ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

New Tex-Mex-style lager cracks open just in time for a sizzling summer

Big Country Organic Brewing Co. TexMex Lager

It's on shelves and in restaurants and bars now.

Photo courtesy of Big Country

Get ready for a hot new release from Big Country Organic Brewing Co. to cool you down this summer.

The latest and greatest from the only certified organic craft brewery in Texas is Big Country TexMex Lager, made with organic ingredients.

It's a bright, refreshing, Mexican-style lager that truly embodies the union of Latin and Central European cultures, paying homage to Central Texas's unique regional history.

A classic, ultra-crisp, Vienna-style lager recipe gets the Texas treatment through the addition of corn and rice to bring in a touch of sweetness, and Tettnang and Saaz hops to provide a subtly spicy kick.

The light-bodied lager is the perfect addition to any summer get-togethers thanks to its mild bitterness and lightly sweet taste.

You can find Big Country TexMex Lager in six-packs of 12-ounce cans at local retailers and on draft in restaurants and bars throughout the state.

“We have an outstanding and very capable brew team, we have a certified organic production facility, and we have a dedication to making world-class organic beverages for adults,” says Big Country founder and CEO Bill Gillies. “There are a lot of great craft beers in the market, but there aren’t enough of them meeting the high standards to qualify as organic. We want to change that.”

Following the summer fun, Big Country will be releasing two more all-organic beers this fall: a West Coast-style IPA and hazy New England-style IPA.

Both brews have aromas of citrus, bold mouthfeels, and moderate-to-high bitterness. Shoppers can expect to see six-packs of Big Country IPAs in stores this July.

Thirsty for more? Learn about Big Country Organic Brewing Co. and where to find in a store near you here.

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WHOM THE BELL SOTOLS

Poolside sotol bar splashes into high-end downtown Austin hotel

Cantero Austin

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero Austin.

Austin's thirst for desert spirits may not be precisely quantifiable, but there's no doubt it is on the rise. Over the last decade, several mezcal and tequila bars have popped up throughout the city. No wonder the Line Austin is eager to enter the game with its newest nightlife offering, Cantero.

Officially open as of November 12, it's the Capital City's first bar emphasizing sotol, a sibling spirit of mezcal made with the desert spoon plant instead of agave. The chic space, decorated with Mexican modernist neutrals, opens up to the downtown property's pool.

"When planning Cantero, we knew we wanted to highlight local ingredients and Texas spirits," explained Line head of creative Stefan Merriweather in a release. "Sotol, a regional gem, stood out as something we hadn't yet encountered in a dedicated bar, and we saw an opportunity to introduce our guests to something fresh and unexpected."

Although the bar stocks other spirits, it has one of the broadest sotol collections in the region. While Mexican brands like Flor del Desierto are featured, Cantero stocks Texan trailblazers like Desert Door and Marfa Spirit Co.

Guests can enjoy sotol via standalone tastings or mixed in signature cocktails like the Yucca with Aperol, lemon cordial, habanero bitters, and soda; or the Strelitzia with ginger, lemon, and lavender-honey soda. Other liquors anchor more sippers, like the Dahlia with mezcal, green pepper, sweet corn, and smoked chili bitters.

The lounge also enjoys proximity to the Line's outpost of Veracruz All Natural. Guests can soak up the booze with the entire taco and appetizer menu from the Austin favorite, located adjacent to Cantero.

Cantero is now open from noon to 10 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am to midnight Friday through Saturday, and 10 am to 10 pm on Sunday.

Cantero Austin interior

Photo by Jade Hammer

Cantero is dedicated specifically to sotol.

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