Beer me, please. The perfect neighborhood microbrewery with tailgaters who bring their own chairs and sit in the parking lot, or anywhere really. Now thats hardcore. No problem with parking here. Park in the empty doctor's office lots or in the neighhorhoods. Very chill atmosphere, the patio looks nice but it was very crowded. This pub always offers house beer which is a mere $3 and I intend to try them all. I'm no beer expert, but the Suburst was awesome. Their seasonal summer beer was a bit too manly for me, with its rich nutty flavors that brought out my deep voice & my classy belches that always win people over. I found it insanely hilarious when the bartender carded my friend and I. He looked at her ID he scoffed and said " What the fuck, 77!?" (In reference to the year she was born of course. I don't hang out with 77 year olds). Yea buddy, she's not a wittle baybay. I'll be back when Mr. Pink, Mr. Beige & Mr. Yellow invite me again. read more

Very cool old pub style bar with craft beers. They had their 20th anniversary imperial stout when I went. Really cool looking place and nice and informed bartenders. Definitely a cool local spot to check out. The vibes read more

It's been a while since my last review of the Draught House, so I thought I'd go back and reassess the situation. Everyone is still rude. read more

Draught House is one of those local cornerstones that I've hit so many times over the years I literally thought I'd reviewed this long ago. Seems I haven't and as a little cheer is in order this holiday season, there's no better time than now to give these guys a shout out. Draught House in my opinion is best enjoyed in the spring and summer when the sun is long in the sky and the nights are found warm and dotted with fireflies. That's when the lawnchairs come out en masse and a genuine slice of Austin ends up on display. The real 'patio' such as it is here would be the blacktop, and you can wander inside, grab a pint, flip up open the hatch on your ride or throw down the gate on your truck and enjoy one under the stars with friends. The beer selection's outstanding, and I like to think in my fondest recollections, often, so too the company. An Austin staple with a rich pedigree, things don't change much here. And thank heavens for that. read more

It's all about the beer. How have I not reviewed this place? I've been coming here since I found it back in 1993 and I've been a near-weekly regular for years. The place just fires on all its beery cylinders. Shortly after moving to Austin I stumbled on this place, and loved it from the start. A couple of years later, around 1995 they added a truly "micro" brewhouse and began serving up their own beers, including a cask conditioned Trophy Bitter that took me back to my days in England. Smooth, creamy and fresh, it was a real ale like you read about. I was hooked and 16 years later I still am. The place has evolved over the years, changing its name from Draught House to Draught "HoRse" and back to to Draught "HoUse" again (keeping the same sign) and adding more taps (from the original 18, now up to 72), but the vibe is consistent. Beer is their life. It's a classic old half timbered pub building with dark wood tables and chairs inside, all carved with hundreds of names and initials of beery denizens gone before. A Great Wall of Taps stands between the guests and the beer tenders, and a full row behind the bar as well. Now that peace has been reached amongst the neighbors, the Draught House features the best beer garden in town out back, with pleasant tables under umbrellas and a parking lot that encourages dogs and tailgating--the outside of the pub is a blast. But inside some 70+ taps of local, regional, national and international craft brews are the stars of the show. Bar staff that knows beer and can help you find your favorite (if it's not too jammed at the moment--be reasonable) makes exploring new beers a lot of fun. Fresh clean beer, poured well is what you'll get here, every single time. All this, and beer BREWED on-premise as well. From a tiny brewhouse just slightly larger than the TARDIS, brewer Josh Wilson produces creative, vibrant, interesting beers in a variety of styles, and they are consistently delightful brews. The bar offers light snacks, including pizza, calzone and quesadilla, but no one will ever mistake it for a restaurant. Unless, like me, you consider beer a food group. Come early, line up at the center of the bar to order, grab a pint of tasty brew and sit outside with beer loving friends and four-legged companions and thank your lucky stars you live in Austin. read more

Could this be the best bar in all of Austin? Here are some reasons why I think so: #1: It's pretty much impossible to find. To me, if a business is thriving that's located off the beaten path it means A) people are finding out about through word of mouth and B) that their customer base is extremely loyal. I find both of those to be the case with Draught House. #2: It's located in a neighborhood and filled with locals. I've been to some truly great bars in my life, in some truly amazing places, but the ones I yearn for the most are the watering holes where the locals hang out. Essentially, these are the kind of bars that every bar owner wants to own and, yet, something few can truly accomplish. #3: Amazing beer selection. Tons of foreign and domestic beers on tap and, oh, did I mention DRAUGHT HOUSE NOW MAKES THEIR OWN BEER? Oh yeah, and did I also mention THEY FREQUENTLY CHANGE THEIR BEER SELECTION too? This...is...beer...heaven. #4: The "je ne sais quoi"/"umami" factor. There's that one thing--or maybe it's multiple things--that you simply cannot describe, but manage to draw you in and keep you wanting more. Is it the darts? The awesomely carved and lacquered tables inside? The amazing beer garden outside? The fantastic music selection? I don't know what it is but I want more. read more

I've gotten to the point where I no longer get excited when a friend wants to go downtown. It's a hassle, where will we park the car? Am I going to stick out if I'm not dressed slutty enough? Oh, it's your turn to pay and you're gonna go get me a Bud Lite... what a delight! Then came the wonderful evening when a friend wanted me to meet up with his group at the Draught House. He asked me if I'd been before and I was like duh, of course I've been to the Alamo Drafthouse. He then explained the difference, and I googled a map and hopped in my car. Even with the map I totally passed this place by. I think I thought it would be flashier. I am pleased it was not. I pulled up to the lot and got a little worried because I'm handicapped and the parking lot was small and full. Oh snap they had a handicap spot and it was open! Yesss. I met my friends inside at the table they had claimed. After glancing at all the things available on tap, I was overwhelmed. But the cool kind of overwhelmed, you know?. I like trying new things. We split a pitcher of something, and got to talking. It really was fantastic to be able to have conversations without feeling the need to scream over too-loud noise. Later I even got to show off my mad dart skillz. Let's just say that I'm great and no strangers felt the need to stop by and give me pointers or anything. Going to the Draught House feels like a return to basics. You'll look appropriate dressed however you feel like dressing. The bartenders are willing to help you out with your selection if you're one of those people who doesn't know anything about anything (me big time). The prices are appropriate and the atmosphere is calm and laid back. Sure going downtown can be fun, but man this place is so much better. read more

Draft House is pretty great. It's in a weird part of Austin for me. I can never quite get back there without running a stop light or missing a turn due to overgrown street signs. The bar is an awesome old house. White plaster and dark wood braces. It's awesome. Vines growing. Dim, but effective lighting. Quaint, cozy? One of those overused words that pops up too much, but you use it again regardless. The inside has been nicely turned into a bar that takes up almost the entire back wall of the home. Up top, above the bar, are several large flat screens displaying the beer selection. The hardware for the taps gleams from the above lighting. The inside seating is mostly old, wooden tables that people having furiously carved into so many times that most of it is unintelligible. The varnish is worn off in places. Cut out in others. Still manages to maintain the old home feeling. The patio is incredible. Picnic tables. Standing areas. Rope lighting. This has got to be one of the best outdoor bar areas around. If the weather is even mildly tolerable, I'd rather be sitting out there. read more

The worst bar in texas with the unfriendliest bartenders around ... not to mention, the most inedible pizza at outrageous prices ... only to have to be eaten in the chilliest of environments in the least charming neighborhood with the rudest clientele. Their beer is also terrible. All of it. And nevermind the dartboards. Nothing to see here, okay? Right, then. read more

Until I see the inside of this establishment and actually know what all is available, I don't want to go with 5-stars, you know, just in case. On Friday night, I just sat outside holding the table while my friends bought the beers. Not a bad deal for me, but I didn't get to fully experience the place. I found the outdoor area pleasant though. The tables were big enough that a pretty large group could hang out, and the heaters really did the trick. Apparently, pets are allowed here. I wonder if dogs actually like pubs though. The dog I saw seemed pretty bored and cold. I bet he'd rather have been at home curled up in his doggie bed. Oh, and the Longbow Ale, a house beer, was excellent. read more

Went here the other day and I have to say that the woman who works behind the bar has to be the rudest person I have ever spoke to. Its like being in the soup nazi episode of Seinfeld because he is short with you and when she asks what you want to drink you have the feeling you better answer now or you get nothing. I believe the only way she acts half-way decent to you is if she knows you or you give her a big tip every time you go up to the bar. My suggestion to you is to go to the guys who work their. They are more friendly and don't seem to rush you. Another beef I have with this place is the fact that they do not do pitchers of cider any more. I drink a lot of cider and sometimes the line here can get long so I find myself wanting a pitcher so I don't have to go back over and over again. I mean if I drink enough for it to be a pitcher shouldn't you just let me take a pitcher. Overall this place still hold a special place in my heart but I will say avoid the blond woman behind the bar. read more

Can someone build me an English pub to live in? Even better: make sure that it has the Draught House's selection of beer on a never ending tap and put it all down as a charitable contribution on your 2011 tax forms. That's win-win, yes? I love coming here and I don't swing by enough. My first visit here was last year ("huh? free bratwurst? where?!") and this place has held a safe spot in my heart ever since. I honestly can't say that I prefer sitting in or outside, as it's pretty easy to relax in either setting. The food on the menu is pretty decent, but the attraction here is by far their beer selection and the vibe. This is probably my most neglected favorite-places-in-town and I need to correct this error as the weather warms up. As stated in other reviews, the summer time brings more dogs and lawn chairs. It's like a backyard barbecue of best-friend-strangers where you never feel unwelcome. Draught House is a gem and luckily for us all, it's not a hidden one. read more

What's not to love about this Holy House of Hops and Barley?!?! I've been coming here regularly since moving to Austin and am never disappointed. Amazing beer selection. [Want a good laugh? Ask for a Bud Light...I dare you!] Rotating seasonal brews combined with the staples and their own craft brews [try the Cask Ale] make the options endless. I read a lot of complaints about the bar tenders...true they are the pub equivalent of Seinfeld's Soup Nazi...but this is a beer geeks Mecca. Take it with a grain of salt and be ready to order when you get to the front of the line. Great outdoor seating and tailgating [bring your folding chairs], dogs running around, diverse and friendly crowd...it's not uncommon to leave this place after making a few new friends. Although they stop serving food early, they have no problem with you bringing or having your favorite grub delivered. Nightly food and drinks specials make it a destination for any night of the week. ...oh...and of course their incredible support of local and independent breweries is always a great thing to see. read more

Er, call me a snob but I don't get it. Maybe its because I'm not much of a beer drinker (although 3 stars for having multiple forms of fruity cider on draft) or maybe its because the scene involved standing around outside with your beer dodging cars in the parking lot but I've only been here once and I feel no burning desire to return. Or maybe its because I've hit that point in life where I'd rather drink at home cause its cheaper and I don't have to worry about how I'm going to get home if I accidently drank half a bottle of wine while eating Indian takeaway and watching Wife Swap on Tivo on a Friday night. Yeah, I'm lame, I know. But there are others out there who are probably reading this and going, "yeah, me too." Unless those peeps are on the more introverted blogs like livejournal or something. read more

How I'd managed to overlook writing a review for one of my favorite pubs in Austin is beyond me. I'm somewhat of a beer snob. Cocktails have their time and place, but given the choice, I'll always choose a good beer over the alternative. With the spike in popularity of craft beer and homebrew in Austin, lots of places have been popping up purporting to have a beer selection that can't be matched. Few places actually live up to this self-imposed hype. The Draught House is a different animal altogether - it doesn't need to hype itself. It doesn't offer froo-froo drinks - just honest beer for working men and women needing to quench their thirst after a long day of...I dunno...moving heavy crates and driving forklifts around a generic factory floor. Or hell..any job anyone does, really. The doors are open to all. Which sometimes is a shame because the place gets woefully crowded due to its popularity. Sadly I've overheard several people crowding the interior that they "don't even like beer - I'll just have a cider or something". Charlatans! You cram yourself into one of the finest public houses in Austin catering to beer lovers and you're only there because it's close or a friend is meeting you there? Have you no decency?! Go. To. Central. Market. Around. The. Corner. Sit in their cafe and drink coffee or wine or soymilk for all I care and prattle on about your new Guchi bag or shoes or...whatever... - just go be somewhere else. Let the folks truly wanting to be there take your place in line or at the table you're sprawled out on - saving three or four seats for people who will never arrive because they hate beer, too, but had the common sense to go some place where they actually want to drink the drinks. Rise up, fellow beer lovers! Cast out the interlopers! Stop inviting your friends that don't drink beer to crowd the place with their negativity! Es lebe die Revolution, meine Brüder und Schwestern! Es lebe die Freiheit, Bier in Ruhe genießen! read more

If what you are looking for is a vast range of beer choices, then this is the place for you. I can guarantee you there will be something you'll love here as they have dozens and dozens of beers on taps from a wide range of breweries both local and national. If you are into trying different beers, definitely always go for the flights as this is the best way to try more. There are plenty of tables inside and outside and seem like a really nice place to bring all your friends along. read more

This is the best selection of beer in Austin, and the best just beer joint. The patio is amazingly comfortable. I cant help but love this place. The atmosphere here is amazingly laid back, I know lots of people who would consider this a beer snob bar and they all still feel perfectly comfortable here. The only thing bad about the place is that I live so far away. I do wish they sold liquor so I could get a few snorts of whiskey with my beers, I'd say not selling liquor is the only thing that keeps them from having a perfect score! read more

This is a magical pub for me: the first few times I've been there I've always caught glimpse of a firefly. I lived off Riverside for two years and not once saw one of these little guys, but for the Rosedale area I suppose this is normal. Regardless, I will now refer to them as fairies. Sitting at the bar on a slow Monday night, Draughthouse reminded me of an empty pub in Hot Fuzz, just WAITING for the bartendress to pop up with a shotgun... any moment now... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juYLc8pCJ_o&feature=related Truth be told my bartendress was a lady of all kinds of cool, and served her pints like a pro. I tried the Woodchuck Granny Cider (almost as clear as water but pretty sweet) & Vanilla Port (grimace). The outdoor seating is scarce, but use what you find: a bench, log, curb, car hood and all will be well. Went back for their free pizza Wednesdays with three friends and made them all happy. I found a new favorite Hefeweizen that's smooth and not too sweet - try the Franziskaner, 'tis a goodie. The pizza tasted substantially better BECAUSE it was free, and the patrons here are pretty friendly and accommodating. Felt like you could sit down at their table and bump beers all night, like old pals. What a pub should be. read more

The Draught House Pub (or if you are an old timer then you can call it the Draught Horse) is an Austin Classic. Great selection of beers (about 63 of them). Great group of bartenders. There isn't much of a happy hour at the DH - I think that you save something like 50 cents until 7PM. They have a different special each night though- Monday - Guiness/Murphy's (until 11PM) Tuesday - Pint night (until 11PM) Wednesday - Free Pizza (while it lasts. Usually only til 7PM) Thursday - Home brew night (until 11PM) Friday - Independence Ale (until 11PM) Saturday - Free Bratwurst (5-7PM) Sunday - Discounted American beers. A great neighborhood pub. When the weather is nice, there generally are more people hanging out in the parking lot than inside. They have a minimal appetizer menu until 8PM with things like nachos, chips & salsa, pizza, calzone, ... If you are hungry then best to have some food delivered. Mangias is my favorite; they deliver until about 10:30PM. Lots of locals hanging out - the place reminds me of Cheers. read more

This old pub is celebrating 40 years of serving beer. I was a club goer, punk dive frequenter, lounge bar aficionado, and now I will go to any bar that promises good service and a pleasant atmosphere. This bar has been a staple of mine for years because pubs have their own style, they don't depend on the musical genres that have been booked. So no matter what musical mode I was in, I could always count on this place just being a good bar. It's a comfortable place where jeans and a t-shirt are never looked down on, where you can sit in your lawn chair with your dog by your side like so many people have done since Draught Horse's inception. Did you know the bar used to be called the Draught Horse? Sounds like a flashback to the good-ole-days. I promise I won't go there. But if you ask one of the regulars, he will certainly regale you with stories of the late sixties like they have for me. You could even hear some of the same stories, beer has a funny way of making people tell the same stories over and over... The best thing here, of course, is the beer. With more taps than I would care to count, I can count on the fact that there will always be a beer that is waiting to be discovered by my adventurous palate. Every kind of beer you would want, on tap, served with a friendly nod and a thank you. This kind of bar is time-tested and will see the 22nd century, I'm confident of that. The English-style pub has been around longer than anyone you know has been alive, and will be around long after we're gone. If tradition is something you admire, come here to soak up suds and listen for the same stories that have been bouncing off these walls for years, told by the same old souls in a slurred voice. You'll feel like you are part of the tradition. Come here enough times and you can hear the stories again. read more

This is my experience here on Wed night at the Draught House. Me and a bud were sipping on a brew outside and WTF...I see a dude on a beat up bicycle towing a little trailer behind him with a frick'in stereo blaring "C'mon Eileen" into the parking lot and up to the place. And right behind him comes like 12 other bicyclist in tow. OMG it was the most awesome thing i have seen in years. So i went up to one of these spirited individuals and simply congratulated him and them on their intro. He told me that this was their regular Wed night pub crawl routine. And then the next thing he did totally floored me. This complete stranger invited me to join them on there next Wed bike pub crawl tour. Now folks...thats good ole time Austin friendliness, weirdness and just a damn good time attitude. And if you listen to some folks around here about how bad they think we suck...well ? Holy crap !...i thanked that man this night for renewing my love for this city and reassuring me that Austin still can be and still is Austin, despite all the individuals here who can only drink their Hateorade for this city. Oh! forgive me for a moment there. The Draught House offered up not only some wonderful beers but great people watching and chatting opportunities. I enjoyed several local Hefe's, IPA's and a Vanilla Porter (yeah, i know). Very full crowd for a Wed night i thought but heck, maybe its like this every night. And i cant say that if i still lived in deep Austin that i would not be right on top of my bicycle every Wed evening as well. Cause this is what Austin and our great local bars can be. Inviting, friendly, fun and just plain old good times with good folks. For the Austin Hateorade drinkers out there...drop by some time. See what you are missing. But be warned...they aint serving what you are used to drinking. read more

Yesterday's 41st Anniversary Party was my first exposure to the Draft House. All in all I liked it. I got to try a variety of beers none of which disappointed. I'm a total dilettante when it comes to beer, but since I hate wine now I'm eager to learn more. I'll have to come back here when they aren't having a celebration to see how it normally is. I was a bit put off by the bartender inside as she seemed totally flustered by the goings on outside. I suppose that's understandable, but after hearing her almost meltdown at a few people who dared to ask her about the $10/glass/4 beer thing which was the reason I'd assume 99% of everyone was there for yesterday - I was ready to leave. Fortunately, my awesome partner in all things food and beverage arrived and then the afternoon took on a life of its own. This has to be my LEAST useful review yet. read more

My love for beer has had some unfortunate side effects including a need for an elastic waist band on most of my skirts and a very sad dent in my already depressing paycheck. Those side effects however are not enough for me to stop looking for places to drink beer and beers to drink, although my cardio hour at the gym has turned into two hour cardio and I find myself taking shifts at work I didn't know existed. I used to prefer to drink at home with my friends, mainly because all the bars close to us were overrun by this crowd or that crowd. We grew tired of my green shag carpet and insatiable desire to play WOW drunk and I was dragged out of my front door kicking and screaming into the night. I quickly grabbed all the garlic in my fridge and carried along a few stakes, maybe it was my recent Buffy Marathon (that truly went on for a month of Buffy straight) but I was convinced we would be overrun with hipsters, jocks, nerds and frankly I was afraid. My group of friends and I don't really fit in anywhere and I was tired of being mocked and sticking out like a sore thumb at other pubs. Upon entering the noisy Pub I stayed close to the wall waiting for a large group of vampires or hipsters to appear. I soon realized that everyone there was a sprinkle of this and a sprinkle of that. I was still skeptical but decided to give it a go. Being the girly, girl I am I took the most fruity sounding house beer 'Amber Waves' and immediately I was in love. The place could have been overrun with 200 'Steve Holts' and I would have enjoyed my beer just the same. Luckily that didn't happen either. We found ourselves sitting outside enjoying the diverse crowd commenting on the friendly bartender who cracked jokes at my height (I'm only 4'10"). After 3 more beers I was relieved this place was in walking distance to my house and I was also happy to see my bike still attached in one piece on the rack. I unchained my bike and had a sweetheart walk home with the love of my life... my bike. All the way home we talked about what a lovely place the Draught House was and how we had to visit again. We have, several times, and each time was just as awesome or better. read more

Although I've only been once, Draught House doesn't play around. This bar is simple and to the point. They've got a great selection of beers on tap, and they have specials every night. I love Sunday because it brings Texas' craft beers at $3/pint. There's plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, definitely not the most comfortable, but a great place for groups of people. I wasn't here when the lines were super long, but I can imagine the rush and the long lines. You should have a good idea of the type of beers you enjoy/are interested in when coming here.. Tip: keep up with them on Twitter so you can find out any special beers they're tapping or the different food carts that're coming in to serve. read more

I might be the only person in Austin who wasn't totally "Wowed" by this place. I checked it out after seeing all the positive reviews here on Yelp. Its not that it isn't an incredible place; and who can laugh at such a great beer selection. I think it just might not be the perfect spot for me. Its really loud inside and outside can be hard to navigate with all the people in lawn chairs tail-gating at their cars. (on a Wednesday, seriously?) I'm going to give it another shot though, because not many people carry such a great selection of local beers. If anyone has a good suggestion of something to try next time, feel free to let me know. I will stress that the bartenders were knowledgeable and friendly, parking is a little sparse, and I personally think it may be a little pricey for the setting. read more

Let's just say it: Draught House Pub is a townie bar. Of course, that's not always a bad thing. We can walk here, which is a plus, and our doggie likes to come along and sniff other doggies, get attention and steal peanuts. The outdoor seating is nice in summer, if you can get a seat - on a warm night, they're gone by about 6. Other patrons go the tailgating route, and the parking lot is always full of giant trucks with old dudes in khaki shorts sitting in lawn chairs sipping brews. The drunk driving potential is kind of disturbing when you think about it. Draught House is great if you like craft beer and enjoy trying new things. It's always nice to get local beer on tap as well. But it's a laid-back bar, and if it's an exciting Saturday night you're after, best head somewhere else. read more

We were finishing up our pints at Cuatro's, when turtle s mentioned the Draught House for a pint. Since we have not been there in years, it was a good suggestion. We arrived, to find the doors closed, they open at three, and so we just visited outside with our buds. The doors opened soon enough, and we walked into the wonderful, dark, wood interior. I ordered a pint of the Austin Wave is it..? It was their brew, and it was quite yummy. Sat down with my Chelsea mates, had a nice time, it was really cool, (AC Cold) well and cool, (Hip Way), which all made for a great late afternoon soiree. It has a unique charm to it, and a very loyal patron following. We left and I had to return since I left my credit card with the bartender. When I returned, there was quite a fun little parking lot scene going on, with neighbors dogs and friends all sitting and gathering outside. When I came back up to the front door, turtle s was holding court, and mentioned that I had left my credit card, I smiled walked in and the bartender saw me and immediately gave it back to me and wished me well. Everybody was smiling and shaking my hand, it was quite a "Cheers" moment. Until I woke up this morning and checked my bank balance.. it seemed I bought the entire bar a round on my tab.... Ok not...it was a fun place though.. read more

Yelp's First Round Draught Pick! This Weekly Yelp brought to you by Draught House and the great city of Austin. Trying to catch a cold draft? Don't sweat the long lines, Paul S. optimistically notes that "the line makes the ordering process fair, no more competing with other people for the attention of the bartender." I admit that it was a bit nerve-wracking to have to choose just 1 beer from the hundreds offered with a line of thirsty strangers on your back but the bartenders were calm, friendly, and happy to let you (quickly) sample beers. Is it draughty in here? Step outside to enjoy the dog-friendly space or head over to the blacktop which Kevin N. has dubbed "the real patio." Keyla R. describes this friendly parking lot as a "tailgaters paradise" and I suggest bringing your own lawn chair for additional seating. Always wanted to try draughting behind a truck? Food trucks rotate through here so don't worry about showing up hungry. There have been verified sightings of Yume Burger and The Seedling Truck serving up good grub to go with all that delicious beer. Looking for some solid draught picks? The crowd at Draught House is what really makes this place stand out. Errol M. sums it up perfectly when he says "what makes Draught House special is how it attracts and embodies everything that we love about Austin: old school and new school, black dresses and jeans, Beamers and Priuses - it's all good here." So make some new friends, split a pitcher, and come one, come all. And finally, we couldn't complete this draught without one final tip from our favorite Yelper. Alison L. is a big fan of the self-serve water station, she suggests bringing a reusable water bottle to cut down on the plastic cup waste - it's the Austiny thing to do. read more

I think I'll stay in... But we are at the Draught House I'm out the door now Do you know what I mean by unconditional love? The kind where you and your lover can do no wrong...even though you both know you do. That's the love I have for the Draught House. It's not the snazziest of joints. Sometimes the music is down right horrible (especially at closing time and they want you to go!). There isn't a lot of seating.... But it feels like home with it's old wooden bar and row of taps. The heavily carved tables and now "Biergarten", the sea of folding chairs in the parking lot, even the old ass urinal that looks like a clowns mouth... Sometimes the jukebox seems to read your mind or you are so engrossed in conversation it doesn't matter. The sharp tongues of the coolest bartenders (they don't tolerate jack-asses and if you are a Reg. that's acting like a jack-ass they'll let you know). The pluses far out weight the minuses...and in truth the negatives keep the douche bag factor low. Ok, enough walking down memory lane. Here is what you need to know. It's a bit of the beaten path. It'll be the furthest bar south on your Burnet crawl. There is only one 18" TV in a far corner, so not where you want to go to watch the game. They have a lot of beers and a good amount rotate. The prices are reasonable (and get down right cheap if you get into the bar's good graces, if you know what I mean). All the outside tables have heaters and there is a nice outdoor bar (for resting, not actually serving) so hot or cold it's a great place. Keep a few folding chairs in your trunk in case the tables are full it's cool to plop down and turn on your car tunes and chill with your friends and a few pitchers... Hey no one is perfect, but when you find someone that can love you for your imperfections and you they...well it's a beautiful thing read more

I thought the Draught House was my little secret. Apparently not with all the reviews of this great place...or maybe the yelpers just think alike. We discovered this low key pub my sophomore year of college. Oh brother, has it already been eight years??? I guess so. There are so many beers on tap that we discussed meeting every week and trying every single beer before we graduated. Although that did not happen, this became a regular spot for me throughout my tenure in Austin. If you are looking for a chill place with a huge variety of beers with a crowd from hippie to preppy, then search (you may want to googlemap it, because it can be hard to find) for the Draught House, pull up a chair, bench or tailgate and go to town. read more

2012 was a year of change for me and I am on my way to being better than ever! I revamped my online dating profile in a search of finding love again. Before I knew it I was juggling dates like KHRAZY! This was one of my fave spots to meet dates.Great micro beer selection. If there's one thing I love more than smokes it's micro-beers! Nice outdoor patio, and nice darkly lit interior. Those online dates don't need to see all my sun damage too soon. LOL!!! I realized after a few incidents that I won't delve into that I need to take another break from online dating. I am a work in progress! But part of that progress will now include nights out at this great pub. They have ginger beer that was DAYUM good! read more

Pros: -Great beer selection -Pitchers. -Very laidback & awesome customers. -You can bring your dogs (outside) Cons: -The lady serving beer was very unfriendly - in fact she ignored half my order (tried to get food) and kept rushing us -It looked like you really have to bring your own seats -The prices were not terrible, but you're not going to find a deal here. -Parking was not good The only reason this place is getting 4 stars is because I can bring my dogs. I know I'll catch a lot of flak for this, but I'd rather spend my money at the Flying Saucer though - $2 mystery beers on Thursdays, better service, seats, parking, etc. read more

Take: 1 friend + 1 dog Add other friend + one chair + more dogs + good company= the draught house read more

Not pretentious but very English! A delightful little pub with the quirkiness of Austin rolled into one. How else do you explain a place you sit on BYO-chairs in the parking lot underneath a dentist's office that closes promptly at 5 pm so the drinks start flowing? My dog loves it as he gets lots of attention but can still chill with us outside. My husband loves it b/c he doesn't get bothered and likes the bartender's suggestions when he says things like, "I like an IPA, whatdaya got today?" and then relishes the mystery pint placed in front of him. I love it b/c it has the essential beers i like when the mood hits. But they literally have probably the most beer on tap in Austin. Definitely the most beer on tap in the coolest environment and hey, they even serve free food from time to time. A fabulous place! read more

I had a wonderful time here few nights back. We got there around 7 (tues night) and snagged a table outside, and I'm happy we did. By the time we left around 10ish the place was packed. People sitting in lawn chairs in the lot, standing around the door, sitting on cars. They have a good selection of beer and a nice atmosphere. I did find the female bartender to be a little.... short with other patrons and my self, I know this place can get crazy but at the time they weren't really that busy. A dog friendly patio is always a plus for me. read more

This place has a great character, but it's ALWAYS crowded. That's not their fault - it's a small space. I just don't understand why it's so popular with all its drawbacks. Namely: beers here are pricey. Dude, I know it's "extra premium lager" or whatever, but I can get the same thing elsewhere for cheaper. The kitchen has weird hours. We came in on a Sunday afternoon for beer and a snack, only to be told the kitchen didn't open for another hour. That wasn't so strange, but the next time we came in, at 7PM, we were told the kitchen wasn't open! So my question to these guys is - when IS your kitchen open? Between the hours of "whenever Sydney doesn't frequent our bar"? But worst of all, the bartenders are rude. I have been here on multiple occasions and have yet to experience service that is anything more than civil. If I'm going to pay extra to drink a specialty beer in your little house, I would appreciate your treating me like a person and not the creature from the black lagoon. But truthfully: we love beer so much that we would probably come here more often if the service was better. In short: I bring my out of town friends here, because it's an Austin institution (and the Dallas-ites love it), but I rarely frequent this place on my own. There are lots of less expensive places with just as much character and better service. read more

If you want beer, this is the place to be. They have a mindboggling draft beer list. Pros: This place is totally unpretentious. You don't feel like the crowd is looking you up and down -- the vibe is just relaxed and friendly. BYOD (dog) and BYOCC (camp chairs) and hang out in the parking lot. I really like their house brews on Thursdays. Extra bonus points for the staff being supernice to people coming over after work from the hospital up the road :) Cons: Bathroom sucks. Indoors usually smells kind of like rancid beer. Apparently the bartenders have a bit of a "Beer Nazi" reputation, although I have not personally experienced it.... but don't take all night making up your mind about what to order!! It's a small place... the packed-out parking lot scene is cool, but standing around in a circle for too long makes your feet hurt. read more

Many many days and nights have passed while hanging out in the dungy indoors, drinking and catching up with friends; hanging out outside where the dogs sniff each other, and people are friendly. It's one of my favorite beer places in Austin. It's got the perfect ambiance... not too divey, not too fancy; not too clean, not too dirty; not too cozy, not too open. It's just what it needs to be. Draught House, don't you go changing on me. We'll have a guaranteed throw-down. I promise you, I will win. read more

Every time that I have been here the lines are waaaaay too long and the bartenders act like they are doing you a favor for finally being able to pour your draft...just downright d$%ks! I used to live right behind this place and I would actually get in my car to go elsewhere. No thanks guys... read more

The Draught House is my favorite place to drink in Austin, hands down. Keep in mind that beer is my favorite drink, though--you won't find any other forms of alcohol at this pub! It's beer and cider only. First of all, the selection here is always extensive and well-selected. When I lived nearby, I came here every week, and there was almost always a new beer for me to try. When the line is short, you can request a taste of a beer before you commit to a full pint. The interior is dark and smells exactly like the pubs I've been to in the UK. I never drink inside, because the beer garden is comfortable and isn't subject to the jukebox tunes. You can also tailgate or bring your own lawn chairs for the front parking lot, a great idea on crowded Friday and Saturday nights and on Saturday afternoons when there are free beer brats being served. Most of the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable, although few of them are markedly friendly and not all are willing to dispense beer advice. The antisocial tendencies are most pronounced in the Draught House's female barkeeps, which disappoints me; it would be cool to have a fellow female beer enthusiast behind the bar. As it is, the male bartenders are your best bet if you don't know exactly what you want to order, especially the blonde guy in the ball cap. He isn't working every night, but I enjoy my Draught House experience best when he's behind the bar. [Does anyone know his name?] The Draught House's own brews (yes, they brew too) are generally very good, and on Thursdays they're only $2.75/pint. The Sunburst American Pale Ale is my favorite. The food here is mediocre bar food. I wouldn't recommend it. I'm not marking the place down for that, though, because no one goes here to eat and no one should. The Draught House doesn't mind if you bring food with you to eat in the beer garden, nor do they mind if you have food delivered. When I had a birthday party here, I brought cupcakes and a pie; on other occasions I've ordered pizzas and sandwiches. All of the special events I've come to--anniversary celebrations, St. Patrick's Day, brewer visits, cheese pairings, etc.--have been great times. The cheapest night to drink here is Tuesday, when the majority of pints, both Draught House-brewed and otherwise, are up for $2.75. One caveat: there is only one women's toilet, and the line gets painfully long on crowded nights! Adjust accordingly. read more