Namaste Brewing / Whip In

BgThang

Texas

3.35/5  rDev -22.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 1.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$$$

I have been to this place a few times. The first time was when they were still just a corner store that had a descent beer selection. The atmosphere was that of a bad cab with incense going and a bunch of gawdy things seeming to fill in every crook in the store. THings have changed quite a lot since then. THey have started serving food and beer on draught.

Good things about this place: They usually have the most current releases in Texas, they have special taps that have been cellared for a couple years, and they sometime release bottles of aged items

Bad things: Service with an attitude (What I have is the best in town and I will rape you cause I can attitude), You pay a premium for their aged beers and and well hell all their beers are a premium. Example $11 for 8oz of dr6 a year after release date on draught. I still have a case if dr6 so bite me, Atmosphere is still that of a bad dive bar, THe live music is so loud there you can hold a conversation unless you go outside

Overall if you can find what you are looking for elsewhere then go. If you are ina pinch and need something and willing to pay a premium for it then come here and bring your KY with you.

01-20-2011 20:10:57 | More by BgThang

MUSHROOMCLOUD

Texas

3.5/5  rDev -18.8%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4 | $$$

The Whip in has a very good selection. The majority of all their beers are cold, they have at least 20 doors in their cold box. The beers are sorted by style. There are also plenty of displays and about 20 feet of warm beeb shelves. Nice selection of Belgian beers (better than Whole Foods). I saw some 1.5 liter Chimay and a 3 liter of Corsendonk that were among the more unusual (for Texas) finds. They even had some Allagash Four .750's ($12.99) which I have not seen in San Antonio yet.

I was being nice when I rated the service. No one so much as acknowledged us when we came in or spoke to us the whole 1/2 hour we were in the store. I didn't really need any help but I guess it is the principle of the thing.

The prices were good for a "convenience store" but a little higher than what can be found elsewhere. Whip In is a clean store with a good beer selection. If you don't mind blaring reggae music and being ignored it is worth checking out.

08-09-2005 01:39:39 | More by MUSHROOMCLOUD

Riccymon

Texas

3.53/5  rDev -18.1%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | $$$

While nearby yesterday, I stopped at Whip In for the first time to see what I'd been missing by doing my beer shopping mainly at Grape Vine Market and Spec's. Inside, the store/restaurant is dark and a bit cave-like. Through the convenience store portion of the building, a few sets of beer coolers and shelves hold some good offerings, but not much I can't find elsewhere in town. The number of Belgians available was probably the highlight. My hopes of finding aged beers weren't realized, as all I really saw were a couple bottles of 2008 Avery Samael's Ale. Ended up buying a 750 of Saison Dupont and a six pack of SN Stout.

Service seemed more like a convenience store than a beer store, but I didn't buy anything on-tap or order food, either. Prices seemed above average for both the on-tap beers and the bottles, maybe a dollar more per item than at other places.

I'm glad I finally got to Whip In, and I'd like to stop again for a pint and a meal.

08-02-2009 18:47:03 | More by Riccymon

jl28r1

Texas

3.69/5  rDev -14.4%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 2 | selection: 4.5 | $$$

Drove to Austin from San Antonio last sunday to pick up a growler of Live Oak HefeWeizen. I stopped at Whip-in because of the great reviews and it's location. My wife and I walked in around noon and we were suprised that we were the only customers in the place. It has a pretty cool layout with a long bar, nice dining area (though we did not eat) and lots of coolers filled with a very good craft beer selection. The problem that I had was the bartender/cashier did not at all make us feel welcome. My wife felt we were being watched as if we were shoplifters and I just got the feeling that the worker just wanted us to leave. Too bad, with better service, this place could be incredible. Don't see myself making a 2nd trip there, I would rather spend my money at a place that values customers more that Whip-in.

05-05-2011 20:11:12 | More by jl28r1

kbub6f

New York

3.8/5  rDev -11.8%
quality: 3.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5

Whip In has a great selection of beers. Lots of micros, lots of imports. If you're just passing through Austin on the interstate and don't want to make a side-trip for beer, then Whip In is the place to go.

I have three warnings, though. First, the store is quite cluttered, and the organization of the beer is a little confused. Last time I was in there, I didn't quite figure out how the beer fridges were organized. There were also stacks of beer on the floor, where I found some micros that weren't in any of the coolers. Lesson: check ALL the fridges and floor stacks.

Second, I think the staff may be hit-or-miss. After TXHops found some SATB there, I went in to check if they had any more. The two guys at the cash weren't very friendly when I asked about it. (I've heard rumors that SATB is illegal in Texas... maybe they thought I was ATF!). Lesson: leave navy windbreaker with big yellow letters in the car.

Third (and most serious), they stock past-date beer. I bought some Pyramid Coastline that turned out to be a year past its "best by" date. And I picked up some Tommyknocker St. Nick's Porter, which the brewery claimed had been discontinued two years prior. Of course, sometimes this can work to your advantage... they had 2002 Sisyphus left over long after everybody else was out. Lesson: check before you buy.

In spite of these warnings, however, Whip In is a good little store, in a convenient location for out-of-towners, with a very good selection. Recommended.

09-08-2003 21:01:18 | More by kbub6f

Reagan1984

Massachusetts

3.94/5  rDev -8.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | $$

Well this is one of the wackiest places I've ever been too. Is it a convenience store? A beer store? A restaurant? A bar? Kind of all of them. Real bohemian look, feel & vibe. Staff is very friendly. About 8 or so beers on tap. They were open with their samples and pleasant in their tone.

The beer selection (store) was pretty good, not, great but good. I swear Texas remains a bit of a wasteland for great beer. Didn't have any food, so I can't comment. The seating area was very casual and quite eclectic.
I have to say, I am not sure I would head here for a dinner, but I would go for a pint and then perhaps shop for a bottle to take home. Having said that, I was intrigued by their Indian menu... Music was quite funky.

Bottom line, glad I stopped to see it. Not sure I would go out of my way there... If I lived here I would probably drop by from time to time. But the selection is not close to the selection of my home town store.

06-09-2009 21:30:46 | More by Reagan1984

htomsirveaux

Texas

4/5  rDev -7.2%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4

Finally had a chance to stop here this past Saturday. This is a little (1000 sf) store that used to be a gas station. Has a selection rivaling Central Market's, but with a lot of overlap (90%+). I'm not sure what I was expecting but I left feeling slightly disappointed, mainly due to the pricing. On the positive side, they have a large selection of interesting imports and micros, including all the usual German suspects, many Belgians, most of the Texas micros, a decent amount of PNW mircos, Arrogant Bastard, and several cases of Bigfoot 2002 and SA Triple Bock 1995. Unfortunately only about half of the beers are refrigerated, and some of the beers on the shelf look like they'd been there a while. The beer prices are often non existent, especially for singles. This wouldn't be such a big deal except that there is only one clerk for the whole store, so it takes a while to get a price check if there is anyone else bidding for his attention.

My main cause of disappointment: 12 oz singles here average $2.70, singles at Central Market average $1.40.

If you're getting there from I35, take the exit just north of Oltorf, it will be on the access road on the west side of the highway about 2 blocks north of Oltorf.

05-20-2002 10:44:22 | More by htomsirveaux

HardTarget

Texas

4/5  rDev -7.2%
quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5

Not much to add to the other fine reviews. This is just a convenience store that has a LOT of beer. It is kinda rag tag, beer scattered about everywhere. It really pays to look through the cases they have lying about. I found a few cases of 2002 Anchor Merry Christmas that should have aged pretty well. Selection is nothing to sneeze at. Unibroue, a number of German and Belgian beers, and a wide selection American micros. The staff stayed behind the counter and I didn't quiz them on stuff, but they were friendly enough and didn't mind waiting for me to switch out a quick selection.
Being right on I-35, it's worth "whipping in" if you are just blowing through town.

06-03-2004 01:48:40 | More by HardTarget

bisonkron

Texas

4.03/5  rDev -6.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3 | selection: 4.5 | $$$$

This place did not look appealing to me from their website, but I wanted to check it out anyway. It was great. Not the greatest selection in town, but plenty of off beat varieties.

The staff was friendly and the patrons were great too.

They had live music, and to my great surprise, growing up and living in austin, they music was pretty good, and the volume was
just right.

The owner is very knowledgeable and friendly, but I always get a comment if I go in to look at whats on the shelves and leave without buying anything.

Its small, but it is definitely the place I am going to take guests that want to go to a bar in Austin.

01-11-2011 03:06:40 | More by bisonkron

BAbaracus

Texas

4.15/5  rDev -3.7%
quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

As mentioned already, Whip In, Grapevine and Central Market all have more or less the same selection. When a beer is going in or out of season you may find some left in one location but not the others, but for the most part these stores attempt to stock every type of beer you can get in Austin. For that reason they deserve a 15 but since we’re also comparing with out of state retailers one has to admit that there are better stocked beer states than Texas. The last time I drove by there had been a massive remodeling done to the exterior - the place almost looks classy now in a sideshow circus/titty bar kind of way. They also have a liquor store next door that benefitted from the remodelling as well. Not sure if the interior has been redecorated as the place wasn’t open at the time. Assuming it hasn’t, the interior is purely functional, no real ambience or vibe to speak of aside from an aging convenience store facade stocked with massive quantities of alcohol where the motor oil and toilet paper would normally be. The staff is generally friendly and of course knowledgable about their beer. This helps if you’re looking for a recommendation as you can’t always find an employee to hit up at Central Market.

05-24-2006 21:21:35 | More by BAbaracus