LIFE IMITATES ART

San Antonio brewery brings cartoon 'King of the Hill' beer to life

King of the Hill's fictional Alamo Beer is about to hit real-life shelves.

An Australian private equity firm is taking over operations at San Antonio's Alamo Beer Co., but that isn't stopping it from releasing its buzziest six-packs yet. Yep, the East Side brewery is bringing King of the Hill's fictional Alamo Beer to life, leading up to the Hulu reboot.

"Bringing a piece of the King of the Hill universe to life is an incredible opportunity for our company and fans of the show," Alamo Beer founder Eugene Simor said in a news release. "We brewed a no-nonsense beer — as steady as a Texas handshake — made for sharing anywhere, from tailgates to alleys."

The launch will coincide with the premiere of an updated version of the famed animated comedy, which follows the adventures of an older Peggy, Hank, and Bobby Hill. Alamo Beer Co. will host a launch party for the new brew on July 26, ahead of the August 4 streaming premiere. Distribution to H-E-B stores and other retailers will begin July 28.

The ownership change will keep the new Alamo Beer and popular offerings like Hayz Street IPA on the shelves. Brisbane-based SKJ Capital tallied the winning bid in a July 2 session of U.S. Bankruptcy Court, claiming ownership of Alamo, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last February.

According to Chapter 11 bankruptcy rules, a business can reorganize its finances and continue operating under a court-approved plan while finding a way to pay its debtors. The bankruptcy filing showed that Alamo Beer owed from $1 million to $10 million to more than 90 creditors. Brewery officials had even initially eyed putting part or all of their two-acre property on the market.

At the time, Alamo Beer officials cited negatives in the craft beer industry, including changing habits on the part of consumers, for decreased demand. Without going into details, the brewery said the new owners are committing to keeping the facility on site at 202 Lamar St. afloat with an infusion of resources.

Although Simor confirmed the ownership change, he declined to comment on what might happen with products that are manufactured at Alamo Beer, including Viva Beer and ShotGun Seltzer brands.

"The good news is that Alamo will remain in operation," Simor said. "I encourage everyone to visit the beer hall and have a cold one to celebrate."

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COMING ATTRACTIONS

Chef Jason Dady revives much-missed Umai Mi at San Antonio's Pearl

Photo by Katie James

A coconut curry at Umai Mi.

Call 2025 the year of the culinary comeback. San Antonio chef Jason Dady is reviving his short-lived pan-Asian concept Umai Mi on December 10 at Pearl’s Bottling Department food hall at 312 Pearl Pkwy., Bldg 6 #107.

The prolific Alamo City chef first opened Umai Mi at 555 W. Bitters in January 2014 after closing tapas bar Bin 555 a mere 17 days earlier. The menu’s tagline, “so not authentic, it’s absurd,” aptly described the fusion focus, a mishmash of Asian flavors Dady enjoyed tinkering with at home.

Since he retired the restaurant in January 2015, he has explored Mediterranean, Mexican, and Italian concepts. Still, he has not returned to the “countless bowls, broths, herbs, and sauces” of his beloved modern Asian cuisine until now.

This time, Umai Mi has a sharper focus — bánh mì. The sandwiches will be made with Pullman Market crackling demibaguettes, delicate herbs, crunchy vegetables, and a choice of proteins such as lemongrass chicken, ginger soy beef, or shrimp. Guests can also order the sandwich Saigon-Style with a housemade pâté.

Umai Mi Bánh mì is the centerpiece of the menu.Photo by Katie James.

Beyond the sandwiches, Umai Mi will serve a bún bowl built with vermicelli noodles, fresh vegetables, peanuts, and a protein, finished with the house nuóc chãm. Diners can also dive into curries made with slow-simmered blends of coconut milk, aromatics, and Thai basil, available in red, Panang, or green.

The small plates and starters bring back some of Uma Mi’s heavy-hitters, including Japanese-inspired deviled eggs, crispy shrimp rolls, summer rolls, sweet and spicy wings, and a crispy rice salad. Although the kiosk — which replaces Chilaquil — doesn’t have “authentically absurd” cocktails of the original, it does offer playful choices like taro bubble tea, mango milk tea, and strawberry matcha.

The Umai Mi revival comes during a year of restaurant nostalgia. Earlier in the year, restaurateur Chad Carey staged a five-day series of pop-ups supporting Hill Country flood relief that featured the menus of now-shuttered concepts Cookhouse, Sandbar, The Monterey, Gwendolyn, and Feast. Feast is also undergoing a month-long resurrection at Battalion throughout December.

But the Jason Dady Restaurant Group is mostly looking toward the future. This year, the chef has opened Ice Ice Dady and Lil’ Bros BBQ Shack at The Rock at La Cantera and Tre Pizzeria at the San Antonio International Airport. Mexico Ceaty, a reimagining of mall food courts, is slated to debut in early 2026 at the Shops at Rivercenter downtown.

“We’re thrilled to bring Umai Mi to the Food Hall at Pearl, a place that celebrates culinary creativity and community,” says Dady in a statement. “The bánh mì represents what I love about cooking, balancing textures, fresh herbs, and layering flavors in a way that makes every bite exciting. At Umai Mi, it’s not just a menu item; it’s a dish that defines who we are.

Once opened, Umai Mi’s hours will be 11 am-9 pm Monday through Thursday, 10 am-10 pm Friday and Saturday, and 10 am-9 pm Sunday.

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