Meanwhile Brewing Co. Celebrates Austin's Thriving Literary Community at Fifth Annual Lagers & Literature Book Fair

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AUSTIN, Texas (August 5, 2026) — Meanwhile Brewing Co., the award-winning craft brewery and community hub in Southeast Austin, will celebrate the city’s independent literary community at its fifth annual Lagers & Literature event on Sunday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The expansive beer garden will be transformed for the day into Austin's largest independent book fair, featuring award-winning authors, local bookstores, publishers, artists, literary organizations and more.

According to the American Booksellers Association's 2025 Annual Report, the number of independent bookstore companies in the U.S. has grown nearly 70% since 2021, while 73% of booksellers reported increased sales in 2025. Austin has been at the forefront of that resurgence, welcoming several new independent bookstores and cultivating a vibrant literary scene that continues to grow.

This year's festival features Hugo Award-winning author Robert Jackson Bennett, whose acclaimed fantasy novel The Tainted Cup earned the 2025 Hugo Award for Best Novel, alongside celebrated Austin authors Deb Olin Unferth and Lauren Hough during an afternoon of book signings presented by BookPeople.

Over 20 vendors will participate in the event, including independent bookstores, publishers, zine creators and literary nonprofits such as: BookWoman, Livra Books, Finney's Books, Lioness Books, Flutter Romance Bookstore, The Little Gay Shop, Lone Star Zine Fest, Austin Book Arts Center, Typewriter Rodeo, Inside Books Project, The Harry Ransom Center, Austin Public Library, Host Publications, Austin Used Books Collective, and many more.

In addition to browsing books and meeting authors, attendees can enjoy:

Lagers & Literature also marks the culmination of Meanwhile Brewing's summer-long community book drive, which collects children's books for BookSpring and adult books for Inside Books Project. Throughout the summer, community members are encouraged to donate books at the brewery, with donations benefiting literacy programs for children across Central Texas and expanding access to books for incarcerated Texans.

Meanwhile Brewing will mark the occasion with the fifth annual release of Bookworm, the brewery's limited-edition Lagers & Literature beer, brewed exclusively each year to celebrate Austin's literary community. The coffee cream ale (4.5% ABV) features coffee, bread and floral notes. A portion of proceeds from every Bookworm sold will benefit The Library Foundation and Inside Books Project, continuing the festival's mission of expanding access to books and supporting literacy throughout the Austin community.

Lagers & Literature is free and open to all ages.

About Meanwhile Brewing Co. The passion project of founder and brewmaster Will Jaquiss, Meanwhile operates a 15-barrel, three-vessel brewhouse, producing a lineup of highly drinkable beers, including year-round canned offerings — the widely celebrated Meanwhile Pilsner, Darlin’ Lager, Meanwhile Secret Beach San Diego Style IPA and Tender Robot Hazy IPA — as well as a rotating selection of lagers, IPAs, seasonal brews and collaborations. More than just a brewery, Meanwhile is a gathering place. A rotating selection of celebrated food trucks completes the experience, making Meanwhile a go-to destination for craft beer and community. Meanwhile Brewing Co. is one of Austin’s largest independent craft breweries. Its beers are distributed throughout Central Texas, from Georgetown to San Antonio. For more information, visit www.meanwhilebeer.com or follow @meanwhilebeer on Instagram and Facebook.