Editor's note: The bustling San Antonio beer scene is always changing — usually with openings and closures, but there are other twists along the way. Let's discuss it over a cold one.
Freetail scales back
San Antonio’s beer-brewing community has suffered many challenges in 2024, with a handful of local brewery closures.
Now, a longtime local brewery is rolling back its operations just to make ends meet. Leaders of Freetail Brewing Co. announced in early November said they will no longer distribute their beer to stores, bars, and restaurants by the end of the year.
Instead, Freetail will concentrate on offering its beer and food at its North Side flagship location at 4035 N. Loop 1604 W., and South Side taproom at 2000 S. Presa St.
"This will enable Freetail to focus on continuing to serve great beer in San Antonio. Freetail beer is available at its two locations where take-home growlers also may be purchased," a news release stated.
Having opened in 2008, Freetail was a notable part of the surge of craft beer production in San Antonio.
Freetail officials announced last year that they would be distributing their beer in Colorado and expanding beer sales through liquor stores.
But this year saw changes at Freetail, including the dismissal of lead brewer Jason Davis.
David Olivares, Freetail’s director of operations, said in the news release that despite ending retail distribution, his company will continue to collaborate with community nonprofits and other organizations.
"We thank our trusted partners for making our beer available across Texas and Colorado,” Olivares said. “Their contributions have enabled Freetail to further become a beloved and trusted local brand. Serving San Antonio customers and this community is our priority."
Possible changes brewing at Mad Pecker
On the Northwest Side, officials at Mad Pecker Brewing Co. have indicated they, too, may scale back their offerings.
Owner Jason Gonzales said in October that he is considering ceasing beer production in favor of serving food and guest tap beer at Mad Pecker.
Gonzales said ending beer production is one of a few options that he is pondering given increasing competition from area culinary destinations, as well as inflation, and what he sees as shortcomings in San Antonio’s craft beer community.
Pub grub made in-house, such as burgers, wings, and pizzas, make up 60 percent of Mad Pecker’s total revenue.
Big Hops Potranco closes its taps
Struggles in San Antonio’s craft beer scene have been felt at local craft beer bars, such as Big Hops, where the Potranco Road franchise permanently closed at the end of October.
Big Hops franchises, which offered more than two dozen beers on tap and growler fill-ups, plus bottles and cans to-go, have been shuttered in Cibolo and New Braunfels in the last couple of years.
A third Big Hops location at Huebner Road and I-10 was sold and rebranded as The Hop Doctor earlier this year.
Officials with Big Hops did not offer a reason for closing the Potranco Road location, but the Big Hops taprooms at Shaenfield Road and Loop 1604, and off Bitters Road and U.S. 281 remain open.
Kevin Ranello, owner of The Ringer Pub, the “Big Lebowski”-themed North Side bar, said he plans to open Talley’s Pub at the now-closed Big Hops Potranco site.
According to Ranello, Talley’s Pub will be a full bar open daily, and feature 15 television sets. He said, if all works out, Talley’s Pub will open in mid-December.
Freetail Brewing Co. will cease distribution of its beer to stores and bars at the end of 2024.
