Flavor Bomb

San Antonio’s beloved Twang inspires a spicy new Texas craft beer

Now you can have your Twang inside your beer!

Courtesy of Martin House Brewing Company

Those who like a little zing in their beer have a salty San Antonio-based business to thank for Texas’ newest beer sensation.

Twang, the local family-owned flavor factory known for creating “the original beer salt” and other spicy drink boosters, has teamed up with Fort Worth-based Martin House Brewing Company to release a new beer inspired by Twang, called Twang-a-Rang.

Twang-a-Rang, which Martin House describes as tasting like “a sweet mango candy with a spicy chili finish,” is brewed in Fort Worth and is now available at select retailers and bars throughout Texas, while supplies last.

“Twang is really excited to be a part of this collaboration with Martin House Brewing Company,” says Edmundo Macias, Twang’s director of marketing, via a release. “This is a great opportunity to come together with another Texas brand to create something that’s unique but also tastes great. We encourage consumers to dress the beer with Mango Chili Twangerz to give it a Latin twist.”

Brewed with mango flavoring, mango puree, and a blend of salts and spices, Twang-a-Rang has an alcohol content of 6.5 percent and emulates the sweet and spicy flavor of Mango Chili Twangerz, which inspired the beer.

Twang-a-Rang is available at San Antonio bars Growler Exchange, Park Bar at Pearl, and Faust Tavern, among others. And according to Twang, the new Twang-a-Rang beer is stocked at select retailers and bars that already carry Martin House beers throughout Texas, including many in San Antonio, Austin, Houston, and Dallas-Fort Worth. It’s also available at select H-E-B stores, Total Wine, Spec’s, Trader Joes, and is sold in six-packs for $10-$12.

“San Antonio has shown us so much love over the recent years, that it really is special to be able to team up with Twang and start a new friendship,” says Shugg Cole, Martin House Brewing’s director of marketing. “We are looking forward to many more flavors of Twang-a-Rang and many more hangouts with our new San Antonio family.”

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IN MEMORIAM

Beloved San Antonio Tex-Mex joint fries its last gordita

Photo courtesy of Lala's Gorditas

Lala's Gorditas will shutter December 24.

When Steven Pizzini opened Lala's Gorditas, it seemed like his birthright. Not only was the tiny Southside joint named after his maternal grandmother, but it was built on generational restaurant know-how that dates back to the 30s. After five turbulent years, that legacy is being cut short.

Via Facebook, Pizzini announced he would shutter Lala's after service on December 24. Although the post does not fully explain the reasoning behind the closure, it capped one of the restaurant's most turbulent years.

"We hope everyone will come by and share a laugh or tear and send Lala's off in grand style," Pizzini writes. "On behalf of my staff and myself, it's been an honor and a pleasure to serve you these last five years. You'll see my staff in other great dining places, no doubt, and I plan to enjoy my retirement."

Opened in March 2019, Lala's continued his family's long history in the San Antonio hospitality community. His aunt Ernestine Pizzini Chapa founded Teka Molino in 1938. His father and uncle, Herman and Eddie Pizzini, established Taco Hut in 1958.

The simple menu was aptly time-honored, offering San Antonio favorites like guacamole cups, bean rolls, puffy tacos, and signature gorditas. Pizzini didn't take shortcuts, nixtamalizing corn on site. It was, at first, a formula for success.

Unfortunately, Pizzini faced challenges from the get-go, including a lack of parking and an outdoor dining space. The COVID-19 pandemic hit before he could celebrate his first year. In 2022, he told the San Antonio Current that supply availability and costs were wreaking havoc on his business.

In the past year, the restaurant has twice appealed to the local community for support. The most recent plea, on June 11, admitted many of the restaurant's shortcomings. Despite the struggles, Pizzini expressed no sour grapes.

"On a personal note, I will miss the wonderful community Lala's has created with our authentic food and friendly service," wrote the longtime San Antonio chef. "It's been an extraordinary experience getting to know so many of you and sharing my family's legacy through our traditional Tex-Mex recipes."

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