinations of fruit and hops to crushable cans, there’s something for every cidery fan in Austin. Argus Cidery

The Definitive Guide to Austin Cider Read More »

The Definitive Guide to Austin Hop Water

The Definitive Guide to Austin Hop Water December 5, 2023 Austin breweries are no strangers to the national trend of better for you beers and beer alternatives. While few local breweries have the capability to make non-alcoholic beers, another booze-free beverage has taken off in Central Texas: hop waters. Hop waters are made by dry-hopping cold water or steeping hot water with hops, optionally adding flavoring to the brew, then carbonating. What emerges from this

The Definitive Guide to Austin Hop Water Read More »

Meanwhile Brewing to Celebrate Third Anniversary

Meanwhile Brewing to Celebrate Third Anniversary South Austin’s Meanwhile Brewing hit the ground running when they opened in October 2020. The brewery’s 3.7-acre facility was an instant hit with locals and beer tourists, and accolades for Meanwhile’s beers quickly followed. Three years later, Meanwhile is one of Austin’s most popular and award-winning breweries. To celebrate, the brewery will be hosting a four-day fete featuring specialty food items, live music, activities for all ages, and some

Meanwhile Brewing to Celebrate Third Anniversary Read More »

Outside the City Limits Festival Returns to Vista Brewing October 28th

Outside the City Limits Festival Returns to Vista Brewing October 28th Fall weekends in Central Texas offer a cornucopia of outdoor events. Do you want to go to a concert? A farmer’s market? A brewery? The choices can be overwhelming. Vista Brewing is combining all three options into their Outside the City Limits Festival. OCL, happening Saturday, October 28th from 12-8 pm at the Driftwood brewery, is an alternative and antidote to a hectic Halloween

Outside the City Limits Festival Returns to Vista Brewing October 28th Read More »

The Brass Tap Austin Reopening in The Triangle

The Brass Tap Austin Reopening in The Triangle Opening August 25 Sixteen months after closing its doors in The Domain, The Brass Tap Craft Beer Bar has found a new home in familiar territory. The Florida and Texas taproom chain is reopening at 815 W 47th St, Suite 103 later in August. That space was occupied by Flying Saucer Draught Emporium for just over a decade. After Flying Saucer shut down in December 2017, the

The Brass Tap Austin Reopening in The Triangle Read More »

2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship Puts Roadmap on the Map

 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship Puts Roadmap on the Map The 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship finished judging over 9,000 craft beers and homebrews from across the country earlier this month. While it was a down year for Texas overall (not a single Lone Star brewery made the top 10 prize winners), it was a strong showing for the state’s up-and-comers. San Antonio’s Roadmap Brewing tied Amarillo’s Pondaseta Brewing and Flix Brewhouse El Paso for

2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship Puts Roadmap on the Map Read More »

Hedgehog Brewing Announces Closure

Hedgehog Brewing Announces Closure After four years in business, Cedar Park’s Hedgehog Brewing will cease operations in July. Brewery co-founder Jonathan Harris announced the closing on Instagram Thursday evening. Harris and his brother Chris opened Hedgehog after years of homebrew experimentation with wild yeast from the Hill Country. Hedgehog always emphasized farmhouse and hoppy ales in their core lineup, but the brewery also developed a reputation for its taproom-only barleywine and adjunct stout releases. The

Hedgehog Brewing Announces Closure Read More »

“Beer To You” Bills in Texas Legislature Would Legalize Home Beer Delivery

“Beer To You” Bills in Texas Legislature Would Legalize Home Beer Delivery The 88th regular session of the Texas legislature finishes on May 29th. Among the hundreds of bills still up for debate are HB 2003 and SB 752. Nicknamed the “Beer To You” bills, the bills were introduced by Shelby Slawson in the House and Peter Flores in the Senate. The twin pieces of legislation would legalize direct-to-consumer shipping and delivery from Texas breweries.

“Beer To You” Bills in Texas Legislature Would Legalize Home Beer Delivery Read More »

A Day of Fun at Shiner Saturdays in Shiner, Texas

Deja Brew: Trio of Texas Breweries Hold Their Ground on Annual Production List

Deja Brew: Trio of Texas Breweries Hold Their Ground on Annual Production List 2022 was a predictable year of production for Texas’ largest craft brewers, according to the Brewers Association. The organization published its annual Craft Brewing Industry Production Report for 2022 on Wednesday. Gambrinus, the parent company of Shiner Bock brewer Spoetzl, was the top producer in the Lone Star State, coming in at number 5 on the list. Deep Ellum and Oskar Blues

Deja Brew: Trio of Texas Breweries Hold Their Ground on Annual Production List Read More »

Picadas Hard Aguas Frescas Begins Distribution in Texas

Picadas Hard Aguas Frescas Begins Distribution in Texas Hard seltzer has rapidly colonized the beer coolers and liquor departments of Texas grocery stores in the past five years. An intriguing newcomer will be joining the hypercompetitive malternative ranks at an H-E-B near you soon. Monterey, Mexico-based Picadas Hard Aguas Frescas began distribution across more than 200 Texas H-E-B stores earlier in March. “Más Sabor” and “Escarcharlo”: the Picadas Story Picadas was founded in 2021 by

Picadas Hard Aguas Frescas Begins Distribution in Texas Read More »

What to Drink in Yucatan

Beer Tripping | Yucatan, Mexico Earlier this month, I visited the southern Mexican state of Yucatan. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that a craft beer scene had sprung up since my last visit in 2015. Read on to learn more about Mexican beer, Yucatan’s brewery scene, and the best places to get a pint. Beer in Mexico (not the Kenny Chesney song) Mexico’s “big two” brewers Cerveceria Modelo (Modelo and Corona) and Cerveceria Cuauhtemoc-Moctezuma

What to Drink in Yucatan Read More »

Scroll to Top