Editor's Note: With a new craft beer spot popping up in San Antonio seemingly every month, it's a lot of work to track all things beer in Alamo City. Here's our roundup of everything that's brewing in San Antonio.
Vista Brewing reopens in San Antonio
Vista Brewing Co., which just marked five years of serving up Hill Country craft beers in Driftwood, will be reopening its San Antonio taproom in a bigger way.
Earlier this summer, Vista shuttered its 2-year-old West San Antonio taproom and beer garden. But local craft beer fans can look forward to checking out a new Vista taproom and cafe sometime this fall at 125 Lamar St. on the near East Side.
Vista will be a short walk to watering holes such as Boxcar Bar, La Ruina, Burleson Yard Beer Garden, Alamo Beer Co, and Artisan Distillery and Craft Bar.
The new San Antonio taproom will feature core beers such as the Dark Skies black pilsner, Adair Kolsch, and Destination IPA, and seasonal releases such as the Hive Mind honey ale and the upcoming Mighty Marzen, a collaboration with local brewpub Künstler Brewing Co.
This fall the brewery plans to release two beers aged in spirits barrels: Laissez Faire, a single-strain Brett ale aged in Sangiovese barrels from William Chris Vineyards; and Fireside, an imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels from Treaty Oak Distillery.
Photo courtesy of Visa Brewing Co.
Vista Brewing Co., based in Driftwood, Texas, will reopen its San Antonio taproom this fall on the near East Side.
The new taproom will also be an all-day cafe offering dishes developed by Vista’s executive chef, Kyle Barker. These include an Akaushi Texas Wagyu beef burger, a crispy chicken sandwich topped with Thai sriracha glaze, and rotating seasonal salads, as well as new food items.
The new taproom and cafe will also have a curated selection of Texas wines and ciders, wine cocktails, a full coffee program, and wine- and beer-paired dinners. Additionally, Vista's San Antonio venue will have room for private and community functions.
Barrelman closes
Barrelman Brewing Co. in the Boerne area closed its doors Aug. 5 after more than two years of operations.
The owners posted on Barrelman’s social media channels July 28, announcing their intent to shutter the brewery, but they did not offer a reason for the closure.
The brewery hosted a closing party with a karaoke night and a food truck.
Big Hops closes its Huebner location
Big Hops, the popular taproom and beer-to-go bar, is closing its Huebner Road location along I-10, according to local media reports, although a specific final date has not been posted yet.
Company founder Rob Martindale did not give a reason for shuttering a location, which has been offering a variety of craft beers to enjoy onsite or elsewhere for more than a decade.
A New Braunfels Big Hops closed earlier this summer, but other spots at Bitters Road, Shaenfield Road, Potranco Road, and in Cibolo remain open.
The Dooryard goes on hiatus
Owners of The Dooryard, San Antonio’s lone self-serve beer and wine taproom, said August 22 that they would be temporarily closing the business until further notice.
The Dooryard opened three years ago near Shavano Park, offering more than 30 beers, wines and seltzers that patrons could sample by the ounce, as well as food.
Owner Jason Meredith went on The Dooryard’s Facebook Aug. 22, saying he, his family, and colleagues would be taking a break to “recharge and explore new avenues for our craft beer haven.”
"Rest assured, the spirit of craft beer lives on, and we're excited about the possibility of returning stronger than ever,” Meredith said.Brewing expert joins Alamo Beer’s executive team
Alamo Beer Co. announced in a news release that brewing expert Jan Matysiak, who held leadership roles at Big Bend and Sixpoint breweries, was joining the East San Antonio brewpub as vice president of operations.
A German native, Matysiak went through the brewing program at the Technical University of Munich-Weihenstephan, earning a degree in brewing science. One of his first industry positions was a quality assurance and control assistant manager at Memminger Brewery in Bavaria.
Matysiak then moved to the United States and joined Sixpoint Brewery, where he oversaw the roll out of dozens of new beers, and production across several facilities.
Matysiak next went to Big Bend Brewing Co., a stint that saw the West Texas brewer win in various competitions, including a gold medal at the 2018 World Beer Cup. That stint ended with Big Bend's abrupt closure.
The release states that Matysiak will oversee Alamo Beer’s brewing operations, manage its supply chain, and implement high-quality standards of beer production, while simultaneously fostering innovation.
"He’s a real name in the industry. We’re excited to have this exceptional leader on our team,” said Alamo Beer founder and owner Eugene Simor.
