The Clay Pit Indian Cusine Restaurant and Bar at 16th and Guadalupe in Austin

This is by far one of the classiest joints I have attempted to cover for this most difficult project. I estimate that there are no fewer than 1000 places in the Austin area that hold at least a beer license but finding the time, energy and spirit to seek out 365 of them is going to be hell if I keep encountering what I did today. In this very nice restaurant, that was mostly empty because I stopped at 4:15 p.m. hoping it would be, I just took pictures and videos until I was accosted by the guy at the front desk and had to explain myself. So I did, and I apologized for not asking first and all was well. When I went to another place, like a fool I asked first and the guy behind the bar was a bonehead and said no. I asked if I could just just keep the customers out of the pictures and he said no. I asked If I could just take his picture behind the bar and he said no. I would have made that place look pretty inviting if it was, but it was not, and it was a dump. Now, this place here is a frickin' gem and I'll be coming back for Dinner with some guests and I may start dropping in on the way home from work for a cocktail. Beer is a cocktail right? The bartender in this place had braided hair almost to his waist and was as cool and classy as hell, no more like heaven. It's a good vibes place and I could feel them. I remember going to this same historic building for a pizza, when it was The Red Tomato, the night before the Capitol 10,000 about 25 years ago. We sat down in the dungeon that I never got a chance to check out before they started asking questions. But, I've still got what I need for my blog just like I would have had if there wasn't a jerk behind the bar in the other place. The next time I go back if I do, I'll bring friends for cover and I won't be asking permission. But, I will apologize for not asking permission, I always do when it's necessary although most of the time it is not. By the way, Bon Appetite Magazine calls this one of the best Indian Cuisine Restaurants in America and it sure looks like it could be. My wife says it is great and I have no reason to doubt her.

http://www.claypit.com/ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOaiCLUHE7I

The Key Bar on West Sixth at Rio Grande in Austin

This is one of the newest additions to an ever expanding line up of cool bars on West Sixth Street in Austin. I had assumed that it was the front portion of Wahoo's Fish Taco and a couple of nights later a friend was equally surprised to find that it is a totally different business called the Key Bar. If they have a sign to that effect I couldn't find it but both the waitress and bartender assured me that's the name of the place. It is mostly an open air bar which is an excellent concept during warm weather but I do think that could be a problem when a norther blows into Austin. Luckily they have an enclosed area as well for just such occasions. The place was jam packed last night with a different band playing about every hour but on a typical afternoon when the sun is shining and a light breeze is blowing you would swear you were sipping your drink somewhere down in the Florida Keys, hence the name I assume. Or it could be called that because of the old Cothron's Key shaped sign around the corner that now identifies Wahoo's Fish Taco, I really don't know. It's the kind of place I could envision myself returning to frequently if they are successful. There is a lot of competition in the area and although I believe there is enough potential business for everyone to succeed, history has often proven different. I guess I'll have to wait and see, but I'm wishing them much success and I think they have a good chance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp0ek9jy48w http://www.keybaraustin.com/

Wahoo's Fish Taco between West Fifth and Sixth on Rio Grande in Austin

Wahoo's is a great place to drink a beer and have a fish taco but I passed on the latter during my visit because this is a beer joint blog and I don't care what kind of food they serve. Although if I ever were inclined to eat a fish taco this would be the place I would do it. They are fairly new to Austin and took over space that was formerly Cothron's Key Shop. This was my first time in the place as a bar but I had been there many times when I needed keys cut. The decor is California meets Austin but it is comfortable and very interesting. There are stickers stuck on almost every flat surface and they just recently added a tribute to Johnny Cash mural on the outside alley wall. The mural inside is pretty unique as well and the service is fast and friendly. The day I was there was pretty slow business wise but it was an early afternoon. On Saturday night it was packed. They are not the first fish taco place Austin has ever known but they may well be the first ones to make a success out of it. How could you not like a place where the bartender is willing to pose for a picture and they make a point of giving you some free stickers before you leave? Such was my experience and it left me with a desire to come back soon for some more beers and to maybe even try a ....fish taco? A fish taco? Oh well, keepin' it weird. That's the Austin way. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t02m-8Xp8To http://www.wahoos.com/

Meow Marc's Bar on West Sixth Street in Austin

This bar used to be a side room of the Katz's Deli in Austin. I gotta tell ya', Katz's Never Klozes but Meow does, at 2 a.m. The only real difference now is that there is a separate entrance from the street for the bar alone and the owner, Marc Katz named the place Meow as a play on words. Katz Meow, get it? It's a nice and comfortable bar, although a tad bit small compared to the other drinking establishments in the immediate vicinity, but I can remember when it was the only place to get a drink on this end of Sixth Street. Those days are gone now with Star Bar, Little Woodrow's, Wahoo, Mother Egan's, Opal Divine's, The Key Bar, Molotov, Momo's, J. Black's and others all with in a short walking distance. This is the hottest new entertainment area in Downtown Austin and, as hard as it may be to believe, there are customers enough for everybody to do a good business. Central Austin is home to the high dollar high rise condominium and the people who live in them come out at night. As with every bar downtown parking can be a problem but patrons of Katz's and Meow have a couple of free parking lots nearby that they stand a pretty good chance of scoring a space in on most nights. Of course, during SXSW all bets are off and you would do well to pay ten bucks to park and be done with it. I liked this place when it was just the bar in the restaurant and had no competition, and I like it even better now that it is merely one of a dozen beer joints that line both sides of the street. Katz's has Klass and people of discerning taste, like me, know it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqxInQubOBA

Irie Bean Coffee Bar on South Lamar Blvd. in South Austin

Today I stopped at the Irie Bean Coffee Bar because, as everyone knows, Bar means Beer. I had a Shiner 99 and I can honestly say I have never had one before. I could lie now and say I will never have one again but I know I wouldn't be fooling anyone. I like this place, I have driven past it, and what used to be here, for a quarter of a century and today is the first time I stopped in. Why, you ask? Because they sell beer, dumb ass, that's what this whole blog is about. Not drinking beer just finding it, and showing y'all where it can be found, and believe me it can be found in some pretty strange and out of the way places. I know, I've already visited a bunch of them. Coffee is good too, don't get me wrong. I drink well over a quart, strong and black, every day and I might start getting some of it from here because I really do like this place. Two dollar beers during Happy Hour and I know they have free music this week because I've seen it listed on the day party web pages. I love the SXSW non affiliated functions and they are often better than the real thing, with no wristband needed. I've done it for ten years and I can never get to as many places as I want to because I wear out too quick. Like I was telling the Barista/Bartender, I don't write reviews I just blog about how a place makes me feel and I try to always say good things because I've never met a bar I didn't like and that's the honest truth. This place has fast and friendly service, a beautiful courtyard and excellent people. What else do you want...beer? They got that too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWMUry4wgSI Watch it on YouTube. http://www.iriebean.com/