Ale yeah!
New brewery and tasting room bubbles up in bustling Southeast San Antonio
Before Southerleigh opens its anticipated second location at Brooks in fall 2019, they are brewing up an entirely new concept. On December 19, the popular Pearl eatery announced it is working on an all-new project in the bustling development to debut in Summer 2019.
According to a release, chef and owner Jeff Balfour is splitting the two prongs of his operation — “fine food” and brewing — to open a standalone brewery in the shopping center. The new facility will operate independently from the restaurant, located on Sidney Brooks just east of South New Braunfels Avenue. (The exact address is still unidentified due to ongoing construction.)
With a roomy 6,000 square feet, Southerleigh Brewing Co. will be fully equipped to bring head brewer Les Locke’s innovative beers to a wider audience, joining the flagship restaurant in production. It will also give guests a more intimate peek at the process. The tanks and brewing equipment will be on full display and daily tours will be conducted to go behind the scenes.
The main attraction, however, will undoubtedly be the tasting room adjacent to the brewery, featuring 10 taps pouring out seasonal brews. Local architectural firm Gomez Vazquez International is giving a 1941 chapel a contemporary revamp, which will add a 40-seat interior and an outdoor area with additional seating.
Both Southerleigh concepts will continue the winning streak for Brooks, which has made Southeast San Antonio a red-hot dining destination. Celebrity chef Johnny Hernandez also plans to open a La Gloria and El Machito in the development in 2019.
And in October, Czech republic-based company OKIN BPS announced the former Air Force base would be the location for its U.S. headquarters. The more than 1,400 employees will surely appreciate the brewery after a long day at work.
