East Sixth Street continues to boom with nightlife options � including the upcoming Lazarus Brewing, the brainchild of pastor Christian Cryder.

He�s found two buildings at the corner of East Sixth and Chicon streets, across from Whisler�s and down the road from fellow urban brewery Zilker Brewing, to transform into a veritable beer haven. Because he has so much space to work with, he wants Lazarus to brew up a range of styles, from IPAs to wild ales.

Most notable about Lazarus is that it�s going to be what Cryder calls a �pints-on-premise operation,� a brewery that isn�t so concerned about having its beers in stores or bars.

�Our focus is not on distribution or trying to get our beer into as many places as possible,� Cryder said. �Instead, our focus is on creating a space where people really want to hang out, all through the day multiple times a week� This is the kind of brewery we fell in love with when we discovered craft beer, and we felt like it hadn�t really caught on yet in a place like Austin.�

Lazarus Brewing will have a lot to lure you in and keep you there, too, once it opens by what Cryder hopes will be October. In addition to the beer, produced from a 10-barrel system, the brewery will have house-made root beer, kombucha and espresso, as well as Topo Chico, Mexican Coke and even a selection of wines.

�We�re kind of saying, �What kind of beverages play a big part of people�s lives? and let�s create a space that brings all of those together under one roof,'� he said. �With street tacos. You can�t go wrong with great tacos.�

The benefit of having two buildings � one the former Bike Texas space, the other the old Cool Store � means that in addition to the more accessible beer styles Lazarus will have, the brewery also has room to make rarer styles that take time to come to life.

�We have a unique opportunity to create specialty beers that are much more challenging and interesting,� Cryder said. �Think sours, wilds and barrel fermented beers�� almost like a mini-Jester King right in the heart of Austin. And some of these will be high-gravity seasonals that we package in 750s and sell on premise for people to take home. �

Cryder developed his love for beer in much the same way other professional brewers have: after having an unsatisfying career in another industry. He worked in software for 14 years, he said, before deciding to change course and become a pastor. That�s around when he began homebrewing using the hops he planted in his garden � and, after partnering up with Missoula, Montana�s Big Sky Brewing to make a beer called All Souls Ale for a charity event, he realized he might be ready for another career change.

�And now it�s finally becoming a reality: the funds are raised, we have an incredible location, an even more incredible brewer, and all systems are go,� he said, adding that Lazarus is waiting another couple of weeks to announce who the brewer will be.

The name of Cryder�s brewery pays homage to his second profession � one that historically has deep roots in Old World brewing.

�It comes from the Bible � Lazarus was a guy that Jesus raised from the dead,� Cryder said. �I�like the imagery of death to life. I like the irony (modern brewing has Christian roots; I�m a pastor starting a brewery), but mostly I just think it�s a great, strong name that feels like it fits my own story. So we ran with it.�

For more information, visit lazarusbrewing.com.

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