The San Antonio beer scene is kicking off the year with a heavy pour of news. From a new pastrami-centric festival to the release of seasonal winter brews, there is plenty for the Alamo City to discuss over a cold one this month. Here is the latest from Alamo City’s brewery scene.

IKYMI
San Antonio was hit with a flurry of brewery closures at the end of 2025. On December 13, beer shop and neighborhood hangout The Growler Exchange called last call on its Midtown shop at 914 E. Elmira St. And, on December 30, Mad Pecker Brewing Co. shuttered again after a brief six-month comeback.

One beloved brewery, however, is finding new life after filing for bankruptcy in February 2025. Alamo Beer Company found new life after being acquired by Brisbane, Australia, private equity firm SKJ Capital in late December.

New year, new releases
10 local breweries recently untapped a range of new India Pale Ales, saisons, cream ales, and lagers that are sure to keep consumers warm and toasty over the winter.

• Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. — This Boerne brewery released Low Earth Orbit over the holidays. It is a crisp session IPA that comes in with an alcohol-by-volume (ABV) of 4.2.
• Free Roam Brewing Co. — The downtown Boerne producer just debuted Hill Country Sunrise, a dry American cream ale described as having a subtle floral hop aroma.
• Longtab Brewing Co. — Augustus is the name of a Belgian dark saison that contains notes of apricot, dark chocolate, and scone. This new brew at the Leon Valley area-based brewery is named after Team Augustus, a special World War II unit whose personnel parachuted into Occupied Europe to organize, arm, and train resistance fighters.
• Thirsty Pups Brewery— The dog-friendly Castle Hills brewery has released Pumping Lager, a Vienna lager featuring Hallertauer Mittelfrüh hops, and a malt character with notes of bread crust and light caramel.
• Roadmap Brewing Co.— The latest installment of Roadmap’s “Cat on a…” beer series is Cat on a Sleigh, a New England IPA accentuated by notes of ruby red grapefruit, oranges, and pineapple.
• Breakaway Brewing Co.— The East Side brewery is starting 2026 with Holiday Post Ride, a small-batch brew that is a bitter, slightly spiced Christmas-style beer.
• Guadalupe Brewing Co. and Pizza Kitchen— Known for its tasty stouts and porters, this New Braunfels brewery has produced Mexican Cake Stout, which contains a chocolate stout base infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of habanero heat.
• 28 Songs Brewhouse and Kitchen — The north Boerne brewpub began offering Sweater Weather right before Christmas, a holiday-style stout that is still available for thirsty beer fans who are still in a holiday mood.
• BS Brewing —The Seguin-area microbrewery recently launched Cop-Out, a coffee porter infused with bits of donuts and honey buns.
• Roughhouse Brewing— Ahead of its seventh anniversary, this San Marcos-area brewery released Camille, a boozy golden strong ale made with Texas-grown grapes, and three kinds of hops – Citra, Nelson Sauvin, and Superdelic. The beer is named after co-owner Davy Pasternak’s mother.

Deli-cious
Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery will be the place to be from 4-8 pm on January 17 for people who really love craft beer and pastrami.The Alamo Heights-area brewery will host Pastrami Fest, featuring seven small pastrami-inspired dishes each paired with a Wild Barley beer.

The dishes are brisket Reuben, dino rib bites, grilled oyster, burnt end poppers, turkey Reuben, duck breast, and tallow fries.Organizers call the event a guided, come-and-go tasting event, which is also happening on the one-year anniversary of Wild Barley being featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

The $75 all-inclusive tickets can be ordered at the Wild Barley website and at the brewery.