Noble Rey Now Catering to Craft Beer Nerds in the Design District

Craft beer enthusiasts have a laid-back new hangout in the Design District: Located just a stone's throw from award-winning brewery Peticolas, recently opened Noble Rey Brewing Company has a taproom that's open four days a week. Founder Chris Riguolot and brewer Justin Krey lead a team of beer lovers that also includes cellar manager Tommy Miller and taproom specialists Brand Wurtz and Michelle Carrow.

Noble Rey's 26 taps are fueled by a rotating selection of beers from local friends like Bishop Cider, Community, and Lakewood, as well as stuff from Austin brewers such as Jester King and Strange Land, and beyond; expect plenty of unusual options, from a Thai-style IPA to various barrel-aged selections. There's also half-a-dozen fruit-based concoctions on tap, from cider to mead to tepache (a fermented pineapple drink).

[Photo: Noble Rey]

Another major selling point for this recent addition to the city's burgeoning craft brewery scene: All pours are priced at $5 across the board, making it downright affordable to get outside your usual drinking comfort zone. If you find a new favorite, growler fills are available to take some home. They also sell crowlers — aka big-ass cans of beer ideal for sharing with a friend or two — plus bottles and cans from other local and national brewers, though the house brews aren't being packaged for retail sale yet.

Noble Rey is gradually rolling out its own house brews; this Wednesday it's celebrating the launch of its Steampunk steam lager starting at 4 p.m. The first 50 people to buy a pint get a glass to take home, and food truck Tutta's Pizza will be on hand slinging pies. The taproom is open for business 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m. on Fridays, and Saturdays from noon to 10 p.m.