Monday 17th of September 2012 08:24:27 PM

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Driving up to this place, I thought I was at an outdoor beer festival. They have a small parking lot, and I saw several folks park along the street. Along with the edge of their parking lot they have hops vines growing, which is an inspiring site. The outdoor patio was completely full, with overhead fans running to help keep folks cool. The exterior patio is larger than the interior, so people constantly stream into the bar to have their pints filled before returning to the patio area. There is no kitchen inside, but outside there is a parked food truck with a small menu that seems to keep the crowd happy. The building is nearly 50 years old. The interior feel is like an English pub - friendly, dark, and inviting. The wooden dining tables are thick and marred, giving an ancient feel. There are a couple darts boards and one flat screen television. Their small brewhouse, with brick covered stainless steel brew kettle, is visible through a windowed door. Their 8-chair wooden bar has an beautiful row of 17 brass beer towers. When I visited they had only two house brews on tap (black wheat and weizen bock), but the rest of their draft selection is huge. They have about 60 beers on tap, a very impressive selection of national craft brews. With such a variety, it's a shame they don't serve sampler flights, though they are generous to offer a taste of any beer. The bar service was fast, but the size of the crowd often caused a line to form. Draught House is a fun and popular place. Cheers to good weather.

Friday 8th of July 2011 02:15:22 PM

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In my opinion, this has become the best beer bar in Austin.

Though a few taps behind Ginger Man in total, the selection, rotation and variety, in addition to consistently good on-premise brews makes this the can't miss beer destination in town.

The pub is a great half-timbered old building, with the best beer garden going outside. Plenty of communal tables and umbrellas, and the parking lot handles tailgate style spillovers with lots of folks bringing their own lawn chairs for extra seating. Inside it's all heavy wood, with tables filled with carved names gathered over many years. There is a wall of taps between the bar staff and you, making it a bit hard to see the other tap wall behind them, but a beer menu up top and helpful suggestions makes it easy to find a beer you like. Three beer engines usually include a local cask ale or two, plus one of their own brews, which are always good.

Food is snack and munch level stuff, just enough to soak up some alcohol. Service can be abrupt, especially if they are busy, but if you know what you want especially when there is a line, it helps. When it's not too jammed, beertenders are great with samples and suggestions, and always point out the 5-6 new offerings on tap.

If I could go to only one beer bar in Austin, I am pretty sure this would be my choice.

Friday 21st of January 2011 01:18:54 PM

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This is a must visit pub - the very embodiment of an Austin establishment. The beer selection is vast and if you're looking for that special something, the Draught Horse will always have it. I have never been disappointed with a beer here. Even their house brews are usually top notch.
The atmosphere is fantastic. This is not some spot in a strip mall or in a downtown building. This place has a character all its own.
Seating can be a little tough outside. You'll see people bring their own chairs - something you may want to consider. Seating inside is usually no problem on a nice day.
The staff knows their beer. There are no waiters - get in line and know what you want went you get up to the front or they may go on to the next person (there are other people waiting after all).
I have never had anything to eat there though.

Tuesday 19th of February 2008 06:54:03 PM

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This place has character coming out of its ears. On any day with reasonably good weather, the outside will be packed and the inside almost empty. People bring folding chairs, or sit on their tailgates, to enjoy the weather and the great beer. There isn't a ton of seating either way.

Beer: the house brews are good and they have a large selection of other craft brews. Prices are reasonable and the staff seems to know what they are doing. If the Gingerman has the best selection in town (and they do) than this is a fairly distant second. This is more a reflection of the insane number of beers at the Gingerman, than a dig at the Draught House.

Food: as others have noted, the food isn't stellar, but I don't go there to eat. Free pizza on Wednesdays draws a crowd, and I don't think it is worth the hassle. Stop by on a different day to get a feel for the real place. Then go get dinner up Burnet at Maru for Sushi, or Elsi's for Central American.

This place reminds me of the kind of bars I like in midwestern cities like Madison. Sniff, sniff.

Wednesday 19th of December 2007 11:21:44 AM

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Definitely a standout 'Old Austin' establishment. Off the beaten path and somewhat under the radar this bar/brewpub has character, and lots of it. Their draught selection is easily one of the 3 best in Austin with extensive selections of American Craft, German and Belgian Imports, and delicious house-brewed beers. Nearly every night they have a different happy hour special, some lasting til 11 at night. Sometimes they have free food, like on Wednesday nights there's free pizza and on Saturdays there's free sausage and kraut. The food's not stellar, but for the price? Unbeatable.
The atmosphere is fun and laid back. The crowd is diverse, ranging from old hippies to university students to the the new blood from California and wherever the hell else they all came from. The common bond is that everyone has fun at the Draught House (with the exception of the first reviewer). I've been a regular over the years and the Draught House has always been a favorite place of mine. Stop in, you'll be glad you did.

Sunday 9th of December 2007 03:05:49 PM

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The Draught House is a lively, German-styled pub, made for drinking beer, eating food and having fun. The location is almost odd; well-away from all that type of activity downtown and at the same time it does not have the "neighborhood watering hole" feel.

The beers were marginal, the food less so. I went once, just wasn't my style of place, but the clientele while I was there looked like they came frequently and they were having fun.

Annoyances: You might try this place to have gone, but there are better experiences in Austin.