The ABGB - Austin Sessions
The ABGB has finally officially opened it's doors on Labor Day weekend! Amos Lowe, Brian "Swifty" Peters, Mark Jensen, and Curt & Jill Knobloch have transformed the former World of Rentals location into a spacious and beautiful beer garden. This place reminds me of Wurstfest in New Braunfels, except without all the liederhosen and…well…Germans. Not that there's anything wrong with Germans. With eight beers currently on tap (the Industry Pils will be back soon!), the former Uncle Billy's brewers are well on their way to carving out their own south Austin brew pub niche. Located close to the intersection of Oltorf and Thorton the ABGB provides a couples of acres, and the perfect environment for relaxing with friends or a small army of thirsty co-workers.
I'm a big IPA guy, but after tasting every beer they had on tap, I have to confess the Big Mama Red, which coincidentally happens to be 7.9% abv, is a favorite. Runner up was the Hop Dead Gorgeous Cascadian Dark. In a word…delicious. In two words….extremely delicious. The Day Trip (pale), Superliner (IPA), Octoberfest (märzen), Gretchen Brown (hoppy brown), and Field Trip (belgo pale ale) were all equally tasty as well. Then there's the Hell Yes (helles) coming in at a modest 4.5% abv which I could drink all day. Definitely a great summer beer.
Aside from the glorious beer, the ABGB is also dishing out some amazing food. Procuring ingredients from Salt and Time, and Johnson's Backyard Garden (amongst others) food offerings include, pizza, sandwiches, starter plates and salads. Depending on the availability of fresh ingredients, the menu rotates and changes accordingly.
"We're installing a huge heavy duty window so that people sitting in the garden are able to see the live music we're having inside," said co-owner Marc Jensen. Still under renovation, Amos showed me the wooden tables that are still being sanded and stained. "The guys over at Austin Beerworks let us borrow these tables until ours are finished…The tables we're working on are gonna match the bar." If you've seen the bar, you know the tables are going to be beautiful. Located deep in the heart of 78704, these guys fit right in.
The ABGB
1305 W. Oltorf
Austin, Tx 78704
512-298-2242