“Beer lovers in Texas have had a rough year with closures sadly outstripping openings and an increasing stylistic homogenization among those remaining. Blue Owl opened in 2015, ahead of its time by championing kettle-souring with an ambitious, delicious sour-only tap list. Headed up by co-owner and executive brewer Jeff Young, an alum of Austin’s OG incubator brewery Black Star Co-op (now sadly no more), Blue Owl’s focus on the science of sours and broad range of high-quality sour styles marked it as a must-visit for visitors and a community hub for locals. However, the decline in sour beers impacted Blue Owl. When Young and co-owner Suzy Shaffer placed the brewery on the market earlier this year, the worst was feared for one of downtown’s most unique and exciting beer spots. But new owners, brothers Tony and Ian Norris, have assuaged doubts about the brewery’s character and status. With Young remaining on board as executive brewer, the pair are keen to uphold Blue Owl’s identity, delighting fans by bringing back much-loved favorites including the Professor Black Sour Cherry Stout, Plum de Plume Plum Jam, and Orange Marmalade Sour. A stylish taproom refit, new releases in their ongoing non-sour selection including hop-forward Green Label series, an additional three-barrel production system for fresh experimental releases, on-site snack menu, and expanded events program have all come together to revitalize and re-hatch Blue Owl, where flavor-forward creativity is successfully pushing back against the norm. All hail the Blue Owl!” — Ruvani de Silva, 2024 Michael Jackson Beer Writer of the Year