Craft beer is one of Austin’s specialties, and you’ll find it in spades at South Austin Brewery & Taproom. This cool and creative brewery offers its own distinctly Austin brews, which come complete with musical pairings in their descriptions.

The brewery recommends sipping its Six String Saison while listening to Kris Kristofferson and rocking out to Jerry Jeff Walker with a cold Kol’Beer, but it also notes that any of its well-made beers taste great while checking out a local band’s set in South Austin Brewery’s spacious taproom. Here, you’ll find a comfortable wooden bar, a red curtained stage, and even an outdoor barbecue grill that occasionally churns out juicy sausage wraps and other barbecue fare.

Beer aficionados in particular will enjoy taking a tour of the brewery, but just about everyone will enjoy sampling flights at the fun, lively bar area.

South Austin Brewery & Taproom
415 E Saint Elmo Road
Austin, TX 78745
(512) 354-BEER
www.southaustinbrewery.com

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr brownpau

A number of Yelpers swear that Patika Coffee serves the best cup of joe in Austin. That's quite a compliment for this little coffee truck, but it's not a surprise. You see, the staff at Patika are committed to brewing coffee with the precision of a scientist. Each espresso shot, cup of steamed or foamed milk, and carafe of water is heated exactly to the temperature that will bring out the beans' richest, deepest flavors, and the beans themselves are locally roasted and sourced from sustainable farms.

Try a rich, foamy cappuccino, or treat your sweet tooth to a vanilla latte. Austin locals who have grown fond of the Patika Coffee truck’s wares will be happy to know that the shop also operates a brick-and-mortar cafe in South Lamar, where the same meticulously crafted brews are available, as well as an eclectic selection of wines and delicious baked goods.

Patika Coffee
2159 South Lamar
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 535-3955
www.patikacoffee.com/southlamar
www.yelp.com/biz/patika-coffee-austin

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/Evan Blaser

Though rosemary is just a simple herb, it often becomes the major flavor in the dishes that it seasons. If you love the taste of pine-like rosemary and want to find more recipes that incorporate it, things like salts, meats, and vegetables are all perfect pairings. Check out these recipes that really let the rosemary shine!

Rosemary Chicken with Zucchini [Real Simple]
Chicken is one of the very best foods to season with fresh rosemary. This recipe creates a fast and easy dinner in just one simple step because it involves seasoning the vegetables, chicken, and potatoes beforehand and freezing them for up to three months until you're ready to cook.

Rosemary Sea Salt [Martha Stewart]
Martha Stewart’s rosemary sea salt enables you to sprinkle fresh rosemary onto just about any dish that needs a boost of flavor. All it takes is one box of kosher salt and two bunches of fresh rosemary to create a long-lasting supply of this savory seasoning.

Rosemary Roasted Potatoes [Food Network]
When it comes to herbs, why mess with a recipe that works? These roasted potatoes are one of the most commonly used rosemary recipes, but that’s because it just takes so perfect. Simply toss some small red potatoes in olive oil, salt, rosemary, and a few other common seasonings to create a versatile side dish that’s great with any meal.

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/cyclonebill