Jester King Brewery

Exploring scenic Texas Hill Country was a must-do on my list of activities to enjoy on a recent trip to Austin, and a visit to Jester King Brewery helped my travel companion and I do just that as well as enjoy exclusive beers made in the area.

The authentic farmhouse brewery is set on a 200-acre ranch on the edge of Texas Hill Country about 30 minutes from downtown Austin. The brewery is unique in that it uses water from its locally grown and malted grains and naturally occurring wild yeast from the flora at the brewery to ferment and create its beers. What Jester King produces is spontaneously fermented beer with a sense of place.

I’ve visited dozens of breweries across the United States, and Jester King Brewery ranks as one of my favorites not only for its delicious brews, but for its incredible scenery and outdoor setting. After parking in a crowded dirt lot, we were amazed by the facility and its rustic décor, boasting a giant barn, fire pits and picnic tables nestled under chandeliers dangling from huge trees. We stopped by the friendly tasting room, ordered several four-ounce pours and settled on a picnic bench for the afternoon. Our favorite was the Foudreweizen, a delicious farmhouse wheat beer fermented in an oak foudre.

To satisfy our hunger, we paired our sours and saisons with a pizza from neighboring Stanley’s Farmhouse Pizza. Set on the same ranch as Jester King, the eatery serves handcrafted, artisan pizza using fresh ingredients from local farms and gardens. The friendly woman behind the counter recommended the Willie pizza, and we seriously enjoyed and ate every last bite of the pie, featuring smoky brisket, creamy mozzarella, sharp cheddar cheese and tangy barbecue sauce.

I look forward to visiting Austin and Texas Hill Country again one day to enjoy Jester King’s postcard-perfect scenery and to check out the vineyard and orchard the brewery expects to open this spring.

Jester King Brewery

13186 Fitzhugh Road

Austin, TX 78736

tel 512 537 5100