My first visit was to Independence Brewery. A bit hard to find ,especially since I left the directions at home, it is located in a group of warehouses off 71 East. I couldn't miss the long line of people with folding chairs as I drove past though. Parking is a bit tricky, there really isn't much available - don't park in the adjacent 'bays" where neighboring business delivery trucks are still using. Many of the nearby business seemed to be closed so most parked in their spots. They let you in at 1 but I recommend getting there by 12:30 - I arrived at 1 and had about a half hour wait in line. The tour and beer is free but you need to bring your own glass or you can purchase one of theirs for $6. Since I was unaware of this policy, it is not on their website, I purchased a glass. These are not small glasses by the way but 16oz pint glasses - and you get 3 samples! Makes the itty bitty samples you get at Shiner kinda pitiful. You get a wristband while waiting in line and they check you off each time you get a refill. No wristband no beer!
They had four choices of beer to sample. Austin Amber, Bootlegger Brown, Stash IPA and Convict Hill. I tried the Stash first. I am more partial to the lighter style beers, so while Stash was a good beer I found it a bit on the bitter side ( too hoppy for me - I learned this term during the "tour"). My second sample was the Austin Amber. More to my taste, it's a bit lighter and not quite as hoppy. Since I have a low tolerance and I was driving, I only had half a glass of the Amber - the "bartender" thanked me for being responsible.
They have tours at 1:30 and 2:30. There is only one large room with all the brewing equipment but they do give a very informational talk about the brewing process and the company and take visitor questions.
What really struck me when I got there were the amount of people that had beat me there, hanging out in their lawn chairs in the parking lot. It was like the Draught House Pub but much larger. There was a band playing and dogs running around and an almost festival atmosphere - a thoroughly Austin experience! Everyone there, visitor and staff , was super friendly and ready to give advice on beer selections. There was a BBQ truck selling food but many brought a packed lunch with them. I hung out chatting with my fellow "beer-ists" and listening to the band - a threesome of CSN looking guys singing some country and seventies soft rock style covers - for about 2 hours. While the line had been pretty long when I got there by 2:15 there wasn't one and the crowd began to thin a bit. Since the last tour is at 2:30 , I got the feeling things pretty much shut down around 3.
Unfortunately ( well for me at least) the tours only run the first Saturday of each month, but that I think is what makes it a slightly special event. It's a great way to spend an afternoon with your friends and I have already marked next months on my calendar!
You can find them at http://www.independencebrewing.com/
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