On Saturday a group of Austin homebrewers invaded two Austin-area microbreweries: Thirsty Planet Brewing Company and Jester King Craft Brewery, both of which were having open houses/tours for eager beer lovers like ourselves.

The day was quite an adventure as we tried out all kinds of beers from very light wheat beers to sour stout ales and everything in between. My favorites were: Thirsty Goat Amber as well as Jester King’s Gotlandsdricka, an ale with juniper berries that was just outstanding, and Weasel Rodeo, an oatmeal stout with coffee and just a pinch of chipotle pepper, with just the tiniest bite to it.

I was really excited to check both breweries out, having discovered Jester King beer a year ago when a friend had a bunch at a party, and stumbling across Thirsty Goat Amber at a restaurant and immediately falling in love with it.

On the tour, Thirsty Planet’s head brewmeister Jake explained everything about their company and the brewing process, including how he smokes the malt for the Franklin Smoked Porter, all while drinking beer and wearing a gorilla suit. It doesn’t get much better than that!

Thirsty Planet

Jester King

Pouring the beer

Ashley and Derek

Cheers!

Black Metal

Jester King brewery

Beer me

In the brewery

Derek’s a man with the beer

Tree chandelier!

Jake Levinson Band

Now that’s some head!