Popular San Antonio coffee truck brews up first brick-and-mortar

San Antonio’s summer isn’t over yet, but there are still a few signs of fall. While locals are sipping on kolsch from a new Austin import, we’re daydreaming about a new Hill Country brewery and rooting for Alamo City taproom up for a major design award.

Hill Country hops
A new brewery is taking shape in Fredericksburg. Pour Choices Brewing recently posted construction updates for a $2.8 million microbrewery and tasting room coming to 1505 South Creek St. this fall.

The project isn’t just a destination for craft beer fans, however. Owner Rick LaPlante’s wife, Judith LaPlante, is a cyclist, and the compound will appropriately make room for a bike shop. Hop heads can join the First Pour Club to get updates about the soft opening.

Interstate 35 exchange
One of Austin’s most popular breweries is making its San Antonio debut. St. Elmo Brewing, founded in 2016 by award-winning brewers Bryan Winslow and Tim Bullock, is bellying up to The Hoppy Monk (1010 N Loop 1604 E.) for an untapping before expanding to other Alamo City bars.

During the event, held from 5-10 pm on September 9, guests will get the first taste of signature St. Elmo brews like its signature kolsch, Carl, and nonalcoholic sparkler Hop Water. The bash will also include brew crew members, DJs, and a flash tattoo pop-up.

Tapped for design
Pinthouse Pizza’s San Antonio location is up for an award, but it's not for its lauded IPAs. The Austin-based local taproom, which opened in March, is shortlisted for the prestigious Restaurant & Bar Design Awards.

Pinthouse Pizza San Antonio is the lone local venture on the list, but is among 40-plus establishments from the Americas that are up for honors. The brewery is competing in the casual competition, covering businesses that do not offer full table service.

Austin-based Kim Lewis Designs developed Pinthouse Pizza San Antonio’s nautically inspired interior, which features a brass-etched map, imported hand-painted tile from Portugal, vintage art, and Clay Imports tile. The award winners will be announced in October.

Pinthouse Pizza's new San Antonio taproom is shortlisted for the annual Restaurant and Bar Design Awards.Photo courtesy of Pinthouse Pizza/Kim Lewis Designs

Seasonal pours
It’s that time of year when the last of the summer beers share the spotlight with the arrival of fall brews. Here’s a selection of late summer/early autumn seasonal pours.

• Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. — The Boerne brewery has brought back Lakeside, its seasonal hazy IPA, which features Billy Goat Cascade hops from Colorado’s award-winning Billy Goat Hop Farm. Lakeside is fermented with a New England yeast strain and topped with tropical and fruit notes.
• Freetail Brewing Co. — Orange Lite is described as an easy-to-drink, low-alcohol cream ale with a bright color and a subtle balance of malt and hops.
• Thirsty Pups Brewery — His Mother was a Mudder is inspired by Kentucky Commons, a style of fast-fermented dark American ale that was popular in and around Louisville, Kentucky, from the Civil War era until Prohibition. It features toasted grain, light caramel, a bit of corn sweetness, and a sharp, clean finish.
• Kunstler Brewing Co. — Working Fire is a West Coast IPA with citrus and pine notes. A portion of each pour is donated to the San Antonio Fire Department.
• Marion Brewing Co. — The fledgling Guadalupe County brewery is introducing a sophomore edition of its Oktoberfest, a malty, sweet Märzen.