It has been some time since I last updated future breweries of Austin. Needless to say, there are more breweries in the works in Austin now than there ever have been in the past. I compiled a list of most of the breweries that are starting up around town.
Future Austin Breweries:
5th Element Brewing:
Located at 100 E. Evans in old town Leander, 5th Element Brewing is looking to open in the first quarter of 2019. They will be a friendly neighborhood brewery focusing on onsite sales. To supply the beer, they will be having a 3bbl brewhouse, along with 7bbl fermenters. As far as their branding goes, they said, “our logo is comprised of all four elements needed to make beer but the center most element is the thumb print which represents the human element; central to all that we do.”
They will be focusing on traditional brews with a modern twist. Hopes are to have a couple of core beers and several rotating options.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/5thelementbrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/5Brewing
Backroads Brewing Company:
Adding to the ever-expanding Dripping Springs/Fitzhugh Rd brewery scene, veteran owned Backroads Brewing is aiming to open in the fall. As of now, they have a smaller 1bbl system with 8 fermentation vessels. The plan is to quickly expand up to a 10bbl system with 3-20bbl fermenters in months following the opening.
For beer, the focus will be on German Lagers and Belgian Ales. The owner, Aaron Luelling, is going to also use family connections to source much of the barley from his cousin’s malthouse in Oregon. As Aaron put it, “flavor matters in beer and malt is our flavor.”
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BackroadsBrewingCompany/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/backroads_brew/
Batch Craft Beer & Kolaches:
Batch has been prominent on the kolache scene in Austin since 2017. However, they do have bigger plans in the near future. Batch, recently, acquired an old church next door to the original Batch location for their future nano-brewery. They are planning on having two separate “sides” in this building, one named the CollabLab, while the other will be called The Bughouse. The first will be focused on collaborating with their friends from other breweries and restaurants (hence CollabLab), while the other will be focused on the sour sides of beer (hence The Bughouse).
Expect them to focus on Table Beers, Sours, and IPAs. Further down the line, expect a very extensive barrel program.
Estimated opening date is in early 2019.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batchatx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/batchatx/
Bear King Brewing:
Soft opening within the next month, Bear King Brewing will be operating out of Marble Falls. This brewery will feature a full menu of mostly tacos, burgers, and salads.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BearKingBrewing/
Twitter: N/A
Beerburg Brewing:
Along with Backroads, Beerburg is yet another brewery opening on Fitzhugh. Current estimates have it opening sometime in the fall of 2019. Their focus will be for on-site sales with the “Hill Country atmosphere.” Expect some foraged/farm to table offerings available in small batches, along with year-round core beers. Founder, Trevor Nearburg, is opening Beerburg after spending the last couple of years at Uncle Billy’s.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeerburgBrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeerburgBrewing
Bell Springs Brewing Company:
Operated out of Bell Springs Winery in Dripping Springs, plans are to add a 10bbl brewhouse to complement the winery. Their focus will be on session beers for onsite only consumption. Current estimates are to have the brewhouse operational by the end of the year. The winery aspect has been around since 2010, and having beer adds another facet to the business at Bell Springs.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bellspringswinery/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bellspringswine/
Central District Brewing:
Located near the convention center in downtown Austin, Central District Brewing is hoping to open in early 2019. The brewery focus will be on on-site sales along with a selection of snacks. Expect a large rotating tap list that will include an educational series (ex. SMaSH beers), seasonals, barrel-aged blends, Tarts, Saisons, and Brett beers.
Adam Duley, co-founder, will be heading up the brewing side of the business. He studied brewing at the American Brewers Guild in Vermont and apprenticed at Port Brewing/Lost Abbey. They will be operating on a 5BBL brewhouse with several 1BBL and 10BBL fermenters.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centraldistrictbrewing/
Twitter: N/A
Central Machine Works Brewing:
Central Machine Works will be located on the east side of Austin in a creative mixed space that will house a brewery, taproom, beer hall, full bar, and beer garden. Expect multiple food trucks, family friendly atmosphere, and an event space to cater to any private events.
Most of the beer is to be sold on-site, while very little will make it into distribution. Expect traditional lighter styles, along with IPAs and more robust ales.
The current plan has the opening sometime in the spring of 2019.
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Family Business Beer Company:
Per Austin360, a second location is in the works for Family Business Beer Company. This will be located in the future mixed-use space St. Elmo Public Market.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyBusinessBeerCo/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheFamilyBeer
Ghost Note Brewing:
Located off Ranch Road 12, in Dripping Springs, Ghost Note is looking at an opening in the spring of 2019. Focus, like much of the newer breweries, will be for on-site sales, as opposed to distribution. Plans include a permanent on-site kitchen, but likely will have to be supplemented by food trucks at the beginning.
As far as the beer goes, it will be headed by Cory McGuinness. Cory has worked at numerous breweries around the U.S., and world, including Tallgrass Brewing (KS), 10 Barrel Brewing (OR), and Pravda Beer Theater (Ukraine). For styles, focus will be on sessionable beers, along with a lineup heavy on mix-culture, barrel and kettle aged beers.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GhostNoteBeer/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ghostnotebeer/
GL Brewing:
GL Brewing will likely be the first brewery barbershop in the US. This is the brainchild of the current downtown barbershop, The Good Life Barber Shop, but will be operating out of a vintage 1940’s train car on Highway 290 towards Dripping Springs. Space will be limited for brewing, which means that it likely will be one of the smaller breweries in Texas. They will be mainly distributing their beer as there is not room for a taproom.
The initial offerings will include a variety of IPAs, and eventually moving into lagers and seasonals. The first release will be Low Fade, an East Coast IPA, with tons of Azacca, El Dorado, Citra, and Galaxy hops. All of the beer names and tap handles will focus on a barbershop theme.
Mid-November is the planned start date to their distribution.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheGoodLifeBarberShop/
Twitter: N/A
Hedgehog Bottle Shop & Barrelhouse:
Projected opening is in summer of 2019 for this future Leander brewery. The name comes from owner, Jonathan Harris, Scottish family’s crest, which is said to have hedgehogs on it.
Focus will be on wild ales (fermented with yeast that has been collected in Texas), hop forward beers, and barrel aged stouts/barleywines.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hedgehogatx/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hedgehogatx/
Hold Out Brewing:
The people behind Better Half Coffee & Cocktails and Brew & Brew are jumping into the brewing scene. Hold Out Brewing will be located next to Better Half, near downtown Austin. The brewing side will be headed up by Brent “Schmitty” Sapstead of Real Ale fame. Expect the beers to include lagers, hop-forward pale ales, and seasonals.
Expected opening is in early 2019.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holdoutbrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/holdoutbrewing/
Hops & Grain (San Marcos):
The future San Marcos location is in its final stages of construction. All production of core beers will be moved to this location. The tasting room should be open in the next month.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopsandgrain/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hopsandgrain/
Hops & Grain (East MLK):
This one is still some time out, as it is currently being used as a storage facility while San Marcos is being finished. Once it is cleared out, plans are still to begin building out their wild and sour program, and eventual tasting room.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopsandgrain/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hopsandgrain/
Hopsquad Brewing:
Located in the “brewery district” of North Austin, Hopsquad is currently working on getting all the permits in place to begin the build out. They have a location right on the corner of Kramer and Braker, behind where the current Circle Brewing is located. The goal is the be completed by the end of the year, but this likely will be pushed into the spring of 2019.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopsquadbrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/hopsquadbrewing/
Humble Pint Brewing:
Classic Pacific-Northwest style brewpub will be opening in January of 2019 in Leander. Plans are to have house beers including some stouts, NW pale ales, ambers, porters, and a selection of specialty and seasonal rotating options. Along with the house beers, there will be a pizza kitchen and guest beers on tap.
Owners, Alicia and Jared Wennestrom, both have a long history from the Pacific-Northwest and hope to bring that vibe to their side of Austin.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HumblePintBrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/humblepint/
Meanwhile Brewing:
Brewing will be headed by Will Jaquiss, who has a history as the R&D Brewer at Breakside Brewery (in Portland, OR). Emphasis will be on hoppy beers, but they have no plans to limit it to any one style.
As far as the location goes, it will be at 3909 Promontory Point Dr, right near the eventual (512) location. The space will likely feature 3 food trucks, an event room, outdoor stage, playground, and dog park.
Current plans have the opening around October of 2019.
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Nomadic Beerworks:
Founded by brothers Bryce and Dan Tyranski, this brewery is combining two of their passions: travel and beer. As they put it, “as experience seeking nomads, there is nothing more thrilling than the excitement of discovering something new and unexpected. We plan to bring that excitement into the beers we create and the taproom we serve them in.” Expect a diverse assortment of styles which will be anchored by American Ales and IPAs. Focus will be for on-site sales and limited distribution.
The planned opening date is around January of 2019 for this South Austin brewery.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nomadicbeerworks/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nomadicbeer
Pinthouse Pizza (Round Rock):
Pinthouse Pizza has been around Austin for several years, so not much is needed for background on them. For their 3rd location, they are looking at a late October/early November opening, assuming no issues arise with the build out. For beer, they are trying to get most of the favorites from other locations on tap. However, they are not focusing on having mainstays, though, at this location. Expect a lot more IPAs in their heavily rotating lineup.
Along with this, more distributing is expected to happen from this location as they will be capable of brewing 6,500 bbls immediately (compared to 3,400 for Lamar, and 1,400 from Burnet).
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PinthousePizzaRoundRock/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PinthouseRR
Ponyfoot Public House:
Breaking ground is aiming to start towards the end of this year/beginning of next year for this Leander brewpub. Primary focus will be for on-site sales. Things are still fluid, so there is no real estimate on when Ponyfoot will open.
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Roughhouse Brewing:
Roughhouse will be a family-run brewery located on a ranch north of San Marcos. The beer will be focused on Farmhouse-styles with on-site sales and limited distribution. Food will also be provided at the brewery by S Baker Kitchen, who will be focused on house-cured and smoked meats.
The time frame for opening is aiming for December of 2018, with a Grand Opening party in January of 2019.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoughhouseBrewing/
Twitter: N/A
Other Future Breweries:
Here are a couple of breweries that I do not have any further information on, but are still in the works.
Compadre Brewing:
Currently in the works at the old Idle Vine location.
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Beer Ranch Project:
This future brewery will be located in the Wimberley area.
Facebook: N/A
Twitter: N/A
Further Out and New Locations:
These breweries are either moving to new locations, just completed new locations, or do not quite have locations yet, but are in the works.
(512) Brewing:
The long awaited future location of (512) is expected to break ground in the spring to coincide with their 10th anniversary.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/512brewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/512brewing
Circle Brewing:
Circle has been a mainstay in the Austin beer scene since 2010. While their location on Braker is still going strong, they have been eyeing an opportunity to move out to Elgin and open up a destination brewery. This location would be likely come with an expanded lineup, along with the option of growing some of their own ingredients to use in the beer.
They are aiming to have construction starting in early 2019, while hoping to open the actual brewery by summer of 2020.
As far as the current location, the original plans were to close it down. With the MLS likely having a stadium built nearby, they are rethinking this plan. There are talks of keeping it open with a much larger and revamped air-conditioned taproom.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/circlebrew/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/circlebrew
Drykkur Brewing:
Still in the early phases, Drykkur Brewing will be the next step for Forrest Rogness (former owner of Rogness Brewing). Plans are calling for a 60 tap beer bar/brewery, with later intentions to add a kitchen. It will be located in the Hutto/Pflugerville area.
Current time frame is calling for an opening in summer of 2019.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Drykkur-Brewing-Company-321582928266895/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrykkurBrewing
The Beer Museum:
Plans are to eventually have a brewery of their own. This, likely, will still be a couple years down the road. For the time being, expect to see them brewing some “collaboration” beers at Last Stand Brewing. Some of these will include a Gruit, and a Pre-Prohibition Lager.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebeermuseum/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/beermuseum_atx
Thirsty Planet Taproom:
Still no planned date on the opening of the taproom at their new brewery.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thirstyplanetbrewing/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thirsty_planet
