Birthday Beers: Hopfields Is Born, Jester King Is One, + The Flying Saucer Turns Four

As January continues, Austin continues to emerge from "event slumber" as news of parties and celebrations begin to flow again. For Austin's many beer lovers, this month has two great parties and one newish spot to offer that should make your month as malty or hoppy as you'd care to have it.

Just Born: Hopfields - After a soft opening in November, the French-inspired gastropub Hopfields is now fully operational just North of the UT campus. The smallish but inviting space features a distinctive menu of items like Ratatouille, a Merguez (lamb) frites sandwich, and Salade Niçoise, along with the item we tried, a Pascal Burger. During a December visit, our burger (served fast-food style in a basket and foil wrapper) was cooked perfectly, and topped with camembert, cornichons, onions, and jalapeños. It's well worth a try. The beer list remains the star attraction, though - the owners are catering to beer nerds with a well-chosen tap list that has included everything from Dogfish Head 120-minute IPA to Real Ale's Mysterium Venum to Hops and Grain's Greenhouse Porter in recent weeks. There are also plans for a small wine shop to run from the space later this year.

Turning One - Jester King: Fans of the Southwest Austin craft brewery might want to flock to buy tickets to Jester King's one-year anniversary party on January 28th, as fewer than 200 tickets remain to the event as of this writing. Brothers Jeff Stuffings and Michael Steffing will celebrate their first full year of business with an outdoor event featuring 20+ drafts (both Jester King and guest taps), a dozen local merchants including Salt & Time Charcuterie, Cuvee Coffee, and Sweet Ritual Desserts, and music from Clyde & Clem’s Whiskey Business and The Jake Levinson Band. They are also promising a limited run of gravity kegs from De Proef, Mikkeller and Ridgeway. Tickets to the event are $20.

Turning Four - The Flying Saucer: On Sunday, January 15th, The Triangle's location of Flying Saucer is four, and to celebrate, they'll be tapping beers like Deschutes Jubelale 2010, Allagash Black Ale, Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA, and Avery Brewing “Demons of Ale.” The anniversary will kick off with a breakfast for the pub's "Beerknurd" club at 10:30am, then will continue throughout the day. There is no cover charge - patrons order the "special" beers individually. Special firkins from Lagunitas, Left Hand, Green Flash, and Live Oak will also be tapped over the course of the event. For more information, visit the bar's official site.

Photo: Hopfields tap wall via the Hopfields Facebook page. Photo uncredited.

Disclosure: The author is an investor in Jester King Craft Brewery.