Location Spotlight: Liberty Hill
10/9/25: Refreshed article for 2025. Though, I’m keeping the eclipse framing for fun. Please fill out our survey!
I have a secret for you – I’m not driving out towards Dripping Springs for the eclipse next month. I’m staying far away from 71 and 290. Instead, as you can tell by the title of this article, I’m planning to head northwest towards Liberty Hill, which is actually slightly closer to the center of totality than Dripping. And while it’s better to continue a bit further west to maximize your darkness time, there’s not a lot to drink if you keep going in that direction. So, let’s take a look at all the breweries in Liberty Hill – there’s more than you think!
Schitz Creek Distillery & Brewery
Winery, Distillery, and Brewery all in one, Schitz Creek + Thirsty Mule is our top choice to get a flight in the area. The brewery program has been open for about three years now in a new space with seating directly across from the brewing tanks. Next door is the winery and distillery (and market, and souvenir shop), and of course, there is outdoor seating, penned mules, table games, a destroyed wooden cart, and an anatomically correct mule statue. This is a great place to go if you’re traveling with non-beer drinkers, so come support one of the newer breweries in the area.
San Gabriel River Brewing
For our second of three breweries named after running water, we’re turning to San Gabriel River Brewing, which has been in business since 2016. You may be familiar with them if you frequent beer festivals, as brothers John and Patrick Peck are huge fans and make an appearance every year at TCBF, Hops for Houses, Wild West Brew Fest, and other local events. Plus, they host the Liberty Hill Beer Festival in October at their brewery (although for 2025, they’re mixing it up with a Chili and Chowder Fest). Their space features rustic vibes at the covered picnic tables outdoors, or at the barstools in the taproom. They have food, live music, beer club memberships, and they’ve recently added a large expansion to the indoor space, along with hiring more staff and distributing bottles. A lot of good things in the future for this team.
Slot-T Beer Co.
The joke about all three Liberty Hill breweries being named after water has come to an end, as the final option has rebranded. Slot-T Beer Co. (formerly Float the River Brewing (formerly Hell or High Water Brewing)) is a brewpub in downtown Liberty Hill, with a full pub menu and 16 taps, including a few guest taps. They have daily happy hours, weekly live music and other events, and a nice patio if you want to spend your 4 minutes of eclipse time chowing down on some wings. This is the spot to hit if you’re looking to stay a bit closer to the crowds of downtown.
Liberty Hill Beer Market
Isn’t it crazy that we’re at the fourth item in this article about the small city of Liberty Hill? Here’s another choice, and while it’s not a brewery, it’s certainly got some beer – 30 taps, plus a few cans and wine. The unassuming spot is also an Italian + German-style restaurant with pizza, pasta, and schnitzel. They have a playground too, so it’s a great place to let the kids run around. Add in nightly events like karaoke, trivia, and live music, and you’ve got one of the best taverns in town right here.
Finally, since you’ll be driving through Cedar Park and Leander on the way, I published an article last year on beer spots over there as well. Drive safe!
Note: The original article had seven locations – however as of the 2025 update, three have closed. Is there a new spot in town you want to let us know about to add to the article? Please reach out!
