New Brews: Koko’s Bavarian
Texas Twists on German Staples
Words by Abby L. Johnson Photos by Will Bowling & Mackenzie Smith Kelley
The brew community is growing in East Austin with the addition of a charming new biergarten and brewery.
Named for partner and real-life Bavarian prince Konstantin Prinz von Bayern (aka Koko), the authenticity of Koko’s German fare is difficult to question with such a prestigious name backing the venture. Head brewer Katie Lowe, though, may just be the true star of Koko’s Brewery and Biergarten.
Each of Koko’s house brews is carefully created on-site under Katie’s watch. Just to the side of the spacious outdoor area, which has room for an impressive 400 visitors, is where her brewing magic happens. The modestly-sized operation turns out a surprisingly large amount of options, thanks to Katie’s expertise. Traditional German-style beers like the Lager, Dunkel, Boch, and Kolsch grace the menu, but there are touches of Austin among the offerings as well. A hazy IPA, influenced by Pinthouse Pizza’s popular Electric Jellyfish, is representative of the establishment’s attention to both historically German beers as well as the surrounding environment. For beer newbies and seasoned experts alike, their brews can be sampled by ordering a tasting flight to get a sense of the variety. Koko’s takes careful cues from its storied lineage but adds an updated, modern twist with an Austin sensibility to each of their specialties.
In addition to the excellent brews, bratwursts, pretzels, and other German snacks round out the menu. Uniquely Texas offerings like rabbit-rattlesnake brats and fried pretzels with queso stand alongside classics like German potato salad and wienerschnitzel. With the robust and comforting menu and welcoming space, Koko’s is an easy choice for a weekend hang or happy hour.
Currently Koko’s brews are only available at the biergarten; so, for now, beer fanatics will have to pop over in-person to enjoy the cold beverages, hot pretzels, and merriment found at this new neighborhood joint.
Did you know?
According to a report on brewery employee diversity published in 2019 by the Brewers Association, just 7.5% of reporting breweries employed a woman in the role of brewer. While the root cause of this disparity is up for debate, one thing is for certain. With the addition of Koko’s, the face (and taste) of craft beer is changing in East Austin.
Contact:
4715 E 5th St.
kokosbavarian.com
@kokosbavarian
