Draught House Pub & Brewery

DoktorZee

Alberta (Canada)

4.4/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

This is my go-to bar when I'm in Austin even though I have to go for a little drive to get there (or, more commonly, a cab ride).

The vibe here is exceptional; it's generally filled with folks that really love beer and enjoy just chilling out. I tend to spend all of my time in the beer garden thanks to the weather in Austin, though they just recently had to remove the existing canopy that covered the outdoor space; hopefully they'll have a good replacement before things start heating up.

The interior is old skool British pub with a bit of a Bavarian twist (light walls and lots of dark wood). The bar dominates the wall across from the door and is the only place to get beer (and on a busy night it's lined up outside). Adding to the hipness is the fact a lot of people just pull up a chair and tail-gate in the parking lot.

The people here are cool, relaxed and looking to have a good time. It's a little older than the usual college crowd (being fairly far from campus) with a huge range of interesting people.

Overall quality of the establishment of the place and the beer is excellent. The bartenders are knowledgeable and happy to give you samples of beers you haven't tried before you commit to a pint. It can be a bit intimidating when you get up to the taps, with all of the selection, but the folks are cool with a brief decision period.

Selection is superb - 40+ taps that rotate very frequently. There are usually 2 casks going at any time. Lots of representation from local breweries like Live Oak, 512 and semi-locals like Real Ale as well as their in-house beers. There's almost always a nice sampling of American craft brews on tap as well as some of the limited editions and rare items. It's also not uncommon to find a number of Belgians on tap as well. With the frequent rotation it's worth coming back frequently.

Food is probably the only weak spot since the focus is really on beer, but they do allow folks to bring in food from outside and there are a lot of good place to eat nearby, so this is far from a big deal.

This is a great beer bar - go there and see!

01-16-2011 22:04:11 | More by DoktorZee

max316

Texas

3.91/5  rDev -5.8%
vibe: 4.25 | quality: 4.25 | service: 3.25 | selection: 4 | $$

Draught House is one of the most popular drinking places in town and has been around for years. Austin has so many great places opening up all the time, but I have consistently come back here. I think the selection they carry coupled with the atmosphere is what makes it such a great place. Inside is all dark wood like an english pub, long wooden bar filled with taps, and booths and tables. Outside is one of my favorite patio/beer gardens. They have their own in-house brews that are of great quality, and usually a food truck out back. This is a great place to go drink with or without friends as everyone is very friendly and open.

03-19-2013 01:26:05 | More by max316

sprucetip

Alaska

4.5/5  rDev +8.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | $$

I had been here once briefly back in 2009, but it wasn't a thorough visit. Having spent more time there on a recent visit, it's time to give the Draught House a review.

The building has a kind of Euro Chalet sort of appearance inside and out. There is probably a more precise and accurate description, but it eludes me. Inside there is really nice, old wood work everywhere, and it is tastefully decorated and gives a cozy vibe. There is an outdoor area in a paved parking lot that is less awesome, but still good to have. There are heat lamps for cooler times of the year. A different food truck parks there every day.

The clientele was waiting to get in when they opened at 5 one Thursday afternoon. It had a neighborhood pub type of vibe and clientele at this time. Folks were chilling, reading, talking quietly, and being beer-geeky. Perfect. On another late night visit there was a more college type of crowd, but nothing at all like the 6th street debauchery downtown. They seemed like good kids, and were definitely into the beer. Not too much reason to be there if you are not.

Something I have noticed recently, with the proliferation of beer bars with enormous offerings, is that some (I'm thinking of you specifically Flying Saucer) do a shitty job of letting you know what they have currently. Flying Saucer prints their menu quarterly, for chrissakes! How can a feller order if he doesn't know what you have? Well the Draught House has 4 decent sized video screens, each displaying 18 of their 72 taps. Descriptions include price, style, name, brewery and size of pour. They are over the bar, and the tap handles spread wide along the bar too. There is no table service. You go up to the bar and order. They will let you taste something before you order. To facilitate prompt service most pours are in nonic glases, even 10 ouncers and so on, but some come in goblets or snifters. This style of service seems to be very efficient even when they are busy, and they can take care of a full bar with just 2 staff it seems.

The selection is fairly heavy on Texans, as it should be, but more interesting ones than we were typically seeing at other places. But there were plenty of solid and classic brews from around the States and the world. Prices are quite a bit better than downtown Austin. Stone 12.12.12 was $4.75 for an 8oz pour, downtown I saw the same of $7.50, for example.

We visited quite a few beer bars in Austin, and Draught House was far and away the favorite for me and my brother, and there is some decent competition. If and when I am ever back in Austin, Draught House will be my home pub. All elements considered, it is one of my all time favorites beer bars.

12-30-2012 02:06:51 | More by sprucetip

Lutter

Texas

4.81/5  rDev +15.9%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | $

The Draught House... I've been coming here ever since we moved to Austin from San Antonio... and believe me, it was a breathe of fresh air compared to the craft scene in SA at that time.

The place is supposedly modeled after The Tavern on the inside (ya know... "AIR CONDITIONED") further south on Lamar and resembles a german cottage on the outside. Inside it's as rustic a pub as you'll find in Austin with thick, worn wooden tables, a long bar with seats on both sides (and a walk-up area in the middle). Surrounding you is a lifetime worth of breweriana ranging from Belgian, German & English breweries to US craft brew. To the left of the bar: darts. To the right of the bar: a men's bathroom that could scare a gas station owner (try not to pee). Go out the door to the left (watch out for darts!) and you'll find an outside area with a long standing bar flanked by tables with umbrellas. Or just chill out by your truck or out in front on tables and benches in the parking lot. Very chill.

I've never had the food here, but I have eaten at various food trucks that station themselves there ... which are always delicious. They also do special pairings on occasion with a truck named The Seedling Truck and those have been absolutely spectacular. Can't beat Jester King's sours paired with bacon-wrapped figs. *drooool*

The beer selection is vast... they make sure to get very unique cask selections that you just don't see anywhere else made especially for them by the breweries (dry-hopped or with various other ingredients added to the cask like cocoa nibs or rum-soaked wood chips). They always seem to have the newest limited releases before other bars in the area and are one of the few bars in town that have Jester King on tap (and seem to have a good relationship with them in general). They have 70+ taps on draught including a number of nitro taps ranging from a great local selection to beers from around the country and the world.

New to the place this month are video screens that show you in big bright print exactly what beers are currently on tap, their ABV, oz-per-pour, and price. Very nice, as it was difficult in the past to eye all their taps without holding up the line. I'd love to see this at more bars around town!

People have called the bartenders/owners "surly"... but I always have fun chatting with them. They know their stuff and if they're slow (which they usually are if you go later in the night after 11pm on weekdays or before 7pm) they're glad to chat about beer with you and oftentimes about their house brews (the brewer is very often the bartender as well).

Prices are very fair when you compare them to other places in Austin and generally if they're serving a smaller 10oz or 12oz portion, it is at a cheaper cost than other Austin bars that serve only 16oz pints (most beers are in the $4-$5 range, which is very fair in the area). Even better is visiting on a night they are having a special... our favorite being Sunday, which is usually ver y sparse as far as visitors to the bar, but is also Texas Beer Night! All Texas-brewed pints are $2.75 or so... Hells yeah.

Overall... they aren't the biggest in town (that would be Banger's) but this is a bar made for drinkin'! If they'd only keep the bathroom sanitary, well-lit, and not lookin' like it belongs at a club on Sixth Street (actually, I've seen better bathrooms at Sixth Street) it would be absolutely perfect.

12-26-2012 10:01:51 | More by Lutter

mbs

Texas

3.73/5  rDev -10.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 5 | food: 2.5 | $$

My favorite bar in Austin. Great selection of beer, surly bartenders, amazing home brews, awesomely varied clientele -- a true cross section of Austin. You will find yourself getting into some awesome conversations if you hang around here long enough. You can drink in the parking lot; I heard they got some special zoning so it's fully legal.

I usually drink only the homebrews here because they are often superior to even the european imported fancy schmancy stuff. Wednesday is free glass day (a slightly more expensive pint nets you an interesting glass). Tuesday/thursday will have 2.75 pints. Saturdays you can get a free excellent bratwurst.

Interior is styled after a british pub -- dark and dusty and grungy. Huge rough heavily-carved and lacquered tables. Toilets are horrifying. Food (other than the Saturday brats) is not great but not really necessary. Lately some weird taco cart has been coming around with some tastier grub but it's overpriced.

Highly recommended.

05-15-2012 03:57:08 | More by mbs

mixnslam

Texas

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | $$

This is what I envisioned as a German Styled Pub with close to 90 different beers on tap. A vast selection to choose from and selection changes regularly. The beertenders appear to be pretty knowledgeable about the beers and usually give good selections. There is an area outside for the smokers or the people who would rather sit outside and drink. There are heaters to help assist on keeping you warm before the alcohol kicks in. I have been there numerous times and the crowd is very nice and relaxed. I haven't seen any unruly people in there.
There are a couple of things that bug me a little and the first is the downsized glasses for the higher alcohol content beers. I am a bigger guy and would like to achieve the same effect as a smaller person at the same cost and thats why I prefer stronger beers, besides the great taste. The second thing is the Men's bathroom stinks. Air freshener or ice in urinal will help. Other than that its a great bar.

01-19-2012 09:05:39 | More by mixnslam

CopeTech

California

4.2/5  rDev +1.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4 | $$

Nice local bar, in the British tradition of dark wood and no lights. They recently did a land grab out the back door and have some outdoor seating. Fairly large, I have always found a place to sit, there is always a friendly crowd by the front door, I think it is the neighborhood hangout.

A good selection, especially of Left Hand and Texan beers.

I think it's funny the property owner is a dentist, and has dental offices on the second floor, dovetailing office hours with the bar downstairs and sharing the parking lot.

01-17-2012 22:42:56 | More by CopeTech

omnigrits

Texas

4.36/5  rDev +5.1%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | $$

One of Austin's premier beer haunts. If you're a beer geek/nerd, you have to come here.

Aside from having one of the best selections of beer from both the US and abroad, their own beers are seriously good. The only two drawbacks to the place are the queue to buy beer and the queue to get into the toilet to let it out, which is why I've marked it down on service, not because of the staff. They're some of the best beer folk in town and they make it one of the two or three best places in Austin to get good beer. If there's a rare keg or cask in town, you're more than likely to find it here.

I don't ever recall seeing much in the way of food. This is a pub, not a restaurant.

I just wish it opened earlier, like a genuine British pub.

11-16-2011 03:24:24 | More by omnigrits

tjkinate

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

Been in Austin for a couple of months and the Draught House has become a regular spot for my girlfriend and I. Every time we go here we seem to make friends at the outside seating portion. I also love that it just has that pub feel, but would be nice if it was a bit larger. The line for the bar often extends out the front doors.

If you are looking for a good eatery and beer spot you may want to try else where, food here is only ok. No problem for me, I just come for the beer!

One last note, if you do bring a lady with you, warn her prior to arrival that she will have to wait in line to use the restroom, always a line for the ladies.

Hope to see you there.

Cheers!

10-31-2011 22:40:12 | More by tjkinate

Parched

Texas

4.18/5  rDev +0.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 3 | $$

I've lived in Austin for nigh on 32 years and the Draught House is my favorite. Their in house brews are exceptional. Their commercial selection is more than adequate. Yeah, the servers are pretty busy and may give off the occasional Soup-Nazi vibe, but it's worth it. Sure there are other places like the Flying Saucer that are okay. But it's the difference between a pub and a bar. The only downside is that my wife doesn't like beer. "Yeah, I'd like a pint of wheat bock and a Savignon Blanc." Sigh.

08-07-2011 01:00:29 | More by Parched