Pour one out

New Braunfels’ beloved Faust Brewing to close after 27 years

Faust Brewing Co. will close on Halloween.

On Halloween, New Braunfels will bid farewell to one of its popular breweries. Faust Brewing Co., known for its classic German and English-style beers, will permanently close on October 31 after 27 years.

In their social media announcement, the owners of Faust Brewing did not give a reason for the planned closure. Instead, it took the opportunity to thank the community for almost three decades of support.

"As we prepare to close our doors for the final time on October 31, 2025, we invite all of you to join us for several special events leading up to that date," the business wrote. "We want to celebrate our time together, reminisce about the laughter and camaraderie we've shared, and raise a glass to the memories we've created over the years."

Faust Brewing opened in 1998 at the historic Faust Hotel. Brewmaster Ray Mitteldorf oversaw the creation of several German- and English-style brews that became iconic in New Braunfels' craft beer scene, including the Alex Meixner Polka Pilsner, Mike Crowe IPA, Orange Honey wheat beer, Walter's Ghostly Pale Ale, and OktoberFaust, a marzen lager.

Within the last decade, Faust Brewing expanded operations to a location on South Castell Avenue, a site that has included a spacious beer garden and a live music stage. When COVID-19 emerged, the beer garden was closed to the public and remained shuttered until spring 2023.

More recently, Faust Brewing developed a full bar to include wine and spirits, and a restaurant. With Faust preparing to wind down operations, New Braunfels will only have two local breweries – New Braunfels Brewing Co. and Guadalupe Brewing Co.

Leading up to last call, the brewery will host a range of activities before a final blowout party on Halloween. Black Whale Pub, the brewery's sibling bar, will remain open.

"Every visit, every conversation, and every moment has meant the world to us," a Faust rep concluded. "Your support has transformed Faust Brewing into more than just a business; it has become a cherished gathering place for friends and families alike."

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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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