Texas Icons
January 17, 2023
The Texas Beer Industry Is Bubbling Over
We still love our Shiner, Pearl, and Lone Star, but our options are now bubbling over, thanks to hundreds of craft breweries across the state.
Libations
Your guide to Texas bars, cocktail recipes, distilleries, wineries, breweries and more
Libations
January 6, 2023
Texas’s First Nonalcoholic Bottle Shop Reflects the Shifting Culture Around Drinking
Sipple in Houston curates hundreds of nonalcoholic products, from liquor alternatives to functional beverages, including many Texas-based brands.
Libations
December 29, 2022
Texas Restaurants Are Adding Wines From This Up-and-Coming Region to Their Menus
Mexican wines haven’t had much recognition, but the tides are turning as sommeliers and shop owners struggle to keep them in stock.
Recipes
November 8, 2022
Spicy Paloma
While this cocktail is refreshing year-round, grapefruit season in Texas kicks off in the fall, making now an especially good time to enjoy it.
Libations
October 27, 2022
King Ranch Is Turning Its Invasive Mesquite Problem Into Bourbon
The legendary operation partnered with Old Forester in Kentucky to create a Texas-exclusive whiskey that benefits cattle and quail alike.
Libations
October 7, 2022
The Legend of the Avocado Margarita
An editor reflects on the impact of Austin’s Curra's Grill on her life—and its mystifying, rich, and ever-popular frozen drink.
Texas Country Reporter
September 27, 2022
Harrel’s Kingsville Pharmacy Near King Ranch Hasn’t Changed a Bit
Since 1916, the drugstore and soda fountain has maintained its retro charm and service to the community.
Libations
August 25, 2022
A West Texas Winery—Once the Largest in the State—Has Closed Up Shop
Ste. Genevieve, which debuted in the 1980s, was the pride of Fort Stockton. Now the community and the state’s wine industry mourn its loss.
Libations
July 19, 2022
Invest in Hefeweizens During This Hotter-Than-Hell Summer
The easy-drinking German beer pairs perfectly with high temps. Luckily, there are several Texas breweries making excellent versions.
Libations
July 13, 2022
The Strange, Symbiotic, Political Relationship of Two Amarillo Coffee Shops
On opposite sides of the street and the aisle, these coexisting cafes represent a lot more than just a good cup of joe to their customers.
Libations
July 1, 2022
Martin House Brewing Is At It Again With a Barbecue Sauce–Flavored Beer
The Fort Worth–based company has come out with another unusual, savory beer, this time in collaboration with Weatherford’s T&D Barbecue.
Libations
June 30, 2022
Are Age-Exclusive Bars the Way of the Future?
Two bars in San Antonio are blazing a new, mellower trail, one where being 21 and legally able to drink won't get you very far.
Libations
June 6, 2022
Texas Brewers Are Using Native Yeasts to Create Some Truly Wild Beers
San Antonio’s Community Cultures Yeast Lab—the only one of its kind in the southern U.S.—collects indigenous strains for craft breweries.
Libations
June 1, 2022
11 Texas Wines to Beat the Heat
This summer is already too . . . summery. Cool down with citrusy whites or cherry reds that will take you from poolside to grillside.
Libations
May 25, 2022
Who’s Allowed to Make Sotol?
A group of Mexican sotoleros, an activist, and some Mexican government officials take issue with Texas-based producers of the rising spirit.
Libations
May 12, 2022
Step Into the Wild, Wild World of Fermentation at This Festival
Taking place May 14–15, the Wild World Festival sets up in Austin to showcase natural wines, kombucha, and other “science fair” drinks.
Libations
April 25, 2022
For Beer That Tastes Like Texas, Go “Farm to Glass”
These six Hill Country breweries use sustainable practices and ingredients grown on-site (or very nearby) for brews and food that capture Texas’s terroir.
Society
April 1, 2022
Dallas Is Without a Leather Bar. What’s a Guy on a Leash to Do?
The Eagle, a gathering place for kinksters and activists for 25 years, closed in 2020. Now, the local leather community has an uncertain future.
Libations
March 22, 2022
West Texas Smash
Seeking to make a refreshing cocktail, Amarillo bartender Tiffany Reagan turned to an unorthodox ingredient growing in her garden.
Style & Design
March 3, 2022
The 76-Year-Old Party Boy With 1,500 Cocktail Shakers
When not on display at the Dallas Museum of Art, Walter Erwin’s beloved collection lives in a custom-built addition to his home.
Libations
February 14, 2022
What to Drink Now: The Best New Texas Beers, Wines, and Spirits
Even during the worst of times, Texas keeps producing top-flight beverages.
Libations
January 11, 2022
Three Texas Brands Pay Homage to the Spirits of the Desert
These iterations of tequila, pechuga, and sotol—all made from desert plants found in Texas and Mexico—are indicative of the trans-border spirit.
Libations
January 5, 2022
Troy Aikman’s Light Beer, Eight, Is Available Only in Texas
We cracked open a cold one with the former Cowboy to learn about his latest business venture, a beer aimed at the calorie conscious.
Recipes
December 9, 2021
The World’s Easiest Winter Cocktail
The one caveat? You have to use fresh-squeezed grapefruit juice, or fear the wrath of your local tiki expert.
Libations
November 29, 2021
A Whiskey Drinker’s Guide to the Craft Distilleries of Dallas–Fort Worth
The Metroplex is in the midst of an artisanal spirits boom, with 35 distilleries slinging locally made booze. Visit now—before the secret gets out and the lines get long.
Libations
November 19, 2021
Escape to the Tropics at Austin’s Tiki Tatsu-Ya
Indulge in over-the-top cocktails like the Skeleton Cruise, which comes in a boat with dry ice and activates bar-wide light and sound effects.
Libations
November 12, 2021
Hey, Old Pal
This Lockhart newcomer offers classic cocktails and excellent food.
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Libations
October 27, 2021
Free-spirited: Why More Bartenders Are Mixing Cocktails Minus the Booze
Tucked somewhere between the wine list and the dessert menu, Texans are more likely than ever to find—and order—no-gronis, no-jitos, and other alcohol-free drinks.
Tacos
October 26, 2021
Urban South’s “Combo Plate” Beers Are a Drinkable Ode to Houston Tex-Mex
Don’t worry: there’s not actually taco meat brewed in.
Libations
October 22, 2021
Everything We Know About Elon Musk’s Tesla Beer
The billionaire announced the launch of Cybertruck-inspired "Giga Beer," and a Texas brewery may or may not be planning to sell it.
Recipes
October 12, 2021
Recipe: Pecan Old-fashioned
A Denton bartender created this take on a classic to appease his bourbon-loving grandmother, Joyce, with the fall flavors of salted pecan, orange, and chocolate.
Libations
September 17, 2021
Dry Creek Cafe, an Old-school Dive Bar on Lake Austin, Is Closing After 68 Years
You’ve got until October 31 to stop by for a cold one.
Libations
September 17, 2021
Tejano-Led Breweries Are Serving Up a Tex-Mex Craft Beer Revolution
With beer that reflects their heritage, new makers are winning awards—and winning over folks new to craft brews.
Best Thing In Texas
August 20, 2021
A Wine-Obsessed Austinite Wins the Viral Vineyard Job of a Lifetime
With an Elle Woods–inspired application video, Lindsay Perry bested the competition for a paid position living, learning, and drinking on a California winery.
Libations
August 19, 2021
A Beer Drinker’s Guide to the Fort Worth Ale Trail
The fifteen-stop craft brewery tour makes for a weekend to remember, if one can remember it.
Libations
August 13, 2021
‘Texas Whiskey’ Is a Fanatic’s Guide to the Good Stuff
Nico Martini's tome is part industry profile, part tasting notebook, and 100 percent—or 200-proof—Texas whiskey boosterism.
Libations
August 11, 2021
Five Canned Ranch Waters Worthy of Texan Coolers
We tried ten brands to determine which ones most resemble the actual cocktail.
Libations
July 20, 2021
This Berry-Based Cocktail Is Summer in a Glass
Meet the Under the Texas Sun, a crisp, refreshing nod to the season.
Libations
July 14, 2021
Lime Agua Fresca
This cooling, rejuvenating summer drink is made up of four ingredients that you already have at home: water, lime juice, ice, and sugar.
Libations
June 25, 2021
Shiner Prickly Pear Is the Unofficial Beer of Hot Vax Summer and Beyond
This perfect Texan beer deserves a permanent spot on the shelf.
Libations
June 23, 2021
9 Texas Gins to Drink Now
These standout bottles make the most of what Texas has to offer, including local ingredients like pecan and lavender.
Libations
June 17, 2021
A Hot and Thirsty Texan’s Guide to the Most Refreshing Shapes of Ice
When ERCOT doesn't want you to turn your thermostat below 82, frozen water is all you have.
Recipes
June 8, 2021
A Spicy Spring Cocktail With West Texas Roots
The Desert Plant & Pepper appears as soft and alluring as a glass of pink lemonade, but prepare your palate for a punch.
Libations
June 4, 2021
The Funky, Floral Rise of Orange Wine in Texas
This versatile wine is catching on, and at least one sommelier considers it to be the best pairing for Texas barbecue.
Libations
June 2, 2021
A Drunk Cook Is a Bad Look: 19 Low- and No-Alcohol Beers to Drink While Barbecuing
We implore you to stay sober enough to properly barbecue your brisket.
Libations
May 27, 2021
Garden Party! Three Cocktails Inspired by the Backyard Garden
Grab those Texas tomatoes off the vine and get to sippin’.
Libations
May 20, 2021
Smoked Beer and Whiskey Are Now Brewing in Texas
The entrepreneurs behind TexMalt, a Fort Worth–based malt processor, are the only purveyors of smoked malt in the state—for now.
Libations
May 19, 2021
13 Texas Rosés to Sip All Summer Long
Our sunbaked soils are ideal for this pink libation. Here are favorites, including traditional styles and a few on-trend variations, from a recent blind tasting.
Libations
May 17, 2021
Three Breweries That Take Their Barbecue Seriously
Craft smoked meats and craft beers come together beautifully at these San Antonio, Garland, and Corpus Christi joints.
Libations
May 17, 2021
The History of the Paloma, Summer’s Simplest Cocktail
At its core, a paloma is just tequila and Squirt, but you wouldn't know that from the elaborate iterations on Texas bar menus.