Editor's Note: With a new craft beer spot popping up in San Antonio seemingly every month, we've started a new column to track all things beer in Alamo City. Here's our roundup of everything that's brewing in San Antonio.
Openings
Based in Chula Vista, California,Novo Brazil Brewing Co. said it plans to open four new locations in 2023: three in California, and one in north central San Antonio. According to San Diego Beer News, Novo Brazil looks to occupy 10,000 square feet of space at North Star Mall. An artist’s rendering has been provided, but no opening date or other details are available. Founder Tiago Carneiro told San Diego Beer News that San Antonio offers a prime opportunity at expansion outside of Southern California: “San Antonio is a city with a lot of potential for a brand like Novo to provide great food and high-quality beers."
The Growler Exchange, a popular Alamo Heights craft beer bar which celebrated its seventh anniversary on March 25, plans to open a second location at 914 E. Elmira St. According to a recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, the Growler Exchange will begin a four-month renovation project in early April at a small commercial building that contains a Black Swan Yoga, among other small businesses and vacant spaces. The building is located off North St. Mary’s Street, near downtown San Antonio and Man Overboard Brewing Co.
New Braunfels’ Faust Brewing Co. is making a triumphant return after closing its brewery, biergarten, and tasting room to the public in spring 2020 during the pandemic. Three years later, Faust is revealing a renovated brewery, biergarten, and tasting room at an April 1 event. Faust Brewing has undergone some major changes since spring 2020, including ending its longtime partnership with New Braunfels’ Faust Hotel, the result of new hotel ownership taking over. Former hotel owner Vance Hinton has since consolidated beer production at the brewing site at 499 S. Castell Ave., which opened in 2016. The expanded and enhanced Faust Brewing location now includes a large live music stage, a renovated tasting room, a food trailer, and the ability to book private events. But that's not all: Faust Brewing also plans to build out the rest of its property with a coffee shop and a restaurant.
Other beer news and notes
Free Roam Brewing Co. in Boerne introduced a new motivational series in February. Held every third Thursday from 6-8 pm, Men’s Night at Free Roam features an inspirational presentation from a guest speaker. Brewery representatives say Men’s Night is open to males ages 13 and up, and provides “a sense of community and camaraderie in a safe space where guys can just be guys. The February edition of Men’s Night featured motivational speaker and author John Lynch; the March edition included former Spurs star Bruce Bowen, who is now a motivational speaker and a community basketball coach.
Local actor Jensen Ackles of Supernatural and The Boys fame — and co-owner of Dripping Springs’ Family Business Beer Co. — is using his social media platform to rally beer fans in favor of some recently filed state legislation. He shared a video on Instagram about Senate Bill 752, which if passed would let Texas breweries and brewpubs deliver beer directly or indirectly to the homes of consumers in Texas or nationwide. Ackles promoted a petition being offered by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild’s Craft Political Action Committee, which says current state laws that permit wineries, retailers, and third-party apps to deliver their beverage products should also cover Texas beer producers.
