Hop Nuts Brewing Happy Hour. Downtown

Hop Nuts Brewing is a genuine local brewery making its beer on-site, now in the Arts District at 1120 S Main St, Suite 150. The room has that taproom feel: brewing equipment in view, games on the TVs, music kept at a level where you can talk. The crowd runs from beer nerds to neighborhood regulars who just want a fresh pint.

The happy hour, billed as Hoppy Hour, runs every day from 4 to 6pm, which makes the late afternoon the smart time to land before the after-work crowd shows up. The deal to build around is the $5 pint of Golden Ale, their most approachable pour and a clean, balanced session beer that holds up whether you know your styles or not. On top of that, you get $2 off select year-round beers, which is the cue to branch out into whatever is on tap that day, an IPA, a stout, something seasonal, without overthinking the cost.

The Arts District spot has its own setup with parking nearby, so getting in is easy. Go solo, bring a couple of friends, or post up at the bar and ask what they would pour you next. Drinking local beer that was made a few feet away is the whole point.