Squad goals
New family-friendly brewery and Japanese food truck hop into North Austin
Local foodies increasingly flock to the east side and downtown, but North Austin is quickly becoming a hub for area beer fans. Along with breweries like 4th Tap Brewing Co-op, Celis, Circle, and Oskar Blues, all huddled within a few miles, a newcomer is hopping into the mix.
Co-owner Alex Limon tells CultureMap that Hopsquad Brewing Co. debuted December 28 with an interior inspired by midcentury Mexican beaches. The new concept offers an eclectic assortment of beer in a family- and dog-friendly space at 2307 Kramer Ln.
Alex's cousin and co-owner Cesar Limon handles the brewing duties with help from production manager and Oasis Texas Brewing Company alum Bryan Murphy. Alex says the team will not limit production by “region, style, or trend.”
“As the Hopsquad motto says, ‘anything goes.’ We plan on brewing an array of eclectic and interesting one-off beers,” says Alex.
The five core beers include a hazy pale ale, saison, IPA, pilsner, and roggenbier — a German style similar to a dunkelweizen made with rye instead of wheat. Alex also teased a few limited-edition brews including a dark Cascadian ale and a watermelon mint summer ale.
In addition to in-house beers, Hopsquad also offers a few varieties of locally owned Fairweather Cider Co. and a curated wine selection includes rose, a red blend, Cava, and Chardonnay.
The beer will be paired with offerings from Tsuke Honten, a new food truck from Kyoten Sushiko and Soto vet Michael Che. Currently, the trailer is serving a variety of Japanese street food like takoyaki and chicken wings.
At the end of January, the truck will also start offering an 11-course omakase showcasing seasonal ingredients and skewers grilled over binchōtan charcoal. Ringing in at $29 per person, it will be one of the most affordable omakase experiences in town.
Both Hopsquad and Tsuke Honten are open five days a week. Hours are Wednesday and Thursday, 3-9 pm; Friday and Saturday, noon-10 pm; and Sunday, noon-6 pm.