3rd Annual Texas Craft Brewers Festival

The 3rd annual Texas Craft Brewers Festival, the only beer festival organized by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, returns to Fiesta Gardens in Austin on Saturday, September 28th from 2pm ~ 8pm.

Tickets range in price from $20 for General Admission to $70 for the VIP Package and are available for purchase online.  The General Admission ticket gets you through the gates at 2pm and includes six 4oz sample tokens and a commemorative tasting cup. The VIP Package provides entrance to the festival 2.5 hours earlier for a special 'Meet & Greet' session with brewers, first access to limited edition beers, festival t-shirt, festival pint glass upon exiting festival, six 4oz sampling tokens and commemorative tasting cup. Your designate driver can tag along with you for $10 and enjoy complimentary non-alcoholic beverages. Extra tasting samples will be sold at the event by the pair for $3. Depending on the beer, a 4-ounce pour may require one or two tokens.

The number of craft breweries in Texas has continued to increase and thirteen breweries will be attending the festival for the first time (10 breweries made their debut last year).  And because of recent changes to the beer laws in Texas, brewpubs are able to attend directly this year.  The beer list for this year's festival is not yet available, but will be announced soon.

More information, including a map of the location, is available on the festival website.

Wear Your Support for Texas Craft Beer

Show you support Texas craft beer by buying and wearing this awesome T-shirt featuring the logo of 50 members of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. 

The T-shirt is available for order online in a variety of sizes from Outhouse Designs.  They will also be available for purchase at the Texas Craft Brewers Festival next month and hopefully soon at various breweries around the state.

Annual Belgian Beer Tasting at The Ginger Man

In honor of Belgian Independence Day (July 21), The Ginger Man is hosting their annual Belgian Beer Tasting on Saturday, July 20th at 3:00pm. Tickets are $40 per person (including tip), but seating is limited, so call 713-526-2770 to make your reservations. 

I've attended a couple of these in the past and always had a great time, but keep in mind that most Belgian beers are quite strong, so pace yourself.

Brew Fest at Watson's House of Ales

Watson's House of Ales is hosting their first annual Brew Fest on Saturday, July 20th from noon to 6:00pm.

Although a post on their Facebook page firmly declares "Houston ONLY brews!", they apparently mean the very greater Houston area as the list of attending breweries not only includes Saint Arnold, Karbach, Buffalo Bayou and 8th Wonder, but also Lone Pint (Magnolia), Southern Star (Conroe), Fort Bend (Missouri City) and No Label (Katy).

It looks like a great opportunity to taste and compare beers from all the local breweries in one spot and the Watson's Facebook page hints at special casks from No Label and Karbach. Festival attendees will also get to vote for their favorite brewery and the winner will get a tap at Watson’s and be featured for a happy hour. Tickets are $25 for 16 samples and are available for purchase at the pub.

Victory Brewing Beer Dinner at BRC

On Wednesday, July 17, BRC Gastropub is hosting a beer dinner featuring Victory Brewing.  The four-course menu and pairings includes:

Prima Pils - Melon salad with candied bacon, mint syrup, watercress
Summer Love - Pink peppercorn crusted tuna with strawberry salsa
Hop Devil - Jerk pulled pork with plantain chips, cotija, cilantro, red onion purée, chorizo sauce
Ranch IPA - Peaches & cream semi-freddo

There are two seating times for dinner (6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.) and the cost is $45 per person (plus tax and tip).  Call BRC at (713) 861-2233 to make your reservation,.