Stopped in to grab a beer on the way home. Chatted with owner provided good information about his…read morebeer and kept the beer flowing. They had their own beer but also beer from other Texas places from line up they didn't have on tap. Smart. Example- he had porter and stout he made which we enjoyed. Also had a fellow IPA he didn't make. Good selection and like the place. Did not try the food.

Smithville Brewing Company was the very first brewery we went to after landing in Austin and…read moregetting our rental car! It was out in the open space and not in any town which gave it a nice country vibe. Upon entering we wanted some beer after our journey and we were hungry! For my beer choice I got a Cream Ale named 1845 SBC Premium Ale. This was a solid cream ale. Not as sweet as some that I have come across but refreshing and pleasant all the same. I felt like this beer truly hit the spot! It was sweet but also crisp and clean too as we were adjusting to the Texas heat. We tried a few other beers that were in the area as well or from Texas, guest taps. As I said we were hungry and we decided to get a pizza. I don't remeber really the exact name of it but it was a combination type that had peppers, mushrooms, tomato and sausage. We also split a beef sandwich. We were very hungry! But we left very satisfied and Smithville Brewing proved to be a good stop!

Great food! Try the flat bread! The owner/cook made the wrong flatbread for us by accident; she not…read moreonly fixed it, but gave us the first flatbread free of charge. She gave excellent customer service!

Went here last night with a friend. Absolutely charming place! The owner is an amazing chef and…read moreknows some serious wine. The food is all locally sourced and made from scratch. It was my first time in there and I will for sure be back! We shared a beet salad and the beef burger. Both were absolutely amazing. I know you'd say "oh, Julie, those aren't that big of a deal"...yes, yes it was. It was absolutely melt in your mouth burger and salad perfection. My friend said she has had almost everything on the menu and thinks it's all wonderful. I asked the chef to pick a Merlot for me...she did...it was so good! My friend had coffee and said her coffee is so good she will drive there from the next town over to get it. She also said it doesn't need anything to take away from the flavor. Often she puts sugar in her coffee, but not here! They also sell wine by the bottle and they had a few other cute local items for sale. A sign that I thought was precious said something like "my book group reads wine labels". They have tables in there, they also have a nice lounge area where you can sit comfy. Love the vibe, love the chef, 10/10!!

What started as an accidental phone call to a distillery in Luling, Texas, led me to discover a…read moreremarkable hidden gem. KC Cantwell, the self-proclaimed "Chief Bottle Washer," introduced me to Edelbrand--a European-style fruit brandy with over 6,000 years of Austrian mountain tradition. The Austrian Connection In the Alpine slopes, Edelbrand production is strictly regulated by local government. Distillers receive low taxes but can only use water, yeast, and fruit--absolutely no sugar or added flavors. Violators face license revocation, heavy fines, or imprisonment, echoing Germany's Beer Purity Law philosophy. Founder Alexandra Cantwell traveled to Austria's Alpine region, where she discovered that in the town of Stanz alone, 52 distilleries operate--each guarding family secret recipes passed down through generations. These craft producers make only about 62 gallons annually, too limited for chain stores and typically served only in local restaurants. The Austrian tax system is fascinating: officials visit each distillery during fruit season to assess harvest volume and estimate liquor yield. Since taxes are based on fruit input rather than sales, producers are incentivized to optimize their processes for maximum yield. Just before Alexandra's departure, a local master discovered her true mission--bringing Edelbrand to Texas. Intrigued, he arranged for her to be interviewed by seven masters from another village. They believed Edelbrand-making is a cultivated ability, not merely a learned skill. After passing their tests, she trained intensively for two weeks, leaving not as an apprentice but as a certified master. The Texas Operation KC and Alexandra launched their Luling distillery in 2016, sourcing only pristine fruit from across the United States--no rot, bruises, or windfalls accepted. Their fermentation process occurs in temperature-controlled rooms around 65°F. While standard fermentation lasts 3-10 days, theirs extends 3-4 weeks using temperature-sensitive Austrian yeast with multiple monitoring alarms. Distillation happens in two German-built Schmidt stills with two runs: the stripping run quickly removes alcohol and water, while the spirit run precisely separates heads, hearts, and tails to capture the purest spirit. The chemistry is complex. The fermented mash contains water, alcohols, ethers, esters, acids, sugars, tannins, and sulfur compounds. The critical second distillation has three temperature phases. The "heads" contain toxic methanol that must be removed, but this temperature range also includes desirable esters and aldehydes contributing fruity and floral aromas. Masters taste the product constantly--every hour, then every 30 minutes, then every 5 minutes, finally every 30 seconds--to capture the "heart" that's methanol-free but retains aromatic compounds. The second cut separates "heart" from "tail," which contains heavier problematic compounds like higher alcohols, fatty acids, and sulfur compounds with rubbery or rotten-egg odors. Cutting too early loses flavor compounds that provide sweetness and fruity notes. Aging Innovation After distillation, the liquor ages 7-18 months depending on batch conditions. Here's where they innovate: traditional bourbon aging can lose 20% to "angel's share," unacceptable for high-end Edelbrand. Instead of barrels, they age in stainless steel tanks with lightly toasted American white oak spiral strips soaked in the liquor. The oak amount is carefully controlled to avoid overpowering the delicate fruit aromas. The Tasting Experience I sampled six varieties: clear apple, pear, and cherry, plus their oaked versions. The apple's aroma was so pronounced I could smell it three feet away when KC opened the half-empty bottle. The clear pear showed layered complexity, while the cherry didn't initially smell like cherry but revealed its flavor after a moment in the mouth. Among the oaked versions, the apple oak opens with oak and finishes with apple; the pear oak reverses this--pear first, then oak. The cherry oak achieves beautiful balance with both flavors present throughout. Worth the Investment I spent nearly $85 that afternoon--significant for a graduate student--but felt completely satisfied. The $22 tasting, $44 clear apple bottle, taxes, and $10 tip were well worth it. KC generously spent two hours with me, a single customer, sharing his knowledge and passion. This distillery represents something special: authentic European tradition transplanted to Texas soil, where Austrian mountain craft meets American innovation. If I return, I'm definitely bringing friends for the full tasting experience.

Go here! Me and 3…read moreother guys went here for a bachelor party evening. Kasey was absolutely unbelievable, his knowledge was amazing and the lesson he gave us was amazing. The drinks are spectacular. If you are into good Brandy, check this place out. It's cheap and you will learn a lot. Alexandra's ability as a master distiller is beyond amazing and you'll learn that.

Austin Custom Winery when it was located for years in Austin, has supported the Central Texas…read moreClassic Chevy Club for years. At our functions / Car Shows and Charity functions, ACW supported us and on many occasions, fitted special wines with our Logos and Our Classic cars on the lables. Now these wine bottles are collector items. Mary,. owner of ACW could not be any sweeter. The business relocated ot Lockhart and has established themselves at a new location. They still make a great a great sellection of winjes that are free of high sulfides. Come take a trip out to Lockhart, have some great wines then go get some BBQ... Thank you Mary, You'r the Grrrreatest

I love this quiet oasis away from the chaos of other places! The Barolo is really good and I…read moregrabbed another bottle today and also picked up a Pinot Grigio. The wines do not have the chemicals that I don't think should be added. A wine should stand on its own! "Custom wine without the chemicals" Supremely good! I'm a wine snob as I was raised with it and also living and working around the world I was able to have some of the best wines in the world. No, I am not rich . Wines that are sent to the states are really jacked up in price and I was able to get what I wanted and bring it back. One thing I did learn is that you don't drink an expensive wine as a part of the meals but enjoy it on its own. I bought 2 bottles of Barolo to have with an Italian meal. It was a great fit. This little place has fulfilled the perfect fit! The lady who owns the place and makes the wine is quite nice and understand all of the above. I will be back!

Great to see them back. Thirsty goat is always the GOAT…read more This is Thirsty Goat and hops and grains that had closed in Ausitn also. Not a lot a of beer on tap yet.

We saw this new place listed on Yelp that was so new it didn't have any reviews yet. We had no idea…read morewhat to expect. "Frontier Cellars" - Is they a small retail shop selling other people's wines? What is it? We were curious. Well, someone had to be first and we were totally game. So we checked out their hours and I added a reminder it to my Outlook calendar. I am so glad I did! At first my wife was like... are we heading to the right place? We turned onto a gravel road. And if it felt like we were entering a working ranch, that could perhaps be because it is also a working ranch. But this made it the ideal setting to taste Texas wines! We were delighted to discover that they do, in fact, make their own wines. And they know what they're doing. Our favorite of their wines was produced and bottled in Hye, TX (near Fredericksburg). And they will be planting a vineyard here in Smithville, too :-) We tasted all five if their wines. Two roses, a white, a Sangiovese, and a Cab/Malbec blend. They have a great curated flight option for a great price. We also ordered two glasses of their "Big Red." And that was so good, we ordered a bottle to take with us and we joined their newsletter. We'll come back to sip wine, enjoy the view and listed to some live music. They have foods to snack on, too. We had the charcuterie. It was very nice. The meats were nice, the crackers were amazing, we enjoyed the cheese (especially the high-end parmesan) and there were great condiments including some delightful pickled Peruvian peppers. I expect that this place will become very popular very quickly!

Amazing for children & great outdoor spot. The service is amazing and the people are so kind.read more

By far the best place to find bourbon in town! The owners are super friendly and are always willing…read moreto help find what you are looking for. I've been in a few times already and always walk out with something great. They're definitely my go-to liquor store in the area!

Some of the best prices in Lockhart. Couple that with their wide selection of hard liquor and you…read morehave one of the best liquor stores in Lockhart.

Love, Love, LOVE their micheladas paired with your choice of beer & the cucumber, peanuts AND…read moreshrimp on top!! Their tomato mix is the best I've ever had - it's very flavorful, just enough spice/not too spicy, just enough tomato & citrus juice, not sweet (I don't enjoy sugar in my beer) - an absolutely yummy treat!! I've also tried their shrimp plate which is absolutely the bomb.COM! It's a tray with a generous amount of cucumber, peanuts, shrimp, topped with a couple different types of hot sauce, a squeeze of lemon juice, and tajin! If you don't get this shrimp topping on your michelada definitely get the plate on the side. You could probably eat the whole serving as a meal or share with your compadre as a little appetizer. SO GOOD! Also this place is a DRIVE-THRU and I'm obsessed! Give them a try, you definitely won't regret it!!

Omg! The shrimp dish was delicious!! For $9 and a whole lot of shrimp yesssss! I'll definitely be…read moreback. Fast, friendly and good service. Worth the drive.