Location Spotlight: Round Rock
Originally published 11/26/25. Please fill out our survey!
It can be difficult to capture a location in writing, with businesses coming and going all the time. Last month, I went through the older location spotlight articles and had to remove a number of closed venues, but thankfully was able to fill a few of the empty spots with newer openings. As you’ll soon read, this article may also need an update… but hopefully not. That’s up to you. Please go and support all of these businesses so we can continue enjoying their beers and vibes for years to come! This is the closest Location Spotlight article to Austin (until I write Pflugerville), so you can easily hop in your car right now and pay a visit to all of our friends up north.
3rd Level Brewing
If the header came as a surprise to you, here’s the context – 3rd Level Brewing announced last week that they are on the verge of foreclosure. But I can already share some great news; they asked for $3,500 on their GoFundMe, and have already raised over $13,000. With their debts reduced, and the increased attention from this predicament, it appears that they may well be able to keep the doors open.
Now back to the spotlight part of the article. 3rd Level Brewing is a nerdy video and tabletop game themed brewery located on Palm Valley Road just around the corner from downtown Round Rock. For their beer selection, they have a nice variety of styles available both on the traditional side, along with more modern options like the Shell Shocked series of fruited sours. Plenty of limited releases as well – my personal favorite was their El Hefe Grande blueberry hefeweizen that was made to celebrate their 20,000th can. The Taqueria Los Regios food truck is always on site, and there are regular events from D&D night to Smash tournaments. The taproom has a few TVs: one is always connected to a Nintendo Switch that you can pick up any time, another is always showing either Twitch or anime, and the rest might have football? Hey, football is a game. Everyone gets to watch what they want at 3rd Level Brewing.
View our brewery profile here.
Bluebonnet Beer Company
Time to switch from the modern, tech-heavy brewery to the classic, industrial brewery atmosphere of Bluebonnet Beer Co. Located off major roads in a business park, the brewery opened in 2014 in a garage-type taproom. In the following years, owners David and Clare Hulama were able to expand into the units next door to create a cozy space, with large murals of bluebonnets and other Texas memorabilia lining the walls. They’re best known for their Cream Ale, which you can find at many bars around Round Rock; but they also produce other American and European styles, along with some wildcards like the pecan brown. Bluebonnet hosts Round Rock’s Oktoberfest every year at the brewery – until 2025, when the event was moved downtown to larger crowds and support, while still being operated and supplied by Bluebonnet. We were there, it was great!
View our brewery profile, published way back in 2016, here.
Pinthouse Round Rock
I’ll keep this one brief since we all know Pinthouse. Their north location has the same style as the Burnet and Lamar brewpubs, but larger. The bar is in the middle of the taproom with seating around the outside. This location also tends to brew specialty beers that aren’t available elsewhere, so if you’re visiting be sure to keep an eye on their Instagram for the latest releases only on tap in Round Rock. Otherwise, same great beer and pizza you know and love, definitely a reliable option if you’re traveling along I-35.
Bee Immortal Mead
Speaking of “along I-35,” I’m going to pitch a meadery to all you beer drinkers. Bee Immortal Mead opened earlier this year in a tiny space just 1 minute off the highway. Austin had been relatively mead-starved recently; with Meridian Hive closing their physical space back in 2020, the closest taprooms were all on the outskirts of Central Texas. Owners Harper and Sheila Luedecke saw the need for some fresh honey wine within reasonable distance of Austin, and I’m happy to report that it’s exactly what we’ve been waiting for. Their three primary meads are Adoration (hibiscus), Orion’s Belt (mixed berry), and Thorny Orange (traditional), all produced at sack strength, and these are supported by Gingivere and Brambler session meads for those looking for a more beer-like experience. The taproom is only open on Sundays right now, but there are plans to expand to Saturday in the near future – plus, they’ve recently started offering shipping within Texas. Check out their website to place an order, or pay them a visit any Sunday for a guided tasting.
Flix Brewhouse
Flix has become a decently sized chain at this point with 11 locations around the country, but let’s not forget that the original spot opened in 2011 in Round Rock. I’ve seen a number of online conversations recently recommending Flix as the theater of choice when compared to a certain other chain that was recently acquired by Sony Pictures. And in a big plus for Flix, they brew their own beer on site – immediately to the right when walking through the front door, you’ll see Ukrainian head brewer Sasha Berezhnyk working the tanks to produce their “core four” beers plus another ten rotating options. If you’re short on time, there’s a bar for sampling; otherwise grab a ticket to Wicked and order from your seat (I think you can even order a flight inside the theater).
View our (sort of outdated) brewery profile here.
The Brass Tap
Speaking of longstanding chains – while The Brass Tap in Round Rock (2013) wasn’t the first location overall, it was the first one outside of Florida, which is pretty close. So long ago, in fact, that the building does not have a kitchen – as the brand started requiring locations to serve food, this spot chose to set up a food truck out back for the purpose of delivering the standardized menu. But enough about food; the bar has 60 taps, nearly all of them craft, and nearly all of them local, with an additional 100+ cans and bottles available for you picky types. I’m still disappointed that the Triangle location didn’t work out, but the truth is that the Round Rock spot is better in every way. Other than distance.
And more!
A few more choices if you’re looking for a bite:
- Finley’s Kitchen & Bar
- 600 Degrees Pizzeria (formerly Slapbox)
- Tony C’s Pizza & Beer Garden
- Anchor Bar
- Pixel Palace Arcade & Bar
