Mom’s Guide To Austin Breweries

Hello mamas and all other lovers of craft beer! From restaurants to convenience stores to actual breweries, if you’re an adventurer who loves craft beer, Austin has you covered. I made it a personal mission to try all of Austin’s breweries and brewpubs before I turned 30, but I swear every time I check one off the list, another is added. Almost 40 down, just a few to go.

What’s fun about navigating the Austin brewery scene is that you don’t necessarily need a sitter to do so (just a responsible driver). About every brewery is family and tote-a-newborn friendly, many even dog friendly, but some are definitely better suited for the “running, need to play, may throw a tantrum” type. Though I love different breweries for different reasons and though my child has been to most of them, I starred a few of my toddler and kid-friendly favorites.

If you want to venture out for some craft beer – with or without your spawn(s) – I’ve got a list for you:

NORTH + SURROUNDING AREAS

4th Tap Brewing Co-Op*
10615 Metric Blvd Austin, TX, 78758
Family-feel, typically children around, indoor (A/C!), board games and always a place to sit. They frequently host fun events. Not to mention, we hosted my baby (brewby!) shower there.

Adelbert’s Brewery
2314 Rutland Dr #100, Austin, TX 78758
Popular spot. Not really an outdoor area. Games. Good beer. Better for adults!

Austin Beerworks
3001 Industrial Terrace, Austin, TX 78758
Popular spot. Outdoor space. Food truck rotation. But because it’s popular, can make it a little more challenging to chase around littles.

Bluebonnet Beer Company
1700 Bryant Dr #107, Round Rock, TX 78664
Good, smaller option for local folks. Note – limited hours. Some patio tables outside, but it was a packed house when we were there. Super friendly vibes.

Celis Brewery
10001 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
Very family-friendly with lots of family history, just not as much room for running littles. However, love the old world feel of the tap room, it’s a re-opened OG of Austin craft beer, lots of heart and soul, and I heard rumblings of future beer garden expansion plans.

Circle Brewing
2340 W Braker Ln B, Austin, TX 78758
Smaller brewery with some patio tables outside. Worked well with a baby when we just had a carrier.

Flying Man Brewing Company
2400 Patterson Industrial Dr, Pflugerville, TX 78660
Good option for local, neighborhood folks. Closed-in outdoor area for running freedom + corn hole for the adults. Wine on the menu too.

NXNW Restaurant and Brewery (North location)
10010 Capital of TX Hwy, Austin, TX 78759
Restaurant + brewery, so you’ll get a classic menu and server with access to all of their own brews. No playground at this location.

Oskar Blues Brewery*
10420 Metric Blvd, Austin, TX 78758
Indoor and outdoor, plenty of room and a music stage. The beers and feel aren’t as Austin-local, but the space is so accommodating, and it’s the first brewery we took our newborn son. We also held a friend’s baby shower there, so win for Oskar Blues.

Texas Beer Company
201 N Main St, Taylor, TX 76574 .                                                                                                                                                                Located in historic downtown Taylor, TX. Restaurants nearby. Often has live music. More of a bar atmosphere. Has games and a kid corner, although it’s best to keep kids close by.

Whitestone Brewery
601 E Whitestone Blvd #500, Cedar Park, TX 78613
We enjoyed the outdoor patio + food truck. “We’re passionate about beer, sure.  But it’s really the conversation and experience that results from the beer that we’re passionate about. We invite you to come out, throw your feet up and tell us what matters to you…..with a beer firmly in hand of course.”

CENTRAL + NORTH CENTRAL

Brewtorium*
6015 Dillard Cir A, Austin, TX 78752
Modern brewpub with a German beer hall vibe. Easy drinking beer options, wine too. Spacious indoor area + full food menu. We personally closed ourselves off in a private (but open) room, so our little could freely roam. Small beer garden out back too.

Pinthouse Pizza (Burnet location)*
4729 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78756
Extremely family friendly, but very popular, so often very busy, which can make it hard with a wiggly one. I currently prefer visiting sans child, but have had no problem taking him. Great pizza, salads, their own beer, as well as others, wine and arcades. Round Rock location coming soon.

Uncle Billy’s Brewery
1530 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78704
Classic Austin brewpub spot if you’re venturing the Barton Springs, Zilker, Town Lake area. Full menu, outdoor space and roaming area.

Black Star Co-Op
7020 Easy Wind Dr, Austin, TX 78752
Very family friendly. More restaurant style with a full menu, so take that into consideration with kids. They do have a small patio. 

Draught House Pub & Brewery
4112 Medical Pkwy, Austin, TX 78756
More of an adult setting, at least in the evening. Brought my newborn along during the day only. Popular. Outdoor space. Dog-friendly. Food truck rotation. Tons of beer options, including their own.

EAST

Blue Owl Brewing
2400 E Cesar Chavez St #300, Austin, TX 78702
Small, cute spot – not your typical brewery. Good for an East side pit stop if you like sour beers.

The Brewer’s Table
4715 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78702
New, nicer restaurant option for date night. Upscale cuisine with house brews + other drinks.

Friends and Allies Brewing
979 Springdale Rd #124, Austin, TX 78702
Nextdoor to Austin Eastciders. Food truck in the parking lot. Kid’s picnic table on the porch, over-sized Connect 4 and other games. Brownie points for having a bag of kids blocks. Parking lot can be tight – look for a spot in the lot behind the building.

Hops & Grain Brewing
507 Calles St #101, Austin, TX 78702
Always a fun time. Great for groups of friends on a night out. It can be a happening spot, so if you’re able to snag a seat, grab some board games and beers and settle in.

Lazarus Brewing
1902 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
I wouldn’t describe many breweries as “chic,” but Lazarus looks like it should be in a magazine. Limited food menu that includes breakfast which is pretty unique. Mature feel, quality brewery overall.

Oddwood Ales
3108 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78723
Brewpub with a full menu (pizza!). House beers are wild ales or hoppy pale ales, but they have guest taps and wine too. Free arcade games and some outside seating that is pet friendly.

Southern Heights Brewing*
6014 Techni Center Dr Ste 2-101, Austin, TX 78721
A newer personal favorite. Their space has such a fun vibe, and the beers are quality. It’s open and not packed. While a lot of classic East-side breweries carry a tighter, more adult feel, Southern Heights is a good option to tote along the family. Goldfish, Capri Sun and great IPAs.

Zilker Brewing
1701 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
Another pit stop on the East-side rotation, truly in the heart of the East side. More of a bar vibe.

WEST

Infamous Brewing
4602 Weletka Dr, Austin, TX 78734
Neighborhood lake spot. Their sign literally said “kid and dog friendly,” and brewery goers had no problem entertaining our son. Fire pit + band when we were there.

Oasis Texas Brewing*
6550 Comanche Trail #301, Austin, TX 78732
Great alternative to eating at The Oasis for excellent views of Lake Travis. Solid food menu and good brews. I felt like I was cheating by being at a should-be-tourist spot that didn’t feel touristy at all.

Save the World Brewing
1510 Resource Pkwy, Marble Falls, TX 78654
For folks in the Marble Falls area or for a day trip (about an hour away). America’s first 100% philanthropic production craft brewery, meaning net profits go to charity – how cool is that?

Strange Land Brewery
5904 Bee Cave Rd, Austin, TX 78746
Located next to Hat Creek. Indoor and outdoor entertainment. Limited taproom hours, so if you can’t make it in, cheat and drink Strange Land at Hat Creek (dollar beers on Thursdays!).

SOUTH + SOUTHEAST

(512) Brewing Company
407 Radam Ln, Austin, TX 78745
The taproom is only open for four hours on Saturdays, FYI. Busy spot with seating in the parking area. Personally find it better suited for adults, esp. considering crowd size.

Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co (ABGB)*
1305 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704
Amazing brewpub with an excellent food menu and lineup of beers. Spacious outdoor seating + inside too. Often have bands playing – check their calendar. Love ABGB for all occasions.

Hi Sign Brewing*
1201 Bastrop Hwy, Austin, TX 78742
Kid and dog friendly. Tons of running room, shade trees, hammocks and picnic tables out back. Fun chalk wall, other games and tv’s on the inside.

Independence Brewing
3913 Todd Ln #607, Austin, TX 78744
Popular Austin beer lineup and home to Austin Amber, also known as the Oklahoma Sucks beer. Indoor and outdoor seating in a warehouse space. Games, dog-friendly (outside), food truck rotation.

Live Oak Brewing*
1615 Crozier Ln, Del Valle, TX 78617
An Austin craft beer scene staple, and one of my favorite hefeweizens around. Beautiful outdoor area with plenty of room to roam and lots of trees. Food trucks often on rotation, one of which lent us a tub of hot water to warm a bottle for our son.

NLand Brewing Company
4836 E. Highway 71, Del Valle TX 78617
Brewery at Austin’s surf park, NLand. Outdoor seating, overlooks the surf lagoon, next to a restaurant. You do not have to surf to visit the brewery.

NXNW Restaurant and Brewery (South location)*
5701 W Slaughter, Bldg. D, Austin, TX 78749
Same family-friendly restaurant as NXNW North, just with a playscape.

Pinthouse Pizza (South Lamar location)
4236 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704
See notes written for the Burnet location – same vibe, just south. One extra note to add – the best ranch.

Skull Mechanix Brewing
1005 E St Elmo Rd Bldg 2, Austin, TX 78745
Newer south brewery. Lots of indoor seating, dog-friendly patio, food truck rotation, trivia night, tattoo vibes.

St. Elmo Brewing
440 E St Elmo Rd G-2, Austin, TX 78745
Popular spot that keeps it pretty busy on the weekends. Indoor and outdoor space. Games. Food truck. My kid ran behind the bar, and then I saw a sign that said “loose kids will be towed,” so there’s that :/

SOUTHWEST + DRIPPING SPRINGS AREA

Family Business Beer Co*19510 Hamilton Pool Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
A newer brewery opened by Supernatural’s Jensen Ackels. (Jensen is my son’s name, so I’m totally biased). Southern food truck by Duck Dynasty’s Jep Robertson. Spacious indoor and outdoor space with the bonus of a playscape.

Last Stand Brewing*
12345 Pauls Valley Rd, Building i, Austin, TX 78737
First impression: as soon as we walked in, we were greeted like family and a worker held our child as we ordered beers. Good outdoor space for running, some games, chicken poop bingo every 3rd Sunday, food truck and Argus cidery is in the same vicinity.

Jester King Brewery*
13187 Fitzhugh Rd, Austin, TX 78736
Destination brewery. The beers are sours (for the unfamiliar), but Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza in the same vicinity where you can grab other craft beers on tap, wine and delicious pizza. The place is huge but easily packed on a nice day. All outdoor seating (Stanley’s is covered) with games like corn hole.

Real Ale Brewing*
231 San Saba Ct, Blanco, TX 78606
An hour from Austin, but worth the drive. An OG of the Austin craft scene (think Fireman’s 4). The beers are always good, and they now serve gin and whiskey cocktails too. Recently expanded brewery, so big facility. Find a driver and tuck it in with a Fredericksburg and/or Lukenbach trip.

Treaty Oak Distilling*
16604 Fitzhugh Rd, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
Treat Oak is technically a distillery, but they do brew their own beers too. Plus, it’s one of my favorites for family/friend functions, so I can’t leave them off this list. So much outdoor space, food, Treaty Oak cocktails, and a playscape!

Twisted X Brewing
23455 Ranch to Market Rd 150, Dripping Springs, TX 78620
One of many stops in the Dripping Springs area if you’re touring breweries, distilleries, etc. A bit smaller place (comparatively) with indoor and outdoor seating.

Vista Brewing*
13551 Ranch to Market Rd 150, Driftwood, TX 78619
Newer brewery to town. Well-designed and spacious with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Food and wine on the menu too. Bonus points – playscape out back. Also near Salt Lick and a few wineries.

Have I missed one? Did a new taproom open or close since this posted? Leave it in the comments, please. Also curious to hear which ones are your kid-friendly favorites and for what age. 

Additional resources: If you need a map, this one has most of these options listed. Yelp is a great resource for general review and photo stalking. And also check out the recent AMB post Kid-Friendly Breweries, Wineries & Distilleries Around Austin.

Stay thirsty and always drink responsibly, my Austin craft beer-loving friends!