‘A love letter to Austin’: A new Rainey Street brewery wants to be an oasis
A new brewery is now open in the heart of the ever-evolving and always-bustling Rainey Street District in downtown Austin.
The folks behind The Stay Put are calling their place a "Texas Oasis," where Austinites can hang their hats.
“The people that have been in Austin have seen so much, and to have a special place to be here as a holdout, as a love letter to the reasons we love Austin, it’s important to maintain and keep that,” General Manager Amanda Carto said. “I think that’s really going to speak to people."
The Stay Put opened Nov. 17 in the former G'Raj Mahal restaurant space at 73 Rainey St. and is home to a small, 10-barrel batch system that's made to craft German, English and Czech-style brews. The brewery also offers local beers on tap and cocktails, such as the tequila and mezcal-infused Mad Dog Margarita and the Caribbean-inspired Winter Rum Punch, at its full-service bar.
Along with a friendly raccoon named Meryl that makes an occasional appearance, the 3,043-square-foot brewpub's aesthetic is a modern rustic look that's unique to the Lone Star State. Signs of Austin history are throughout its walls and taproom menu.
As a nod to its Austin roots, the brewery's fences are made from the patio of the former G’Raj Mahal, and the newly renovated patio is shaded by a 120-year-old pecan tree. The beverage menu includes several drinks named after notable Austin area swimming holes and hiking trails, such as the Pease Park Hazy Pale Ale, Sculpture Falls West Coast IPA and Krause Kolsch.
The restoration of the venue was handled by local architect Scott Magic, who added new windows, tear-drop siding and other elements to the 101-year-old single-family bungalow to create a more intimate drink experience in the main bar.
The brewery's second bar is on the patio, which is a dog-friendly, 102-seat space that's filled with communal wood tables and an open hand-washing area. And like neighboring bars in the district, The Stay Put has a laidback feel that's made for group outings or a quick break away from the nearby Lady Bird Lake Trail.
The Stay Put is from the hospitality group Pouring With Heart, which owns a number of establishments in California, Colorado and Texas, including nearby cocktail bar Half Step Bar at 75 1/2 Rainey St.
Both Carto and Director of Operations Steve Robbins oversaw the development of Stay Put, an idea that started brewing nearly a decade ago. After Pouring With Heart established Half Step, Robbins said the group talked about opening a brewery in the historic district.
“We wanted this to be very simple, with draft cocktails to the draft beers – just make it really easy,” Robbins said. “You can see it in the design. You can see it in the beverage program. So yes, we can come down here and have a fun little neighborhood vibe."
The Rainey Street area, one of downtown's oldest neighborhoods, once was home to modest bungalows that remained in the hands of families for decades. In the past 15 years, the area has transformed with surges of new development after the city rezoned it for denser development like the rest of downtown.
The area is now an entertainment district that attracts large nightlife crowds looking for a big swing on the weekends.
The district has seen more high-rise developments and fewer bungalow-style venues over the years, but Carto said Stay Put will be a continuation of the early Rainey District vibe.
“We want to continue that legacy of the old house parties that used to happen here, like the cool vibe,” Carto said. “That’s really where the name Stay Put came from. It’s a little tongue and cheek, right? But it’s like, ‘Hey, we’re actually able to be here,’ and it kind of reinforces the old Austin vibe that really made Rainey so special. And we want to continue to make that special.”
Carto said they've talked about potential food trucks and future games and events, but will be open to feedback from the community gathered at Stay Put.
“What’s important about the space is really listening to the community,” Carto said. “We just want to be open for the neighborhood and then see what comes our way. We’re open to pretty much everything.”
The new Rainey Street addition will be open seven days a week from 3 p.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday, noon to 2 a.m. Thursday to Saturday and noon to midnight on Sunday. For more information and a look at the brewery's offerings, visit stayputbrewery.com.