Austin, Texas is weird, or so its proud residents would have you believe. But one thing about Austin that is very normal and mainstream in the modern age is the growing number of breweries and brewpubs that call the city home. One of them is located within a short distance of most Austin residents and offers award- winning beer and some great food. It is Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que, one of more than a dozen brewing establishments in Austin metropolitan area. Here are some facts about this Austin, TX operation:
Type of Establishment: Brewpub
Location: 1530 Barton Springs Road, Austin, Texas
Hours of Operation: Brewhouse hours are 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1
a.m. Friday and Saturday. The kitchen closes 2 hours earlier each day.
Phone: 512-476-0100
Menu Selection:
Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que is a casual brewpub with a menu that includes items organized in a handful of main categories:
· Starters Worth Sharing
· Sandwiches
· Slow Smoked BBQ
· Salads
· Sides
· Kid’s Menu
· Homemade Dessert
With the exception of the larger (one pound or more) serving of BBQ, the rack of ribs, and some of the salads, every other menu item is presently priced below $10. This makes the total cost of a visit quite reasonable for a family of four.
Beer:
For the craft beer lover, a visit to Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que wouldn’t be complete without a pint or two of its hand- crafted brew. Some of the beer products available around the calendar include:
· Back 40 Blonde
· Ax Handle
· Agave Amber
· Hill Country Amber
· Hop Zombie
Other beers are offered on a seasonal, rotational basis and they include such Austin favorites as Hell in Keller and Bottle Rocket Lager. The beer is one of the hallmarks of a visit to Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que, but there are many other signatures drinks as well,
such as Billy’s Spiked Lemonade, South Austin Shaker, Texas Sipper, and others.
Awards:
Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que has collected some beautiful pieces of metal over the years at competitions like the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup. Its Bottle Rocket Lager took home a Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal in 2012 and a Silver Medal in 2011. Hell in Keller won a Gold Medal and Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival in 2009 and 2008 respectively. Hell in Keller was also awarded a Bronze Medal at the World Beer Cup in 2010.
In Summary:
Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que is a nice way to unwind and relax after a long day at work or a relatively quick pit stop when you crave a simple yet savory lunch. The establishment looks small from the outside, but its interior is larger than meets the eye and
it has an outdoor seating area to accommodate a large number of guests.
I visited Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que once, arriving on a Sunday morning one weekend when there were few others present and plenty of open space. This was nice, not just for the elbow room, but also because it allowed me some time to sample each of the beers on tap and converse a little with one of the staff. I got to know a little more about Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que, its founding, and its approach toward making great beer. I was already fully aware of the establishment before I arrived, thanks to its critical acclaim and multiple Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup Awards. I got to sample Hell in Keller when I was there and I was quite impressed, not to mention amused by the choice of names. The other products ranged from good to great, with no beer scoring below average in my book.
Barbecue is an important part of the dining experience at Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que and many will want to sample some ribs or something similar. If your appetite is adequately prepared and you have friends with which to share, then a full pound of slow smoked barbecue or a rack of ribs would make a good selection. If you’re feeling a little less ravenous, then I suggest trying the Brisket Burger or Barbecue sandwich plate. This way, you can get a taste of the barbecued goodness of Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que on smaller but still memorable scale.
If there is one thing that is a little frustrating with Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que, it would be the fact that the two award winning beers are not available year- round. I was happy to get the chance to try Hell in Keller when I visited, but I would have loved to sample the Bottle Rocket Lager also. Alas, there was none available, so I had to promise myself to stop by again on a future visit to Austin to sample this award- winning brew. If you find yourself in the same dilemma, I recommend calling and/or checking the Uncle Billy’s Facebook page before you visit, to make sure your beer of choice is on tap.
Austin prides itself for being a tad eccentric, but there is nothing odd about Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que. It’s a friendly, laid- back establishment where good old fashioned barbecue meets delicious craft beer in the heart of Texas. Stop by if you find yourself in Austin and enjoy the tasty barbecue and hand- crafted beer that have combined to make Uncle Billy’s Brew and Que one of Austin’s hidden attractions.
Note: Article originally published at Examiner.com
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