pub with best beer selection?

Question

Hey there, I'm wondering if anyone has found bars/pubs around Austin with really extensive beer selections... (extra points for a great variety on draught too). I'm looking for places that are also pleasant to hang out in for a cozy evening, so you can leave out anything on East Sixth that's overflowing with sweaty co-eds. :) Thanks!

Answer

Best beer selections in town are:

The Ginger Man. A TX chain at 4th & Lavaca. Not your typical 6th Street crowd. Parking can be a pain.

The Draught House. On Medical Parkway in central Austin. Great atmosphere. People bring lawn chairs and hang out in the parking lot. Real friendly, local crowd. They're also a brewpub, but the in-house beers are kind of hit-or-miss for me.

The Flying Saucer. A chain, located in the Triangle in central Austin. I'm really conflicted on this place. Best selection in town, I think, and all perfectly served. Good specials, too. But the waitresses dress in these short little skirts, which I think is kind of skeevy, and while they're all well trained and knowledgeable, about half of them are more interested in hustling tips. Plus it's always crowded and poorly laid out - way too many 6 or 8 tops.

Answer

I'm partial to BB Rovers as well. Used to live at that place a few years back. Great selection of beer and pretty decent food as well. Very casual. They'll occasionally rotate different imports on draft; chocolate beer, something from Pierre Celis, etc.

Answer

Hi,

I appreciate Crown and Anchor's selection. And the pricing - specials every day for the entire day. Sunday's a bargain with no pint pricier than $2.75, I think. Food is greasy bar food - and the nachos are yummy. Wouldn't call it cozy - but I like the typically, ahem, older grad student crowd.

Answer

Opal Divine's has a pretty impressive beer selection, decent bartenders (who seem to know what they're doing), and a perfectly acceptable menu.....I think they have two locations, one on West Sixth Street, and another on North Mopac. There might be another one somewhere in town, just outside my realm of recognition.

Answer

Having been transferred here from Dallas I like both Flying Saucer and the Gingerman. The locations here aren't quite as "broken in" as the one's in Dallas and Ft Worth Locations. I like them moslty because they had some nitrogen push beers. Saucers are being franchised across the country. I think the original Saucer owner is Shannon Wynne, the guys parents started Six Flags.

Answer

An update - I don't really get Twitter, but if you want to chase down some awesome rare beers, you should definitely follow the feeds of the Draught House, the Saucer, and the Ginger Man:

http://twitter.com/Draughthouse
http://twitter.com/flyingsauceraus
http://twitter.com/austingingerman

This Saturday (1/9/10) is the Saucer's 2nd Anniversary and there are some brilliant selections lined up to be tapped.

Answer

What are people's thoughts on North by Northwest, Lovejoys, Uncle Billys and any of the Little Woodrows? Im visiting Austin for the first time in a couple weeks and I plan on hitting the best beer/food places in and around town. Also on my list is "best tex mex breakfast joint" and "best brisket" but I guess Ill save those for other threads. However, if theres a good beer place that also has good Brisket (Uncle Billy's?) that would be a bonus of course...

Answer

off-the-beaten-path department - 

try the Dig Pub in Cedar Park - http://thedigpub.com/ - at least 20 beers on draught - from Dogfish to Franziskaner - and many more bottled. 

for "beer-scootin'" - head down the road to New Braunfels - the Frisenhaus Biergarten - features a variety of German draft beers, as well as the $18.99 "One boot beer"

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