Jester King Brewing: Austin’s Best Kid-Friendly Brewery

By Kelsey Kennedy | February 8, 2025

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I’ve visited Jester King Brewery more times than I can count, and most of those times were before I became a parent. But since bringing two little boys into the world, I can confidently call Jester King austin best kid-friendly brewery for a full afternoon of fun.

If you’re looking for something fun to do in Austin with your little ones and you have an afternoon to kill, here’s some inspiration to get you out the door to Jester King.

Jester King Brewery’s History

Jester King is a world-renowned brewery in Dripping Springs. They opened way back in 2010 because a beer nerd named Jeff Stuffings wanted to brew farmhouse ales made with wild yeast from the land. Jester King was one of the first sour beer breweries and they leaned into that concept hard! This Austin brewery quickly became known as one of the best breweries in the entire country.

(*Insert all the nerdy beer terms about spontaneous fermentation and wild yeast here* but basically, these weren’t your average blonde ales.)

Around the time of the pandemic, I noticed Jester King taking a big shift in their beer program by introducing more mainstream beers. Yes, they still make the farmhouse ales and everything funky, but you can also get a clean German pilsner, a pale ale, and even (gasp!) a hazy IPA.

No, It’s Not That Far From Austin

Sure, Jester King is technically in Dripping Springs…but it’s basically on the border of Austin and Dripping. It’s a very short drive from south Austin, and no more than 30 minutes from central Austin. Well worth the drive, in my opinion, for such a cool experience.

Things To Do At Jester King With Kids

“So what will we do besides get drunk?” Ha! First off, Austin breweries with playgrounds are not places to get you buzz on…ask anyone who has tried to watch two toddlers for the afternoon. You need your senses intact! But let me tell you about all the fun things you can do at Jester King Brewery with kids.

Playground // The playground at Jester King was designed by the same guy who made the playground at Meanwhile and the playground at Austin Beerworks - Sprinkle Valley. It’s very Texas-y with cedar wood and natural elements. It’s simple, but kids have a blast on it!

Pizza and kid-friendly eats // Jester King has some of the best pizza in Austin. They make their crust with spent grain from the brewing process, and it’s the most delicious yeasty/chewy/satisfying small pizza format I can think of. But they also have chili cheese fries, grilled cheese, INSANE chocolate chip cookies, and other menu items your kids will most likely enjoy.

Acres and acres to run // When I visit Jester King with my kids, we typically bring a soccer ball, our remote-control cars, a hula hoop, a steel Tonka Truck…basically something fun that they can use while they run around. There’s SO much space here, so kids can just go crazy and burn all that energy.

Goat farm // My favorite part of Jester King is the Nigerian Dwarf Goat farm. These little guys are just SO cute. You can purchase a day-of, on-site ticket (no need to reserve in advance) and go inside the goat pen to pet them, play with them, and feed them beer!

Goat walk // A bit different from a visit to the goat pen, a guided goat walk is an hour-long experience where you get to walk with the 75 goats through their prescribed grazing on the property and learn all about the way the goats contribute to the regenerative agriculture of Jester King.

Live music // Jester King has a pretty robust live music program. Even if you don’t seek out a particular band or concert, if you show up on the weekend you’ll most likely be treated to some live music. My kids love dancing to the bands!

Sports on the TVs // Yay! Jester King added several big TVs to their central barn, which means when there’s a major sporting event on TV, they’ll be broadcasting it at the brewery. This is obviously more of an adult activity than something fun for the kids, but depending on the age, some kids might be into this.

Very Low ABV Beer Available

Another reason I love visiting Jester King with my kids? They have some awesome low-ABV beers that I can sip on while I’m watching my children. Like I mentioned: when you’re chasing around two toddlers in a public space, you want to keep all your wits about you! This isn’t the time to be chugging a 9% hazy double IPA.

I adore their Le Petit Prince (2.9%, so basically a boozy kombucha) which is one of their slightly funkier beers. And when I want something crisp and clean, both the German Pilsner and the Rice Lager are under 5% ABV so I can enjoy a half pint at a time while I’m staying coherent for my kids.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelsey Kennedy is a native Texan and a local Austin author, photographer, and blogger with a serious obsession for all things Austin. As the creator of four Texas-focused travel websites, her work has reached over 12 million readers in 38 countries, all searching for the coolest things to do in the hottest cities in Texas. For more insider tips on the capital city, check out her bestselling travel book, Austin Food Crawls: Touring the Neighborhoods One Bite and Libation at a Time.

Other Nearby Kid-Friendly Breweries

One more great reason to visit Jester King this weekend? There are lots of other fun Dripping Springs breweries nearby to visit while you’re there. After Jester King, pack up and head just a bit down the road to Fitzhugh Brewing, another popular family-friendly brewery in Dripping. Or drive out a bit further to Vista or Ghost Note for more wide open spaces.

Ok, have I convinced you to visit Jester King Brewing with your kids yet? I hope so. And if the drive is still way too far for you, here are the best Austin breweries with playgrounds.

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