Acopon Brewing Co.
Four working hand pumps in the Hill Country, pulling Dark Mild, Special Bitter, Golden Ale and an ESB.1
Why go
The brewery states its own aim plainly: traditional English ale served on cask from a hand pump, with a rotating tap list that runs out to lagers and imperial IPAs for anyone who wants one.3 That is a hard format to run in Central Texas, where cask beer wants a cellar temperature and a fast turnover, and the Austin Chronicle's beer desk went out to check it: Eric Puga found four engines pouring and a screen showing English football with British commentary.1 He entered the brewery at 16 of 25 on a score of 85.4 in the 2024 power rankings, its first appearance in nine editions, and reports a gold for Karnstein in Amber and Dark Beers at the Texas Craft Brewers Cup that February. The name is glossed on the brewery's own page as a restorative, or a cordial medicine.3
Order this / avoid
- Order: whatever is on the engines. The Chronicle drank a Dark Mild, a Special Bitter, a Golden Ale and an ESB off them in one sitting.1
- Then: Karnstein, if it is pouring, which took the Amber and Dark Beers gold at the February 2024 Texas Craft Brewers Cup as the Chronicle reports it, or Gaspipes, the house session bitter.1
- Eat: off The White Hart trailer on the front patio, Thursday to Sunday. Inside the bar it is light snacks.3
- Avoid: driving out Monday to Wednesday if you want dinner with the beer. The trailer is not there.3
What locals & experts say
- The Austin Chronicle, Eric Puga (17 October 2024), in the only scored brewery ranking this city publishes: 16th of 25 on 85.4, a new entry, between Batch and Real Ale. His line on the beer is
This seven-year-old British-style brewpub sizzles with exciting styles from across the pond
, and on the cask programme,an amazing spectrum of English-style cask ales (FOUR ENGINES!)
.1 - It had not been ranked before. The 2023 edition's twenty-five were read in full and this brewery is not among them, which is what the new-entry marker means. Editions after 2024 were not read, so nothing here is a claim about them.2
- One accolade in the same paragraph is not carried. The Chronicle also reports an Untappd community award for Gaspipes. That is a user vote on an aggregator and it is not recorded as an award here.
Good to know
- When: Monday to Thursday 2pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 8pm, Sunday noon to 6pm, on the brewery's own page.3
- Where it sits: the historic Mercer Street strip in Dripping Springs, about 21 miles straight-line west of downtown Austin, and roughly six miles further out than the Fitzhugh Road breweries. Dogs are welcome and there is a patio.3
- Hygiene: Austin Public Health has no jurisdiction here, which is a different statement from no record. The Census geocoder places this address in Hays County, and the agency inspects the City of Austin, unincorporated Travis County and parts of Williamson County.4
Jeff's take (his words)
I named this brewery when I asked for a Dripping Springs day trip.
Verdict
could-visit — Four working hand pumps in the Texas Hill Country, pulling Dark Mild, Special Bitter, Golden Ale and an ESB when the Austin Chronicle's Eric Puga drank there, which is a format almost nobody else in this metro attempts. He entered it at 16 of 25 on a score of 85.4 in the 2024 power rankings, a genuine new placing, and Karnstein took gold in Amber and Dark Beers at the February 2024 Texas Craft Brewers Cup as he reports it. The brewery describes itself as specialising in traditional English ale served on cask from a hand pump, with a rotating list running out to imperial IPAs. Food is a trailer on the front patio, Thursday to Sunday, so a Monday visit is a drinking visit.