San Antonio’s craft beer industry might be struggling, but brewers have never been the quitting kind. While an East Side pioneer prepares to make its comeback, a much-loved neighborhood ice house might have a new lease on life. Want more hoppy headlines? Pop open a cold one and pour over July’s essential Alamo City beer news.
Back on tap
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Alamo Beer Company has moved its reopening to July 11 after an issue with its cold storage system sabotaged its original July 4 relaunch.
The craft brewing pioneer has been on hiatus since February to renovate its East Side taproom at 202 Lamar St., a glow-up made possible by a new cash infusion. In December 2025, Australian private equity firm SKJ Capital acquired the brand for an undisclosed amount, allowing the almost three-decade-old brand a new path forward after filing Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
SKJ said its renovations will increase the brand’s presence in the community and improve manufacturing capabilities. But it assured Alamo Beer fans that it did not plan to fiddle with the product. The brewery will continue to brew its core beers, and buzzy one-offs like the viral King of the Hill collaboration.
Pouring support
It is increasingly looking like a Hail Mary will extend the life of The Dakota East Side Ice House. As of publication time, a GoFundMe meant to save the Historic Gardens hangout is less than $3,000 away from its goal.
On June 25, owner Kent Oliver announced he decided not to renew the lease on the property, ending an eight-year run. Two of his neighbors started the campaign shortly after to make sure he didn’t go down without a fight.
In a Facebook post shared on the GoFundMe page, Oliver said the original $13,000 goal would get the business out of the red. A Covid-era loan became more than the business could carry, and he thought he had run out of options.
While Oliver has not announced the ultimate fate of the business, he assured the community that every donation would help him “close Dakota responsibly, meet outstanding obligations, and move forward without leaving a bigger mess behind.”
“For the first time in a long time, I don't feel like I'm fighting this alone,” he wrote.
Altstadt Brewery was among the big winners at the Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival.Altstadt Brewery/Facebook
Top of the hops
The Hill Country might be known for its wineries, but that doesn’t mean its craft breweries aren’t building their own buzz. In June, more than 30 Texas breweries went tap-to-tap at the annual Fredericksburg Craft Beer Festival.
As with all sudsy competitions, this one didn’t compare apples with oranges. The beer makers competed in very specific categories, ranging from Pale Malty German Lager to Standard American Beer. The host city, however, seemed to have the home court advantage, nabbing the most medals in the regional tourney. Check out the full results here.
Beer goools
We are not going to begrudge futbol fans who want to chug espresso martinis while chanting for their favorite World Cup team, but nothing goes together like a pint and a punt. Luckily, advocacy org Texas Craft Brewers Guild has a comprehensive list of every Texas indie brewer screening soccer matches. Whether in town or out, plan your game-day itinerary here.
The indoor bar has a rustic feel.McIntyre's River Mill/ Instagram