Beer...and beer. Did we mention beer?

Word to the wise: Loud talking and beer seem to go together, so sit outside if you plan to carry on a quiet conversation.

With more than 70 beers on tap, the Draught House has been Austin's beer-nerd headquarters since 1969. Some Draught House regulars sound like wine connoisseurs, prattling on about lemony notes and nutty finishes. But most of the multigenerational crowd just comes here for the huge variety of brewed goodness - and the hospitable atmosphere.

On Firkin Fridays, the bar serves cask-conditioned beers crafted in-house. Allowing the beer to mature in a cask, or firkin, produces a creamy, lightly carbonated ale with rich flavors. Once you've had your fill at the firkin, the Draught House's mediocre pizza actually tastes pretty good.