Austin mainstays Uptown Sports Club and Meanwhile Brewing Co. announce a four-part summer backyard barbecue series, bringing together chefs, Meanwhile brewmasters and live music to offer a laid-back, approachable culinary experience reminiscent of the classic summer shindig. The limited series will take place from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Aug. 2, Aug. 23, Sept. 6 and Sept. 20, with the event location rotating between Uptown Sports Club in East Austin and Meanwhile in South Austin. Tickets are on sale now and available for purchase HERE.
“Community is everything to us at Uptown, and we’re so excited to partner with our friends at Meanwhile Brewing Co. and such talented chefs to bring this backyard barbecue series to life,” said Uptown Sports Club co-owner Aaron Franklin. “We just want to bring Austinites closer together through good food, good beer and good music, and we can’t wait to do just that.”
The series will feature unique off-menu bites boasting a range of flavors from well-known local culinary talent, including Franklin, the legendary pitmaster behind Uptown Sports Club and Franklin Barbecue; pitmaster Evan Leroy of Leroy & Lewis Barbecue, who recently announced the launch of his cookbook, “New School Barbecue,” set to publish in 2026; Davis Tuner of coastal comfort food truck Huckleberry;, and chef Fiore Tedesco of neighborhood Italian restaurant L’Oca d’Oro and pizzeria Bambino. The team at Uptown Sports Club will also be providing additional grilled and cold food options at each of the four events. Desserts will be provided by scratch-made ice cream food truck Bésame and bakery Tiny Pies.
Photo credit: Kim Light Pearson
Meanwhile Brewing Co. will also launch a limited canned edition of their Custom Lager – a one-of-a-kind beer made specially for Uptown that’s been served on draft since its opening in March 2023. The American Premium Lager boasts a melody of lemon, dough and spice, pairing well with Uptown staples such as gumbo, shrimp po’boys and oysters on the half shell. In addition, each event will bring live music from local bands. Patrons at Meanwhile can enjoy the beer garden and dog-friendly outdoor event space. Guests of Uptown Sports Club, which has roots as a neighborhood dive dating back to 1893, can soak in the bustle of East Sixth Street from the historic building’s dining room or back patio.
“We’ve always wanted to make Meanwhile Brewing Co. a space where the community can come together to relax and enjoy each other’s company, and we’re lucky to share that sentiment with Uptown Sports Club,” said Meanwhile founder Will Jaquiss. “We’re excited to serve Custom Lager, our custom-made beer created with Uptown Sports and summertime in mind, alongside some great food created by really talented chefs.”
Meanwhile Brewing and Uptown Sports Club Backyard BBQ poster by Guerrilla Suit
The full schedule of events is as follows:
Friday, Aug. 2 at Meanwhile Brewing Co. – Evan Leroy of Leroy & Lewis Barbecue
Friday, Aug. 23 at Uptown Sports Club – Davis Turner of Huckleberry
Friday, Sept. 6 at Meanwhile Brewing Co. – Aaron Franklin of Uptown Sports Club and Franklin Barbecue
Friday, Sept. 20 at Uptown Sports Club – Chef Fiore Tedesco of Bambino and L’Oca d’Oro
Tickets for the series are $39 per person and can be purchased HERE. Each ticket will include two drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic), two food items and dessert from Bésame and Tiny Pies. Additional food and drink tickets can be purchased on site. This event is open to all ages, and children 12 and under eat for free. For more information about the series, please visit uptownsports.club or meanwhilebeer.com.
Terry Bunch
