What's Brewing: Jester King Brewery SXSW Party

Graphic Credit: Jester King

The South By Southwest (SXSW) circus is in town and everyone and their brother is throwing a party. Lots of free beer and free music being thrown about, but for the refined tastes of the FBM we go where the good beer flows.

That means leaving the friendly (and, this week, insanely crazy) confines of Austin, heading out into Hill Country, and to Jester King Craft Brewery. JK is one of Texas' newest craft breweries and at their SXSW party they debuted a new collaboration beer with Danish brewers, Mikkeller, called "Drinkin in the Sun Belt".

From the Jester King website:

"'Drinkin' in the Sun Belt' is the first of two planned collaborations between the Austin-based brewery and the world renowned Danish “gypsy brewer”, Mikkeller. “Drink’in” is very hoppy, flavorful session ale brewed with equal portions of malted barley and malted wheat, and heavily dry-hopped with citrusy, American Amarillo hops. The name and inspiration come from “Drink’in the Sun”, a beer that Mikkeller has previously brewed in Europe, using a recipe remarkably similar to one that Jester King had already used for numerous test batches, that were intended to serve as the basis for a future seasonal release."

We were also able to sample their farmhouse ale that we missed at the grand opening party, Boxer's Revenge and their dark mild ale, Commercial Suicide.

Our photos from the event:

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Photo Essay: Jester King Brewery Grand Opening Party

The Free Beer Movement had the privilege of getting an invite to the grand opening party of Austin's Jester King Brewery. When we got to the party around five it had been going strong for a few hours and figured that there'd be plenty more good times until its closing at nine.

Dozens of cars and loads of people were sitting outside the gates of the brewery's Hill Country property with one poor soul informing the crowd that the event was at capacity and the county sheriffs, along with the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, was not allowing anyone else in for the remainder of the evening.

A quick phone call to Jeffrey Stuffings (owner of Jester King) and we were in! And, really, a massive thanks to him to allow the FBM in to cover the event. Much to the disappointment to the growing hoards of people outside Jester's property we drove past.

Jester King's property is a sprawling piece of Texas Hill Country land. If you've never been to Texas Hill Country is one of the state's most beautiful parts. Rolling hills pop out from the landscape as you drive west from Austin. This place is home to Texas wine country and several other breweries (and a distillery as well).

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