Lifestyle

A Beer, A Shot, and Maybe a Frito Pie

By Spring Sault | January 8, 2017

At a time when the local bar may be the latest conglomeration of what constitutes a hipster’s paradise, or suburban mom’s sushi stop, the Texas Hill Country proudly waves the small-town bar flag—where the jukebox plays songs of misery and gin, and all things filled with true country angst, as opposed to how your 401k is doing. As irreplaceable as apple pie, their beer is domestic, and those that go there appreciate the atmosphere (or lack thereof). No branding effort is required, and what you see is what you get. These institutes of the American beer-drinkers’ unions have thrived because they treat their customers like “one of the guys” rather than a chit on the income statement—and that’s valued. Akin to something you could put on an endangered species list, they are true diamonds in the rough. Here are five Texas Hill Country small-town bars where the beer is cold, the staff isn’t, and perhaps after a while, “…everybody knows your name…”

1. 11^th St. Cowboy Bar, Bandera